Boston Blazers (2009–2011)

The Boston Blazers were an indoor lacrosse team in the National Lacrosse League (NLL). The Blazers were based in Boston, Massachusetts, and began play in the 2009 NLL season.

For an earlier team, see Boston Blazers (1992–1997).
Boston Blazers
SportBox lacrosse
Founded2007
First season2009
Disbanded2011
LeagueNational Lacrosse League
DivisionEastern
Based inBoston, Massachusetts
ArenaTD Garden
ColorsRed, White, Black
     
OwnerTim Armstrong
Head coachMatt Sawyer
General managerDoug Reffue
Championships0

The team was owned by Tim Armstrong, the former President of Advertising and Commerce for Google.[1] who is currently CEO of AOL. NLL veteran Tom Ryan was the team's head coach until being dismissed on December 23, 2010. Ryan was replaced on December 28, 2010 by former Toronto Rock assistant coach Matt Sawyer. On April 7, 2008, the Blazers named veteran New England marketing executive Doug Reffue to the position of team president.

The team was not associated with the former Boston Blazers, who played in the Major Indoor Lacrosse League (MILL, predecessor to the NLL) from 1992 to 1997. However, the name was chosen "in part due to the popularity and nostalgia associated with the former Boston Blazers franchise".[2]

On August 30, 2011, the team announced that it would be temporarily suspend operations for the 2012 season as they sought a new home facility for the 2013 season.[3] However the team has yet to resume operations by 2023.

History

The Blazers were originally scheduled to begin play in the 2008 NLL season. On July 31, 2007 the league held an expansion draft and the Blazers selected a number of players.[4] In preparation for the season, the team also made a number of trades.[5][6][7] On October 16, 2007, the NLL announced that the 2008 season had been cancelled due to the failure of the league and the Professional Lacrosse Players' Association to reach a new collective bargaining agreement.[8] However, the negotiations continued, and on October 25, the league announced that a new seven-year agreement had been reached, and that the season would be played.[9] A new schedule was announced on November 2, 2007, but only included 12 of the expected 14 teams; the Blazers and the Arizona Sting had been removed.[10] The reasons that the Blazers and Sting opted out of the season were not given, just that it was "due to a number of business issues", and that both teams would return in 2009.[10] A dispersal draft was held on November 5, 2007.[11]

Inaugural season

The 2009 NLL season was the Boston Blazers' first season playing in the league. In order to field a team for the season, the Blazers participated in the three separate drafts: the Arizona Sting dispersal draft, the expansion draft on July 24, and the entry draft in September.

On June 30, in the Arizona Sting dispersal draft, the Blazers selected Dan Dawson first overall and forward Peter Veltman with the first pick of the second round.[12] On July 24 the team picked 12 additional players for their roster in the 2008 expansion draft, including goaltender Mike Poulin with the first overall selection.[13]

Player Original Club Position
Mike Poulin Toronto Rock Goaltender
Mitch Belisle New York Titans Defenseman
Matt Lyons Rochester Knighthawks Forward
Kyle Laverty Buffalo Bandits Defenseman
John Gallant Colorado Mammoth Defenseman
Jake Bergey Philadelphia Wings Forward
Devan Wray Calgary Roughnecks Defenseman
Kyle Ross Minnesota Swarm Defenseman
Tom Johnson San Jose Stealth Forward
Matt Holman Chicago Shamrox Forward
Michael Kilby Portland LumberJax Defenseman
Cam Bergman Edmonton Rush Transition

Shortly after the draft concluded, the Blazers traded Cam Bergman back to the Edmonton Rush for F Brenden Thenhaus and G Kurtis Wagar.[14]

On July 29, the Blazers and Rochester Knighthawks swapped defenders, with Kyle Laverty going to Rochester in exchange for University of Massachusetts Amherst alum Jack Reid.[15]

On July 30, the Blazers, San Jose Stealth, and Calgary Roughnecks completed a 3-way trade that sent Tom Johnson, Travis Gillespie, and Boston's 3rd-round pick in the 2009 NLL Entry Draft to San Jose, Devan Wray to Calgary, and forward Sean Morris (another UMass alum and Marshfield, MA native), defenseman Steve Panarelli, Calgary's 3rd-round pick in the 2009 NLL Entry Draft, and San Jose's 2nd-round pick in the 2010 NLL Entry Draft to Boston.[16]

Only weeks before the season began, the Chicago Shamrox suspended operations, and another dispersal draft was held. The Blazers had the first overall pick, and chose former Goaltender of the Year Anthony Cosmo.[17]

Final roster
Final Boston Blazers roster
Active (21-man) roster Inactive roster Coaches
Goaltenders
Defensemen
  • 85 United States Mitch Belisle
  • 12 Canada Jon "Bubba" Durno
  • 28 Canada Dilan Graham
  • 33 Canada Jon Harnett
  •  4 Canada Carter Livingstone
  • 15 Canada Curtis Ptolemy
  • 18 United States Jack Reid
Forwards
Transition
Practice Squad
  • 20 Travis Brown
  • 05 Paul Manesis
Head Coach

{{{Head Coach}}}

Legend
  • * Suspended list
  • (C) Captain
  • (A) Alternate captain

Roster updated 2009-02-04
NLL Transactions

All time Record
SeasonDivisionW-LFinishHomeRoadGFGACoachPlayoffs
2009Eastern10–63rd4–46–2181168Tom RyanLost Division Semifinal
2010Eastern8–84th5–33–5161162Lost Division Semifinal
2011Eastern8–84th5–33–5166155Matt SawyerLost Division Semifinal
Total3 seasons26–2214–1012–12508485

Playoff Results
SeasonGameVisitingHome
2009Division SemifinalBoston 8Buffalo 11[18]
2010Division SemifinalBoston 11Orlando 12
2011Division SemifinalBoston 10Buffalo 11

Awards and honors
Year Player Award
2009 Dan Dawson Most Valuable Player
Sportsmanship Award

Draft history

NLL Entry Draft

First Round Selections

References
  1. "Google exec bets on niche sports like lacrosse". Reuters. October 23, 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-24.
  2. "Boston team name: Blazers". NLL.com. October 4, 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-10-04. Retrieved 2007-10-04.
  3. "Blazers to Move Operations for 2013 Season". NLL.com. August 30, 2011. Retrieved 2011-08-30.
  4. "Pat Merrill Selected First Overall By Boston". NLL.com. July 31, 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-01.
  5. "Boston Deals Langtry Back To Colorado". NLL.com. July 31, 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-02.
  6. "Boston Sends Croswell to Toronto". NLL.com. July 31, 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-02.
  7. "Toronto / Boston Trade Revoked". NLL.com. August 28, 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-05.
  8. "2008 Season Cancelled". NLL.com. 2007-10-16. Archived from the original on 2007-10-17. Retrieved 2007-10-16.
  9. "NLL, PLPA Reach Seven-Year Deal". NLL.com. October 25, 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-10-31. Retrieved 2007-11-02.
  10. "League Releases New 2008 Schedule". NLL.com. November 2, 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-11-06. Retrieved 2007-11-02.
  11. "Dawson selected first overall by Portland". NLL.com. November 5, 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-11-07. Retrieved 2007-11-07.
  12. "Dawson joins Boston Blazers". NLL.com. June 30, 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-07-02. Retrieved 2008-06-30.
  13. "Boston selects Poulin first overall". NLL.com. July 24, 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-07-28. Retrieved 2008-07-25.
  14. "Boston Adds 12 in Expansion Draft". NLL.com. July 24, 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-07-28. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
  15. "Blazers and Knighthawks Swap Defenders". NLL.com. July 29, 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
  16. "Five Players Swapped in Three-Way Deal". NLL.com. July 30, 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
  17. "Cosmo Selected First Overall By Boston". NLL.com. December 12, 2008. Archived from the original on April 17, 2009. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
  18. "Boston Blazers at Buffalo Bandits - 2009 Playoffs". Archived from the original on 2013-06-30. Retrieved 2013-05-06.
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