2006 NLL season

The 2006 National Lacrosse League season was the 20th season in the history of the league, which began as the Eagle Pro Box Lacrosse League in 1987. The season began on December 30, 2005 and concluded with the championship game on May 13, 2006.

2006 NLL season
LeagueNational Lacrosse League
SportIndoor lacrosse
DurationDecember 30, 2005 – May 13, 2006
Number of games16
Number of teams11
Regular season
Season MVPSteve Dietrich (Buffalo Bandits)
Top scorerJosh Sanderson (Toronto Rock)
Playoffs
Eastern championsBuffalo Bandits
  Eastern runners-upRochester Knighthawks
Western championsPortland LumberJax
  Western runners-upColorado Mammoth
Champion's Cup
ChampionsColorado Mammoth
  Runners-upBuffalo Bandits
Finals MVPGavin Prout (Colorado)

The defending champion Toronto Rock were once again the favourite to win the Champions' Cup,[1] but a slow start plus a dismal performance in the semifinal game against Rochester removed the Rock from contention. The Colorado Mammoth, under first-year head coach Gary Gait, won their first title since winning the first ever title in 1987, as the Baltimore Thunder.

Highly touted Portland rookie Brodie Merrill lived up to his hype, winning both the Defensive Player of the Year and the Rookie of the Year awards. Portland continued its domination of the post-season awards with Derek Keenan, himself a former Rookie of the Year Award winner (1992 with Buffalo), winning both the Les Bartley Award for coach of the year and the GM of the Year Award, and owner Angela Batinovich winning the Executive of the Year Award.

Team movement

The season featured the debut of two expansion teams; the Edmonton Rush and the Portland LumberJax, both in the Western Division. Portland beat the expansion team odds and won its division, finishing with an 11–5 record, while Edmonton did not fare so well. The Rush finished the season 1–15, their only win coming at the hands of their provincial rivals, the Calgary Roughnecks.

Before the 2006 season, the Anaheim Storm folded not being able to attract enough fans in their two years in Southern California moving from their original home of New Jersey after the 2003 season where, for two seasons, they were not able to attract enough fans.

Milestones

Final standings

Regular season

Reference: [4]

East Division
PTeamGPWLPCTGBHomeRoadGFGADiffGF/GPGA/GP

1Buffalo Bandits – xyz16115.6880.06–25–3193167+2612.0610.44
2Rochester Knighthawks – x1697.5622.06–23–5196180+1612.2511.25
3Toronto Rock – x1688.5003.05–33–5182179+311.3811.19
4Minnesota Swarm – x1688.5003.03–55–3158171−139.8810.69
5Philadelphia Wings1688.5003.05–33–5184184−-011.5011.50
West Division
PTeamGPWLPCTGBHomeRoadGFGADiffGF/GPGA/GP

1Portland LumberJax – xy16115.6880.05–36–2188177+1111.7511.06
2Colorado Mammoth – x16106.6251.06–24–4200172+2812.5010.75
3Calgary Roughnecks – x1697.5622.04–45–3183178+511.4411.12
4Arizona Sting – x1688.5003.04–44–4198199−112.3812.44
5San Jose Stealth16511.3126.03–52–6151174−239.4410.88
6Edmonton Rush16115.06210.00–81–7150202−529.3812.62

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 Toronto won the 3-way tiebreaker with Minnesota and Philadelphia

Playoffs
Divisional Semifinal Divisional Final Champion's Cup Final
         
1 Buffalo 11
4 Minnesota 10
1 Buffalo 15
Eastern Division
2 Rochester 10
3 Toronto 8
2 Rochester 16
W2 Colorado 16
E1 Buffalo 9
1 Portland 10
4 Arizona 14
2 Colorado 13
Western Division
4 Arizona 12
2 Colorado 18
3 Calgary 17

All-Star game

The 2006 All-Star Game was held at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario on February 25, 2006. The West Division defeated the East Division 14–13. The MVP of the game was Lewis Ratcliff of the Calgary Roughnecks, who scored 4 goals, including the game winner. This marked the second straight year that a Roughneck player was All-Star Game MVP, with Tracy Kelusky having won it in 2005.

All-Star teams
Eastern Division starters   Western Division starters
John Grant, Jr., Rochester Gavin Prout, Colorado
Colin Doyle, Toronto Tracey Kelusky, Calgary
John Tavares, Buffalo Craig Conn, Arizona
Steve Toll, Rochester Jay Jalbert, Colorado
Thomas Hajek, Philadelphia Brodie Merrill, Portland
Pat O'Toole, Rochester (goalie) Anthony Cosmo, San Jose (goalie)
Eastern Division ReservesWestern Division Reserves
Marshall Abrams, Rochester Dan Carey, Colorado
Jake Bergey, Philadelphia Bruce Codd, Arizona
Ryan Cousins, Minnesota Jonas Derks, Arizona
Glenn Clark, Philadelphia Dallas Eliuk, Portland (goalie)
Steve Dietrich, Buffalo (goalie) Peter Lough, Arizona
Blaine Manning, Toronto Derek Malawsky, San Jose
Dan Marohl, Philadelphia Lewis Ratcliff, Calgary
Josh Sanderson, Toronto Scott Self, Arizona
Phil Sanderson, Toronto Ryan Sharp, Portland
Mark Steenhuis, Buffalo Kaleb Toth, Calgary
Shawn Williams, Rochester Andrew Turner, Edmonton
Jim Veltman, Toronto Taylor Wray, Calgary

Awards

Annual
Award Winner Team
Jet Blue MVP Award Steve Dietrich[5] Buffalo
Edge Active Care Rookie of the Year Award Brodie Merrill[6] Portland
Les Bartley Award (Coach of the Year) Derek Keenan[7] Portland
GM of the Year Award Derek Keenan[8] Portland
Executive of the Year Award Angela Batinovich[9] Portland
Defensive Player of the Year Brodie Merrill[10] Portland
RBK Goaltender of the Year Award Steve Dietrich[11] Buffalo
Bowflex Sportsmanship Award Sean Greenhalgh[12] Philadelphia
Championship Game MVP Gavin Prout[13] Colorado

All-Pro Teams

First Team

Second Team

All-Rookie Team

Weekly awards

The NLL gives out awards weekly for the best overall player, best offensive player, best defensive player, and best rookie.

WeekOverallOffensiveDefensiveRookie
1 Sean GreenhalghSean GreenhalghMatt RoikSean Greenhalgh
2 Jonas DerksJonas DerksChris LevisJeff Zywicki
3 Mark SteenhuisMark SteenhuisSteve DietrichShawn Evans
4 Nick PattersonJake BergeyDallas EliukBrodie Merrill
5 John Grant, Jr.John Grant, Jr.Pat O'TooleBrodie Merrill
6 Craig ConnCraig ConnNick PattersonDan Carey
7 Chad CulpChad CulpNick PattersonSean Greenhalgh
8 John TavaresBrodie MerrillPat CampbellBrodie Merrill
9 Aaron WilsonAaron WilsonBob WatsonSean Greenhalgh
10 Matt DisherJohn Grant, Jr.Matt DisherShawn Evans
11 Sean GreenhalghJohn Grant, Jr.Matt KingJeff Zywicki
12 Jay JalbertRyan WardJeff ZywickiJay Jalbert
13 Mark SteenhuisMark SteenhuisMatt KingRoger Vyse
Brodie Merrill (tie)
14 Brodie MerrillJay JalbertSteve DietrichBrodie Merrill
15 Colin DoyleColin DoyleDallas EliukSean Greenhalgh
16 Dan DawsonDan DawsonSteve DietrichSean Greenhalgh

Monthly awards

Awards are also given out monthly for the best overall player and best rookie.

MonthOverallRookie
Jan John Grant, Jr.Sean Greenhalgh
Feb Nick PattersonBrodie Merrill
Mar Gavin ProutBrodie Merrill

Statistics leaders

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

StatPlayerTeamNumber
GoalsJohn Grant, Jr.Rochester54
AssistsJosh SandersonToronto69
PointsJosh SandersonToronto98
Penalty MinutesRob VanBeekPhiladelphia72
Shots on GoalJohn Grant, Jr.Rochester277
Loose BallsJim VeltmanToronto226
Save PctSteve DietrichBuffalo80.8
GAASteve DietrichBuffalo9.97

Attendance

Regular Season
Home TeamHome GamesAverage AttendanceTotal Attendance[14]
Colorado Mammoth 8 16,543 132,347
Toronto Rock 8 16,538 132,306
Buffalo Bandits 8 12,118 96,946
Philadelphia Wings 8 11,936 95,491
Calgary Roughnecks 8 11,777 94,217
Edmonton Rush 8 10,367 82,938
Rochester Knighthawks 8 9,988 79,906
Minnesota Swarm 8 8,372 66,981
Portland LumberJax 8 8,006 64,055
Arizona Sting 8 6,477 51,820
San Jose Stealth 8 5,608 44,868
League 88 10,703 941,875

Playoffs
Home TeamHome GamesAverage AttendanceTotal Attendance[15]
Colorado Mammoth 2 12,981 25,963
Buffalo Bandits 3 11,703 35,111
Portland LumberJax 1 10,843 10,843
Rochester Knighthawks 1 7,295 7,295
League 7 11,316 79,212

See also

References
  1. "Toronto opens 2006 as Experts' top pick". Outsider's Guide to the NLL. January 4, 2006. Archived from the original on March 2, 2007. Retrieved November 7, 2006.
  2. Philly, R.A. (February 22, 2006). "Record-tying Tavares named Player of Week". Outsider's Guide to the NLL. Archived from the original on March 2, 2007. Retrieved February 4, 2007.
  3. Philly, R.A. (March 4, 2006). "NLL Week Ten Roundup". Outsider's Guide to the NLL. Archived from the original on March 2, 2007. Retrieved February 4, 2007.
  4. "National Lacrosse League - 2006 Regular Season - Standings". NLL.com. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
  5. "Dietrich Wins 2006 Jet Blue MVP Award". NLL website. May 11, 2006. Retrieved November 7, 2006.
  6. "Merrill Wins Edge Active Care Rookie of the Year". NLL website. May 9, 2006. Archived from the original on October 6, 2007. Retrieved November 7, 2006.
  7. "Derek Keenan Wins Les Bartley Award". NLL website. May 4, 2006. Archived from the original on October 7, 2007. Retrieved November 7, 2006.
  8. "Derek Keenan Wins Vonage GM of the Year". NLL website. May 5, 2006. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved November 7, 2006.
  9. "Batinovich Named Executive of the Year". NLL website. May 8, 2006. Retrieved November 7, 2006.
  10. "Merrill Wins Belmont.com Defensive Player of the Year". NLL website. May 2, 2006. Archived from the original on October 19, 2007. Retrieved November 7, 2006.
  11. "Steve Dietrich Named RBK Goaltender of the Year". NLL website. May 3, 2006. Retrieved November 7, 2006.
  12. "Greenhalgh Wins Bowflex Sportsmanship Award". NLL website. May 1, 2006. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved November 7, 2006.
  13. Knight, Ben (May 13, 2006). "Mammoth stampedes over baffled Bandits". Outsider's Guide to the NLL. Archived from the original on March 2, 2007. Retrieved November 7, 2006.
  14. "National Lacrosse League - attendance | Pointstreak Sports Technologies".
  15. "National Lacrosse League - attendance | Pointstreak Sports Technologies".
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