League Announces April Player Awards

The National Lacrosse League has announced Player of the Month and Rookie of the Month award winners for April of the 2015 NLL regular season.

Buffalo Bandits forward Ryan Benesch, who led the league with a team-record 55 goals and finished third in NLL scoring with 113 points (55+58) this year, earned the NLL Player of the Month award after posting a combined 43 points (20+23) in five games to finish the season. Helping Buffalo to a playoff spot, Benesch recorded at least three goals and seven points in all five games played in April and May including a career-high 12-point performance in the season finale.

The 30-year-old’s 55 goals tied for the fourth-most in league history while his .229 shooting percentage ranked ninth among all NLL players with 10 or more goals. Benesch recovered 99 loose balls, which were the most of any forward in the league. The Kitchener, Ontario native was the first overall selection in the 2006 NLL Draft.

McIntosh, who led all rookies in goals (37), assists (49) and points (86) during the regular season, won NLL Rookie of the Month after finishing the season with a combined 36 points (15+21) in seven games played including a season-high nine-point (2+7) performance in Week 18.
McIntosh’s 37 goals were tied for the 12th-most among all NLL players while his 86 points and 49 assists both tied for 14th-most in the league. The first-year pro helped Edmonton to a first-place finish in the West Division along with a first-round bye in the NLL Playoffs.

The 23-year-old posted two or more points in all 18 of his games played this year including 11 games with four-plus points. The Coquitlam, B.C. native was the first overall pick in the 2014 NLL Draft out of Drexel University and was previously named the NLL Rookie of the Month for January.

The NLL Monthly Player Awards are determined by a vote of the league’s general managers and head coaches. Games played in NLL Week 18 on May 1-2 were included for the April award.