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WK
1
Fri, Dec 1
19:00:00
Saskatchewan
Halifax
Fri, Dec 1
22:00:00
Albany
Las Vegas
Fri, Dec 1
22:00:00
Panther City
Vancouver
Sat, Dec 2
19:00:00
Calgary
Rochester
Sat, Dec 2
19:30:00
Philadelphia
New York
WK
2
Sat, Dec 9
19:00:00
Philadelphia
Toronto
Sat, Dec 9
19:00:00
Buffalo
Albany
Sat, Dec 9
19:30:00
Colorado
Georgia
Sat, Dec 9
20:00:00
Rochester
Saskatchewan
Sat, Dec 9
22:00:00
Calgary
San Diego
Sun, Dec 10
16:00:00
Las Vegas
Panther City
WK
3
Fri, Dec 15
22:00:00
Saskatchewan
Las Vegas
Sat, Dec 16
13:00:00
Albany
Philadelphia
Sat, Dec 16
19:30:00
Halifax
New York
Sat, Dec 16
19:30:00
San Diego
Buffalo
Sat, Dec 16
22:00:00
Georgia
Vancouver
WK
4
Fri, Dec 22
20:00:00
Toronto
Panther City
Fri, Dec 22
21:00:00
Georgia
Colorado
Sat, Dec 23
19:00:00
Vancouver
Rochester
WK
5
Fri, Dec 29
18:30:00
Philadelphia
Halifax
Fri, Dec 29
19:30:00
Georgia
Buffalo
Fri, Dec 29
22:00:00
Rochester
San Diego
Sat, Dec 30
16:00:00
New York
Toronto
Sat, Dec 30
21:00:00
Las Vegas
Calgary
Sat, Dec 30
21:00:00
Vancouver
Colorado
Sun, Dec 31
20:00:00
Albany
Saskatchewan
WK
6
Sat, Jan 6
19:00:00
Halifax
Albany
Sat, Jan 6
19:30:00
Panther City
Georgia
Sat, Jan 6
19:30:00
Colorado
Buffalo
Sun, Jan 7
15:00:00
New York
Philadelphia
WK
7
Fri, Jan 12
18:30:00
Toronto
Halifax
Fri, Jan 12
22:00:00
San Diego
Las Vegas
Sat, Jan 13
19:00:00
Buffalo
Rochester
Sat, Jan 13
19:00:00
Saskatchewan
Philadelphia
Sat, Jan 13
19:30:00
Panther City
New York
Sat, Jan 13
19:30:00
Albany
Georgia
Sat, Jan 13
21:00:00
San Diego
Colorado
Sat, Jan 13
22:00:00
Calgary
Vancouver
WK
8
Fri, Jan 19
19:30:00
New York
Buffalo
Sat, Jan 20
19:00:00
Georgia
Toronto
Sat, Jan 20
19:00:00
San Diego
Albany
Sat, Jan 20
20:00:00
Vancouver
Saskatchewan
Sat, Jan 20
21:00:00
Calgary
Colorado
WK
9
Fri, Jan 26
22:00:00
Colorado
Vancouver
Sat, Jan 27
18:00:00
Rochester
Halifax
Sat, Jan 27
19:00:00
Buffalo
Toronto
Sat, Jan 27
19:30:00
Georgia
New York
Sat, Jan 27
19:30:00
San Diego
Philadelphia
Sat, Jan 27
22:00:00
Panther City
Las Vegas
WK
10
Fri, Feb 2
19:00:00
Halifax
Philadelphia
Fri, Feb 2
19:30:00
Vancouver
Georgia
Fri, Feb 2
21:00:00
New York
Calgary
Sat, Feb 3
19:00:00
Las Vegas
Albany
Sat, Feb 3
19:30:00
Rochester
Buffalo
Sat, Feb 3
20:00:00
Panther City
Saskatchewan
Sat, Feb 3
21:00:00
Toronto
Calgary
Sun, Feb 4
18:00:00
Colorado
San Diego
WK
11
Fri, Feb 9
18:30:00
Las Vegas
Halifax
Fri, Feb 9
20:00:00
Colorado
Panther City
Sat, Feb 10
19:00:00
Georgia
Rochester
Sat, Feb 10
19:00:00
Calgary
Toronto
Sat, Feb 10
19:30:00
San Diego
New York
Sat, Feb 10
22:00:00
Saskatchewan
Vancouver
WK
12
Fri, Feb 16
18:30:00
Buffalo
Halifax
Fri, Feb 16
22:00:00
Philadelphia
Las Vegas
Sat, Feb 17
19:00:00
Colorado
Albany
Sun, Feb 18
19:00:00
Halifax
Calgary
WK
13
Fri, Feb 23
21:00:00
New York
Colorado
Fri, Feb 23
22:00:00
Georgia
San Diego
Sat, Feb 24
19:00:00
Las Vegas
Rochester
Sat, Feb 24
19:00:00
Vancouver
Toronto
Sat, Feb 24
19:30:00
Albany
Buffalo
Sat, Feb 24
20:00:00
Halifax
Saskatchewan
Sat, Feb 24
21:00:00
Philadelphia
Calgary
Sun, Feb 25
16:00:00
Georgia
Panther City
WK
14
Fri, Mar 1
19:00:00
Georgia
Halifax
Fri, Mar 1
20:00:00
San Diego
Panther City
Fri, Mar 1
22:00:00
Toronto
Las Vegas
Fri, Mar 1
22:00:00
Buffalo
Vancouver
Sat, Mar 2
13:00:00
Calgary
Philadelphia
Sat, Mar 2
19:00:00
New York
Albany
Sat, Mar 2
21:00:00
Saskatchewan
Colorado
Sat, Mar 2
22:00:00
Toronto
San Diego
Sun, Mar 3
16:00:00
Rochester
Panther City
WK
15
Fri, Mar 8
19:00:00
Vancouver
Albany
Fri, Mar 8
19:30:00
Calgary
Georgia
Fri, Mar 8
19:30:00
Saskatchewan
Buffalo
Sat, Mar 9
17:00:00
Colorado
Toronto
Sat, Mar 9
19:00:00
Albany
Rochester
Sat, Mar 9
19:30:00
Las Vegas
New York
Sat, Mar 9
22:00:00
Halifax
San Diego
Sun, Mar 10
15:00:00
Panther City
Philadelphia
WK
16
Fri, Mar 15
18:30:00
Panther City
Halifax
Fri, Mar 15
21:00:00
San Diego
Calgary
Fri, Mar 15
22:00:00
Las Vegas
Vancouver
Sat, Mar 16
19:00:00
Rochester
Albany
Sat, Mar 16
19:00:00
Toronto
Buffalo
Sat, Mar 16
19:30:00
Philadelphia
Georgia
Sat, Mar 16
20:30:00
New York
Saskatchewan
WK
17
Fri, Mar 22
20:00:00
Buffalo
Panther City
Fri, Mar 22
21:00:00
Albany
Calgary
Sat, Mar 23
19:00:00
Halifax
Toronto
Sat, Mar 23
19:00:00
Vancouver
Philadelphia
Sat, Mar 23
19:30:00
Saskatchewan
New York
Sat, Mar 23
21:00:00
Rochester
Colorado
Sat, Mar 23
22:00:00
Las Vegas
San Diego
Sun, Mar 24
17:30:00
Saskatchewan
Georgia
WK
18
Sat, Mar 30
13:00:00
Buffalo
Philadelphia
Sat, Mar 30
19:00:00
Halifax
Rochester
Sat, Mar 30
19:30:00
Toronto
New York
Sat, Mar 30
22:00:00
Vancouver
Las Vegas
WK
19
Fri, Apr 5
21:00:00
Saskatchewan
Calgary
Fri, Apr 5
21:00:00
Buffalo
Colorado
Fri, Apr 5
22:00:00
Panther City
San Diego
Fri, Apr 5
22:00:00
Halifax
Vancouver
Sat, Apr 6
19:00:00
New York
Rochester
Sat, Apr 6
19:00:00
Toronto
Albany
Sat, Apr 6
19:30:00
Las Vegas
Georgia
Sat, Apr 6
20:00:00
Calgary
Saskatchewan
Sun, Apr 7
16:00:00
Philadelphia
Panther City
WK
20
Fri, Apr 12
21:00:00
Philadelphia
Colorado
Sat, Apr 13
19:00:00
Rochester
Toronto
Sat, Apr 13
19:30:00
Calgary
Buffalo
Sat, Apr 13
20:00:00
San Diego
Saskatchewan
Sat, Apr 13
22:00:00
Colorado
Las Vegas
Sat, Apr 13
22:00:00
New York
Vancouver
Sun, Apr 14
16:00:00
Albany
Panther City
WK
21
Fri, Apr 19
19:30:00
Rochester
Georgia
Fri, Apr 19
22:00:00
Vancouver
San Diego
Sat, Apr 20
18:00:00
Colorado
Halifax
Sat, Apr 20
19:30:00
Albany
New York
Sat, Apr 20
20:00:00
Toronto
Saskatchewan
Sat, Apr 20
21:00:00
Panther City
Calgary
Sat, Apr 20
22:00:00
Buffalo
Las Vegas
Sun, Apr 21
15:00:00
Philadelphia
Rochester
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Il Indoor Top 50 Nll Players: #41-45

The 2016 NLL season is now less than two months away ahead of the season opener on New Year’s Day to start the National Lacrosse League’s 30th anniversary year. Coinciding with the start of the preseason, Inside Lacrosse is continuing its annual countdown of the Top 50 NLL Players on IL Indoor. Find previews below and click the link for the full breakdown of each player ranked #41-45 on the exclusive list of the world’s best lacrosse players comprised by IL staff members Stephen Stamp, Bob Chavez and Marty O’Neill.

45) Joe Walters – Rochester Knighthawks

Joe Walters hasn’t won any scoring titles or loose ball crowns and really, probably doesn’t expect to.

But that in no way puts less value on what he brings to a team. The athletic left-hander out of Rochester, N.Y., does a bit of this and a bit of that as a key contributor to a Rochester Knighthawks team that’s won 3 of the last 4 National Lacrosse League titles. It’s a role that often goes underappreciated, at least by those outside of the Rochester room.

But in that room, the Knighthawks know exactly what they have in Walters who uses his impeccable footwork to contribute anywhere he finds himself on the floor, then uses that footwork with incredible speed to get the ball wherever it needs to be. On the surface, skills like that are not uncommon in the NLL or even lacrosse. The bonus for Rochester and any team Walters plays for is the IQ because he’s not just a placeholder or decoy. He knows what to do with the ball and more often than not, he does the right thing.

Last year’s run with the Knighthawks resulted in a career-best 53 points, bolstered by career highs in goals (17) and assists (33). And even though the Knighthawks’ run of 3 straight NLL titles didn’t reach No. 4, Walters continues to be an important part of the lacrosse machine for his hometown team…

“Walters has been improving and taking on a bigger role each year with the Knighthawks, culminating with his first 20-goal and 50-point season in 2015. His real star turn, though, came at the this year’s World Indoor Lacrosse Championship. He led all Blue Group players with 14 goals and 30 assists, giving him 9 more points than tournament MVP and next-leading Blue Group scorer Shawn Evans of Canada. Walters was scoring big goals with accurate outside shooting and joined Kevin Buchanan to give the US a consistently dangerous left side. Walters is passionate about the game and has put a lot of work in to become a legitimate box lacrosse player. There’s no question that he’s achieved that goal.” – Stephen Stamp

44) Kasey Beirnes – Toronto Rock

Talk with any goal-scoring machine in the world of box lacrosse and he’ll tell you about the importance of teammates who do the work to set up shots. And when the conversation shifts to those who work well without the ball, that conversation inevitably includes Kasey Beirnes.

The right-hander out of Elora, Ontario, has never really been the No. 1 scorer for the teams he’s been part of, but it’s easy to believe he could handle the role if it were handed to him. Instead, though, Beirnes has been content with his role in the offensive end and lest you think he sacrifices too much, think again.

Beirnes is not shy when it comes to offense or shooting the ball. Last winter with the National Lacrosse League’s Toronto Rock, he scored a career-best 35 goals to help lead the Rock to the NLL finals. It was second-most for a Toronto team that suffered some injuries to top guns like Rob Hellyer and Colin Doyle. So when the Rock needed goals, Beirnes responded.

He scored 3 goals in 7 regular-season games and only once was he held without a goal. In 5 NLL playoff games, he contributed 9 points (6-3). He proved himself especially dangerous on special teams, leading the Rock with 12 power-play goals…

“While it seems like Beirnes does it every year, 2015 was actually just the fourth time in his 13-season career in which the Rock forward hit the 30-goal plateau; he totalled a career-high 35. On those 35 goals, the ball may have spent less than a minute total in his stick. Beirnes is the master of the quick release, either setting up on the edge of the crease or — more often — cutting to an open spot at the exact right moment for a teammate to be able to hit him with a pass. He almost never needs the ball in his stick to be effective, although he can play with the ball when it will help his team. Beirnes works tirelessly, doing the little things that can go unnoticed but of which his teammates, coaches and opponents are definitely aware.” – Stephen Stamp

43) Jordan Hall – Rochester Knighthawks

It’s nice to be known for scoring goals. Or setting up goals. Or doing the necessary work in an area to be an important part of the offense. So what’s even nicer? How about excelling in all those roles?

That’s where we are with Jordan Hall, who not only does so many different things for a team on offense, he does them all very, very well. Hall’s ability to adapt to situations by recognizing matchups and situations is the direct result of his lacrosse IQ and when it comes right down to it, there aren’t many players out there who are better at it than Hall.

The left-hander out of Surrey, B.C., has battled through some injuries over the years, so the level of consistency he’s been able to maintain has been impressive. Last winter for Rochester in the National Lacrosse League, he was third on the team with 64 points. His 25 goals gave the Knighthawks another source of potency; the Birds had 7 players with 20 or more goals…

“Hall can do a little bit of everything for you. 2015 was his fourth season scoring 24 or more goals and his fifth with 64 or more points. The three years he didn’t reach that plateau, he was playing primarily a transition role and he still produced 39 goals and 113 points in those three seasons. Last year, playing forward again, Hall was third on the Knighthawks in scoring behind future Hall of Famers Cody Jamieson and Dan Dawson. He also had as many caused turnovers as any forward other than Adam Jones. He’s a quiet contributor with quick feet and slick hands.” – Stephen Stamp

42) Kevin Crowley – New England Black Wolves

Since being the No. 1 overall National Lacrosse League draft pick in 2011, much has been expected of Kevin Crowley. And if for some reason you want to argue that the 6-foot-4, 220-pound right-hander out of New Westminster hasn’t lived up to the hype, expect some opposition. A lot of it, actually.

He’s scored 30 or more goals in each of his first 3 seasons and even though he scored just 25 last year, he did play 2 fewer games this season in addition to making a transition from New England to Toronto after he was traded. So it appears that no matter where and for whom Crowley is balling, he gets his job done as a finisher.

Crowley came to the Rock to provide a scoring punch after some injuries in Toronto, and he did not disappoint. He had 5 goals and 12 points to help the Rock reach the Champion’s Cup finals, where the Rock lost…

“His numbers appear deflated in 2015 because the way the schedule for the Black Wolves and Rock worked out, he played only 14 games last year with his mid-season trade from New England to Toronto. But Crowley actually posted the highest points-per-game average of his remarkably consistent career. Since being selected by Philadelphia with the first overall pick in the draft, Crowley has put up seasons of 36, 34, 33 and 25 goals, and 71, 72, 75 and 64 points. Had he played a full 18 games last year, he was on pace to score 32 goals and 82 points. Crowley may suffer some criticism because he plays a quiet game and always looks like he has the talent to produce even more than he does. There aren’t many teams, though, who wouldn’t be happy to have a regular 30+ goal and 70+ point scorer who can play pretty much any style of game you want him to.” – Stephen Stamp

41) Cory Vitarelli – Rochester Knighthawks

Cory Vitarelli didn’t exactly come out of nowhere, but doesn’t that seem to be the case with his goals?

Just when Rochester Knighthawks fans think a Rochester shot is blocked or off the mark and is headed toward possession for the opponent, Vitarelli seems to pop out of thin air with the ball in his stick. And then, before you can make sense of how it got there, you find it in the back of the net and the big airhorn in the west end of the Rochester barn is annoying the snot out of opponents.

This is the method of Vitarelli, a left-handed forward out of Peterborough who doesn’t pile up the stats as much as he comes through with goals that more often than not turn the tide. He scored 25 goals for the Knighthawks last winter, giving him a fourth straight season of 23 or more goals.

So when it comes to a support role in scoring, it doesn’t get much more consistent than Vitarelli…

“If you like consistency in a support, role we again look to Rochester and another constant performance from No. 23. Cory’s basic contribution is 25 goals a year, 42 points and a .238 shooting percentage. Vitarelli is cagey crease guy with a knack for scoring timely goals. He has been a big contributor to past K-Hawk success and a return to glory will require he does his part. Vitarelli had injuries in 2015 and will need to address those moving forward.” – Marty O’Neill

Check back to follow the full Inside Lacrosse countdown of the NLL Top 50 Players on IL Indoor.

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