1997 Major Indoor Lacrosse League season

The 1997 season is the 11th season of the league and, is the last as the MILL, began on January 4, 1997, and concluded with the championship game on April 12. The league was renamed to the National Lacrosse League after this season.

1997 MILL season
LeagueMajor Indoor Lacrosse League
SportIndoor lacrosse
DurationJanuary 4, 1997 - April 12, 1997
Number of games10
Number of teams6
TV partner(s)ESPN and ESPN2
Regular season
League championsPhiladelphia Wings
  Runners-upNew York Saints
Season MVPGary Gait (Baltimore Thunder)
Top scorerGary Gait (Baltimore Thunder)
Champion's Cup
ChampionsRochester Knighthawks
  Runners-upBuffalo Bandits
Finals MVPSteve Dietrich (Rochester)

Team movement

The Charlotte Cobras, who debuted in the 1996 Major Indoor Lacrosse League season, folded after only a single winless season.

Regular season

Reference: [1]

PTeamGPWLPCTGBHomeRoadGFGADiffGF/GPGA/GP

1Philadelphia Wings – xyz1073.7000.03–24–1137115+2213.7011.50
2New York Saints – x1064.6001.04–12–3134127+713.4012.70
3Buffalo Bandits – x1064.6001.03–23–2158153+515.8015.30
4Rochester Knighthawks – x1055.5002.02–33–2156135+2115.6013.50
5Boston Blazers1046.4003.03–21–4120135−1512.0013.50
6Baltimore Thunder1028.2005.01–41–4125165−4012.5016.50

x: Clinched playoff berth; c: Clinched playoff berth by crossing over to another division; y: Clinched division; z: Clinched best regular season record; GP: Games Played
W: Wins; L: Losses; GB: Games back; PCT: Win percentage; Home: Record at Home; Road: Record on the Road; GF: Goals scored; GA: Goals allowed
Differential: Difference between goals scored and allowed; GF/GP: Average number of goals scored per game; GA/GP: Average number of goals allowed per game

All Star Game

No All-Star Game was played in 1997.

Playoffs
Semifinals Championship
      
2 New York 10
3 Buffalo 19
4 Rochester 15
3 Buffalo 12
4 Rochester 15
1 Philadelphia 13

Awards
Award Winner Team
MVP Award Gary Gait Philadelphia
Rookie of the Year Award Jeff Wilfong Boston
Championship Game MVP Steve Dietrich Rochester

Weekly awards

Each week, a player is awarded "Player of the Week" honours.

WeekPlayer of the Week
1 Paul Gait
2 Roy Colsey
3 Sal LoCascio
4 Paul Gait
5 Paul Gait
6 John Tavares
7 Derek Collins
8 Thomas Carmean
9 Matt Panetta
10 Tom Marechek
11 Ted Dowling
12 Dallas Eliuk

Monthly awards

An award is also given out monthly for the best overall player.

MonthPlayer of the Month
Jan Paul Gait
Feb Derek Collins
Mar Tom Marechek

All-Pro Teams

First Team:

Second Team:

Statistics leaders

Bold numbers indicate new single-season records. Italics indicate tied single-season records.

StatPlayerTeamNumber
GoalsGary GaitPhiladelphia40
AssistsGary GaitPhiladelphia32
PointsGary GaitPhiladelphia72
Penalty MinutesTom PhairBuffalo58
Shots on GoalPaul GaitRochester131
Loose BallsJohn TavaresBuffalo104

Attendance

Regular Season
Home TeamHome GamesAverage AttendanceTotal Attendance[2]
Buffalo Bandits 5 17,533 87,665
Philadelphia Wings 5 13,875 69,336
New York Saints 5 7,268 36,338
Rochester Knighthawks 5 6,570 32,852
Boston Blazers 5 6,149 30,743
Baltimore Thunder 5 5,018 25,091
League 30 9,401 282,025

Playoffs
Home TeamHome GamesAverage AttendanceTotal Attendance[2]
Buffalo Bandits 2 15,085 30,170
Philadelphia Wings 1 9,372 9,372
League 3 13,181 39,542

See also

References
  1. "National Lacrosse League - 1997 Regular Season - Standings". NLL.com. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
  2. "1997 Season". nllstats.com. Retrieved 16 June 2023.


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