2016 NLL season

2016 NLL season
LeagueNational Lacrosse League
SportIndoor lacrosse
DurationJanuary 1 – June 4, 2016
Games18
Teams9
Draft
Top draft pickLyle Thompson
Picked byGeorgia Swarm
Regular Season
Top seedBuffalo Bandits
Season MVPDhane Smith (Buffalo Bandits)
Top scorerDhane Smith (Buffalo Bandits)
Playoffs
Finals championsSaskatchewan Rush (2nd title)
  Runners-upBuffalo Bandits
Finals MVPAaron Bold (Rush)

The 2016 National Lacrosse League season, the 30th in the history of the NLL,[1] began on January 1, 2016,[2] and ended with the Champion's Cup Finals series on June 4, 2016. The Saskatchewan Rush won their 2nd straight title; their first while located in Saskatchewan.

Milestones and events

Pre-season

Teams

2016 National Lacrosse League
DivisionTeamCityArenaCapacity
East Buffalo Bandits Buffalo, New York First Niagara Center 19,070
Georgia Swarm Duluth, Georgia Infinite Energy Arena 10,500
New England Black Wolves Uncasville, Connecticut Mohegan Sun Arena 7,074
Rochester Knighthawks Rochester, New York Blue Cross Arena 10,662
Toronto Rock Toronto, Ontario Air Canada Centre 18,800
West Calgary Roughnecks Calgary, Alberta Scotiabank Saddledome 19,289
Colorado Mammoth Denver, Colorado Pepsi Center 18,007
Saskatchewan Rush Saskatoon, Saskatchewan SaskTel Centre 15,195
Vancouver Stealth Langley, British Columbia Langley Events Centre 5,276

Map of teams

East Division West Division

Standings

Reference: [6]

East Division
PTeamGPWLPCTGBHomeRoadGFGADiffGF/GPGA/GP

1Buffalo Bandits – xyz18135.7220.08–15–4251214+3713.9411.89
2New England Black Wolves – x18108.5563.06–34–5229212+1712.7211.78
3Georgia Swarm – x18810.4445.04–54–5238240−213.2213.33
4Rochester Knighthawks18711.3896.03–64–5200215−1511.1111.94
5Toronto Rock18513.2788.04–51–8190224−3410.5612.44
West Division
PTeamGPWLPCTGBHomeRoadGFGADiffGF/GPGA/GP

1Saskatchewan Rush – xy18135.7220.07–26–3233190+4312.9410.56
2Colorado Mammoth – x18126.6671.08–14–5203202+111.2811.22
3Calgary Roughnecks – x18810.4445.05–43–6216216−-012.0012.00
4Vancouver Stealth18513.2788.04–51–8198245−4711.0013.61

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

Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes; LB = Loose Balls

Player Team GP G A Pts PIM LB
Dhane SmithBuffalo Bandits1872651379111
Shawn EvansNew England Black Wolves17506811839116
Callum CrawfordColorado Mammoth1832831151589
Rob HellyerToronto Rock1845681132388
Rhys DuchVancouver Stealth184863111883
Mark MatthewsSaskatchewan Rush1840691092376
Curtis DicksonCalgary Roughnecks1861461071384
Cody JamiesonRochester Knighthawks18336194083
Dan DawsonRochester Knighthawks184055951262
Randy StaatsGeorgia Swarm183659952284

Leading goaltenders

Note: GP = Games played; Mins = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses: GA = Goals Allowed; SV% = Save Percentage; GAA = Goals against average

Player Team GP Mins W L GA SV% GAA
Aaron BoldSaskatchewan Rush1810421251790.76110.30
Dillon WardColorado Mammoth16743731280.79910.33
Nick RoseToronto Rock18719571330.78311.10
Mike PoulinCalgary Roughnecks17591451130.77811.46
Matt VincRochester Knighthawks18890591720.77512.82

Playoffs

Division semifinals Division finals (3-game series) Finals (3-game series)
         
E1 Buffalo 2
East Division
E2 New England 0
E2 New England 14*
E3 Georgia 13
W1 Saskatchewan 2
E1 Buffalo 0
W1 Saskatchewan 2
West Division
W3 Calgary 0
W2 Colorado 10
W3 Calgary 11*

*Overtime

Division semifinals

(E2) New England Black Wolves vs. (E3) Georgia Swarm

May 6, 2016New England Black Wolves14–13 OT
(3–2, 5–5, 3–5, 2–1, 1–0)
Georgia SwarmMohegan Sun Arena
Attendance: 3,266
Game reference
Evan KirkGoaliesBrodie MacDonald
Crowley (Hoar) (SH) – 02:281–0
Burns (Kirk) – 03:522–0
2–110:17 – White (SH)
Hall (Evans, Kyle Buchanan) – 11:123–1
3–211:50 – Powless (Matisz, Staats)
Evans (Hall, Saunders) – 21:124–2
4–322:59 – M. Thompson (Staats, King) (PP)
4–423:12 – Jackson (MacIntosh)
Kyle Buchanan (Ball, Kirk) – 23:565–4
5–524:13 – Staats (White)
Crowley (Saunders, Kevin Buchanan) – 24:526–5
6–627:11 – L. Thompson (MacIntosh)
Evans (Saunders) – 27:287–6
7–728:57 – Powless (Matisz, Jackson)
Kyle Buchanan – 29:088–7
Evans (Hall, Crowley) – 31:319–7
Crowley (Kyle Buchanan, Hall) (PP) – 41:1610–7
10–841:51 – L. Thompson (Jackson, Powless)
Crowley – 42:5611–8
11–943:11 – L. Thompson (O'Connor)
11–1043:42 – M. Thompson (L. Thompson, Tutton)
11–1144:37 – Staats (Tutton, Powless)
11–1244:59 – King (Staats, L. Thompson)
Kevin Buchanan (Evans, Crowley) – 46:1112–12
Kevin Buchanan (Hall, Crowley) – 46:4413–12
13–1354:50 – L. Thompson (King) (PP)
Evans (Crowley) (PP) – 60:5714–13
12 minPenalties19 min
52Shots66

(W2) Colorado Mammoth vs. (W3) Calgary Roughnecks

May 7, 2016Colorado Mammoth10–11 OT
(2–3, 3–2, 1–2, 4–3, 0–1)
Calgary RoughnecksPepsi Center
Attendance: 13,116
Game reference
Dillon WardGoaliesMike Poulin
Frankie Scigliano
Noble (Crawford, Grant) (PP) – 03:141–0
Wardle (Gajic) – 06:242–0
2–109:18 – Digby (O'Connor, Shattler)
2–209:46 – Digby (Dickson, Dobbie)
2–311:59 – Dobbie (Berg, Dickson) (PP)
2–416:02 – Dickson (Dobbie, Berg)
Jones (Mallroy) (PP) – 21:583–4
Noble – 22:474–4
4–524:29 – Berg (Dobbie)
Noble – 29:365–5
5–637:27 – Dickson (Shattler, Poulin) (SH)
Jones (Grant) (PP) – 43:216–6
6–743:41 – Dickson (Burton, Shattler) (SH)
Noble (Crawford, Mallroy) – 46:347–7
Jones (Noble, Crawford) – 48:148–7
8–849:36 – Dickson (Poulin)
8–951:19 – Digby (Berg, Dickson)
Cupido (Gajic) – 51:289–9
Jones (Grant, Mallroy) – 51:4810–9
10–1059:35 – Dickson (Shattler)
10–1170:17 – Dobbie (Shattler, Dickson)
10 minPenalties18 min
67Shots58

Division Finals (best of three)

(E1) Buffalo Bandits vs. (E2) New England Black Wolves

May 16, 2016New England Black Wolves10–15
(3–5, 2–3, 3–3, 2–4)
Buffalo BanditsMohegan Sun Arena
Attendance: 3,697
Game reference
Evan Kirk
Tye Belanger
GoaliesAnthony Cosmo
Kevin Buchanan (Kyle Buchanan, Saunders) – 01:451–0
Saunders (Crowley) (PP) – 04:322–0
Kyle Buchanan (Crowley) – 05:073–0
3–106:31 – Benesch (D. Smith) (PP)
3–208:51 – Hill (D. Smith)
3–309:56 – Jones (Benesch)
3–411:32 – D. Smith (Benesch) (PP)
3–513:35 – Hill (Benesch)
Evans (Crowley, Hall) (PP) – 16:054–5
4–617:02 – Hill (Weiss)
4–718:09 – D. Smith (Benesch, Culp)
4–821:02 – D. Smith (Malcom)
Saunders (Evans, Kyle Buchanan) (SH) – 27:315–8
5–930:33 – Culp (Benesch, Steenhuis)
5–1033:33 – Steenhuis (Veltman, Culp)
5–1133:53 – D. Smith (Jones)
Burns (PP) – 39:286–11
Bucktooth (Manney, Belanger) – 42:477–11
Kyle Buchanan – 42:548–11
8–1251:08 – Hill (Benesch)
Saunders (Evans) – 51:369–12
9–1352:51 – D. Smith (Culp)
9–1453:05 – Benesch (Brownwell, Thorimbert)
Kyle Buchanan (Kevin Buchanan, Hall) – 58:0410–14
10–1558:45 – Benesch (Brownwell, Weiss) (ENG)
38 minPenalties32 min
55Shots52
May 21, 2016Buffalo Bandits20–15
(3–5, 6–4, 5–4, 6–2)
New England Black WolvesFirst Niagara Center
Attendance: 14,255
Game reference
Anthony CosmoGoaliesEvan Kirk
Thorimbert (Jones) – 00:111–0
Steenhuis (D. Smith, Hill) – 02:182–0
2–102:58 – Hoar (Kirk)
2–208:38 – Kevin Buchanan (Evans, Kyle Buchanan)
2–309:07 – Crowley (Bucktooth, Kirk)
2–412:03 – Evans (Bucktooth, Reid) (PP)
2–513:52 – Evans (Bucktooth)
Jones (Benesch, Hill) – 12:373–5
Malcom (Culp, Benesch) – 15:314–5
Steenhuis (PP) – 15:595–5
5–616:53 – Saunders (Hall, Kevin Buchanan)
Hill (Steenhuis) (PP) – 19:056–6
6–720:39 – Saunders (Evans, Hall) (PP)
6–821:16 – Crowley (Evans, Hall) (PP)
6–922:31 – Suddons (Bucktooth) (SH)
Hill (D. Smith, Brownwell) – 23:567–9
Benesch (D. Smith) (PP) – 27:238–9
D. Smith (Watt) – 29:059–9
Culp (D. Smith) – 35:1010–9
10–1035:40 – Kevin Buchanan (Crowley, Saunders)
D. Smith (Malcom, Steenhuis) – 36:1511–10
11–1138:36 – Burns (Kirk) (SH)
Hill (Benesch, D. Smith) (PP) – 39:1412–11
12–1239:46 – Kevin Buchanan (Crowley, Evans)
D. Smith (Priolo, Weiss) (SH) – 41:4813–12
13–1343:58 – Kevin Buchanan
Malcom – 44:1714–13
Culp (Brownwell, Cosmo) – 48:0415–13
15–1452:53 – Kevin Buchanan (Hall, Evans)
Benesch (Hill) – 54:2916–14
Benesch (Weiss, Cosmo) – 55:1317–14
17–1555:53 – Kevin Buchanan (Hall)
Culp (Benesch) – 58:0718–15
Steenhuis (PS) – 58:5219–15
Hill (Jones) – 58:5720–15
28 minPenalties21 min
61Shots50

Bandits win series 2–0.

(W1) Saskatchewan Rush vs. (W3) Calgary Roughnecks

May 14, 2016Calgary Roughnecks10–16
(3–4, 2–2, 3–2, 2–8)
Saskatchewan RushScotiabank Saddledome
Attendance: 12,211
Game reference
Mike Poulin
Frankie Scigliano
GoaliesAaron Bold
0–101:18 – Davis (Taylor, Matthews)
O'Connor (Dobbie, Dickson) – 01:441–1
1–203:32 – Matthews (Mydske)
Dickson (Shattler, Manning) – 04:192–2
2–305:21 – Bilic
Harnett (Dobbie) (PP) – 11:353–3
3–414:51 – Church (Taylor, Davis)
3–521:25 – McIntosh (Matthews, Greer) (PP)
Berg (Dobbie, O'Connor) – 22:224–5
4–625:12 – McIntosh (Taylor, Corbeil)
Shattler (Leung, McIntosh) – 27:055–6
5–730:06 – Thompson
Dobbie (Dickson, Berg) (PP) – 31:016–7
Digby (O'Connor, Harnett) – 31:507–7
Dickson (Bell, Harnett) –33:428–7
8–841:21 – Mydske
8–947:09 – Church (Dilks, Bold)
8–1048:52 – Matthews (Church) (PP)
8–1150:42 – Bilic
Shattler (Dobbie, Digby) – 51:199–11
9–1252:22 – McIntosh (Matthews, Church)
9–1354:50 – Corbeil
9–1457:49 – McIntosh (Sorichetti, Corbeil) (ENG)
Dickson (Shattler, O'Connor) – 58:2210–14
10–1558:33 – Corbeil (Rubisch) (ENG)
10–1659:33 – Cornwall (Corbeil, Taylor) (ENG)
14 minPenalties12 min
45Shots52
May 21, 2016Saskatchewan Rush12–9
(1–1, 4–2, 3–2, 4–4)
Calgary RoughnecksSaskTel Centre
Attendance: 15,192
Game reference
Aaron BoldGoaliesMike Poulin
Frankie Scigliano
Church (Matthews) – 04:111–0
1–111:47 – Digby (Berg, O'Connor)
Greer (Matthews, Church) – 16:092–1
Matthews (LaFontaine, Bold) – 16:343–1
3–218:25 – Berg (O'Connor, McFetridge)
Church (Greer, Matthews) (PP) – 20:324–2
4–327:23 – Dobbie (Dickson) (PP)
McIntosh (Church, Greer)5–3
LaFontaine (Matthews, Davis) – 35:116–3
McIntosh (Cornwall) – 38:337–3
7–439:43 – McFetridge (Harnett)
Sorichetti (Rubisch) – 41:248–4
8–543:00 – Dickson (Dobbie, Shattler) (PP)
8–647:04 – Digby (Berg)
Greer (Davis) – 50:269–6
Matthews (Bilic, Thompson) (ENG) – 50:3410–6
Greer (Matthews, Church) – 53:5111–6
Greer (McIntosh, Taylor) – 55:1012–6
12–756:08 – Dobbie (O'Connor)
12–857:47 – Digby (O'Connor)
12–959:10 – Digby (O'Connor)
6 minPenalties10 min
49Shots48

Rush wins series 2–0.

NLL Finals (best of three)

(E1) Buffalo Bandits vs. (W1) Saskatchewan Rush

May 28, 2016Buffalo Bandits9–11
(0–2, 6–4, 2–2, 1–3)
Saskatchewan RushFirst Niagara Center
Attendance: 12,692
Game reference
Anthony CosmoGoaliesAaron Bold
0–107:51 – Matthews (Church, Davis)
0–213:50 – Sorichetti
0–315:53 – Matthews (Church) (PP)
Malcom (Weiss, Jones) – 17:131–3
D. Smith (PP) – 18:192–3
2–420:26 – Cornwall
Benesch (D. Smith) (PP) – 21:583–4
Steenhuis (D. Smith, Culp) – 23:534–4
Malcom (D. Smith, Benesch) – 24:015–4
Hill (Thorimbert) – 24:436–4
6–525:49 – Greer (Matthews)
6–627:20 – Davis (Knight, Matthews)
D. Smith (Veltman, Culp) – 32:367–6
7–736:37 – Church (Knight)
D. Smith (Steenhuis) – 42:128–7
8–842:50 – McIntosh (Greer) (PP)
Benesch – 49:189–8
9–950:04 – Church (McIntosh, Sorichetti)
9–1055:44 – McIntosh (Davis)
9–1156:34 – Greer (Church, Knight)
6 minPenalties4 min
52Shots52
June 4, 2016Saskatchewan Rush11–10
(3–4, 2–1, 2–4, 4–1)
Buffalo BanditsSaskTel Centre
Attendance: 15,182
Game reference
Aaron BoldGoaliesAnthony Cosmo
Matthews (Church, Knight) – 01:141–0
Knight (Taylor, Davis) – 01:502–0
2–106:49 – Malcom (D. Smith, Culp)
2–209:09 – Watt
2–311:25 – Benesch (D. Smith, Hill)
McIntosh (Taylor, Matthews) (PP) – 12:363–3
3–413:37 – D. Smith (Benesch)
Knight (Church, Bilic) – 19:114–4
4–529:12 – Hill (D. Smith, Culp)
Greer (Matthews, Church) – 29:555–5
5–631:05 – Weiss (Jones)
5–734:04 – Benesch (D. Smith, Steenhuis) (PP)
McIntosh (Knight) – 36:496–7
Greer (Corbeil, Dilks) (SH) – 38:517–7
7–842:48 – Steenhuis (Brock)
7–944:16 – D. Smith (Culp)
Matthews (Church) (PP) – 49:128–9
Church (Greer, Matthews) – 54:299–9
9–1055:36 – Brownwell (Brock)
Church (Matthews, Knight) – 55:2510–10
Cornwall – 59:4811–10
11 minPenalties8 min
54Shots57

Rush wins series 2–0.

Awards

Annual awards

Award Winner Other Finalists
Most Valuable Player Dhane Smith, Buffalo Shawn Evans, New England
Mark Matthews, Saskatchewan[7]
Goaltender of the Year Evan Kirk, New England Nick Rose, Toronto
Dillon Ward, Colorado[8]
Defensive Player of the Year Ryan Dilks, Saskatchewan Chris Corbeil, Saskatchewan
Steve Priolo, Buffalo[9]
Transition Player of the Year Brad Self, Rochester Jordan MacIntosh, Georgia
Jeremy Thompson, Saskatchewan[10]
Rookie of the Year Randy Staats, Georgia Wesley Berg, Calgary
Jesse King, Georgia[11]
Sportsmanship Award Ben McIntosh, Saskatchewan Karsen Leung, Calgary
Kiel Matisz, Georgia[12]
GM of the Year Steve Dietrich, Buffalo John Arlotta, Georgia
Rich Lisk, New England[13]
Les Bartley Award Glenn Clark, New England Troy Cordingley, Buffalo
Derek Keenan, Saskatchewan[14]
Executive of the Year Award Lee Genier, Saskatchewan Mike French, New England
Scott Loffler, Buffalo[15]
Teammate of the Year Award Mike Poulin, Calgary Joel McCready, Vancouver
Andrew Watt, Buffalo[16]
Air Canada Wingman of the Year Award Callum Crawford, Colorado Rob Hellyer, Toronto
Dhane Smith[17]
Tom Borrelli Award Teddy Jenner, ILIndoor.com[18]

Monthly awards

Awards are presented monthly for the best overall player and best rookie.

MonthOverallRookie
January[19] Dhane Smith- Buffalo BanditsRandy Staats- Georgia Swarm
February[20] Dhane Smith- Buffalo BanditsJesse King- Georgia Swarm
March[21] Dhane Smith- Buffalo BanditsWesley Berg- Calgary Roughnecks
April[22] Rob Hellyer- Toronto RockRandy Staats- Georgia Swarm

Stadiums and locations

Buffalo Bandits Georgia Swarm New England Black Wolves Rochester Knighthawks Toronto Rock
KeyBank Center Infinite Energy Arena Mohegan Sun Arena Blue Cross Arena Air Canada Centre
Capacity: 19,070 Capacity: 11,355 Capacity: 7,700 Capacity: 11,200 Capacity: 18,819
Calgary Roughnecks Colorado Mammoth Saskatchewan Rush Vancouver Stealth
Scotiabank Saddledome Pepsi Center SaskTel Centre Langley Events Centre
Capacity: 19,289 Capacity: 18,007 Capacity: 15,190 Capacity: 5,276

Attendance

Regular season

Home teamHome gamesAverage attendanceTotal attendance[23]
Buffalo Bandits 9 15,833 142,505
Colorado Mammoth 9 13,832 124,489
Saskatchewan Rush 9 11,737 105,637
Calgary Roughnecks 9 11,471 103,246
Toronto Rock 9 9,159 82,432
Rochester Knighthawks 9 8,164 73,483
Georgia Swarm 9 4,667 42,010
Vancouver Stealth 9 3,758 33,828
New England Black Wolves 9 3,751 33,761
League 81 9,152 741,391

Playoffs

Home teamHome gamesAverage attendanceTotal attendance[24]
Saskatchewan Rush 2 15,187 30,374
Buffalo Bandits 2 13,473 26,947
Colorado Mammoth 1 13,116 13,116
Calgary Roughnecks 1 13,116 13,116
New England Black Wolves 2 3,481 6,963
League 8 11,201 89,611

See also

References

  1. ↑ "NLL announces 30th Anniversary Team countdown". NLL.com. November 13, 2015. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
  2. ↑ "League announces 2016 NLL regular season schedule". NLL.com. September 27, 2015. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Swarm Announce Relocation to Metro-Atlanta Area". NLL.com. May 29, 2015. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Rush announce relocation to Saskatchewan". NLL.com. July 20, 2015. Archived from the original on September 10, 2015. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Bandits legend Tavares retires after 24-year NLL career". NLL.com. September 2, 2015. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  6. ↑ "NLL Standings". NLL.com. Retrieved May 1, 2016. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  7. ↑ "2016 NLL Most Valuable Player award finalists". NLL.com. June 30, 2016. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
  8. ↑ "2016 NLL Goaltender of the Year award finalists". NLL.com. June 2, 2016. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
  9. ↑ "2016 NLL Defensive Player of the Year award finalists". NLL.com. June 21, 2016. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
  10. ↑ "2016 NLL Transition Player of the Year finalists". NLL.com. June 23, 2016. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
  11. ↑ "2016 NLL Rookie of the Year finalists". NLL.com. June 29, 2016. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
  12. ↑ "2016 NLL Sportsmanship Award finalists". NLL.com. June 20, 2016. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
  13. ↑ "2016 NLL GM of the Year finalists". NLL.com. June 28, 2016. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
  14. ↑ "2016 NLL Head Coach of the Year finalists". NLL.com. June 27, 2016. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
  15. ↑ "2016 NLL Executive of the Year finalists". NLL.com. July 7, 2016. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
  16. ↑ "2016 NLL Teammate of the Year finalists". NLL.com. July 5, 2016. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
  17. ↑ "2016 NLL Air Canada Wingman of the Year finalists". NLL.com. July 6, 2016. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
  18. ↑ "Teddy Jenner named 2016 NLL Media Person of the year". NLL.com. July 11, 2016. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
  19. ↑ "Bandits' Dhane Smith wins Player of the Month for January". NLL.com. February 5, 2016. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  20. ↑ "Bandits' Smith repeats as NLL Player of the Month". NLL.com. March 4, 2016. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  21. ↑ "Bandits' Smith wins third-straight Player of the Month award". NLL.com. April 1, 2016. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
  22. ↑ "Rock's Hellyer wins NLL Player of the Month for April". NLL.com. May 6, 2016. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
  23. ↑ "National Lacrosse League - attendance | Pointstreak Sports Technologies".
  24. ↑ "National Lacrosse League - attendance | Pointstreak Sports Technologies".