Stealth’S Duch Wins Air Canada Wingman For Week 17

The National Lacrosse League has announced Vancouver Stealth forward Rhys Duch as the “Air Canada Wingman of the Week” award winner for Week 17 of the 2016 NLL season.

Duch recorded eight points (2+6) with a game-high six assists in Vancouver’s 14-12 home win over the Saskatchewan Rush last Saturday. With the win, the Stealth stayed in the playoff race for the West Division’s third and final postseason spot heading into the Week 18 regular season finale.

Duch currently ranks tied for fourth in the league in goals (42) and seventh in both points (98) and assists (56) in 16 games played. The 29-year-old has recovered 75 loose balls, 20th-most among NLL forwards, and is tied for 10th with 10 power play goals. Duch has posted at least one point in every game this year including 11 games with five or more points to go along with 13 multi-goal games and eight hat tricks.

From Victoria, B.C., Duch played collegiately at Stony Brook University. The eight-year NLL veteran was the Stealth’s first-round (3rd overall) selection in the 2008 Draft and set a rookie record with 89 points en route to the league’s Rookie of the Year award in 2009. The three-time All-Pro (2010, 2011 & 2013) has registered over 30 goals and 40 assists in all eight of his pro seasons.

Air Canada is the Official Airline Partner for the NLL. Each week, an NLL player will receive the “Air Canada Wingman of the Week” award based on their performance on the turf with respect to passing prowess and playmaking abilities. The weekly award winners will be entered into the pool of finalists for the “Air Canada Wingman of the Year” award at the end of the season.

Week 1) John Grant, Jr. – Colorado Mammoth
Week 2) Kiel Matisz – Georgia Swarm
Week 3) Callum Crawford – Colorado Mammoth
Week 4) Dhane Smith – Buffalo Bandits
Week 5) Lyle Thompson – Georgia Swarm
Week 6) Logan Schuss – Vancouver Stealth
Week 7) Dhane Smith – Buffalo Bandits
Week 8) Josh Sanderson – Toronto Rock
Week 9) Rob Hellyer – Toronto Rock
Week 10) Callum Crawford – Colorado Mammoth
Week 11) Joe Walters – Rochester Knighthawks
Week 12) Mark Matthews – Saskatchewan Rush
Week 13) Kevin Crowley – New England Black Wolves
Week 14) Ryan Benesch – Buffalo Bandits
Week 15) Shawn Evans – New England Black Wolves
Week 16) Randy Staats – Georgia Swarm
Week 17) Rhys Duch – Vancouver Stealth

About Air Canada
Air Canada is Canada’s largest full-service airline and the largest provider of scheduled passenger services in the Canadian market, the Canada-U.S. transborder market and in the international market to and from Canada. Together with its Air Canada Express regional partners and leisure carrier, Air Canada rouge, Air Canada serves over 38 million passengers annually and provides direct passenger service to more than 190 destinations on five continents. Air Canada is a founding member of Star Alliance™, the world’s most comprehensive air transportation network.