From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- For the article on the former MILL team, see Boston Blazers (1992-1997)
The Boston Blazers are an indoor lacrosse team in the National Lacrosse League (NLL). The Blazers are based in Boston, Massachusetts, and are scheduled to begin play in the 2009 NLL season.
The team is owned by Tim Armstrong, President of Advertising and Commerce for Google. NLL veteran Tom Ryan will serve as the team's first head coach. On April 7, 2008, the Blazers named veteran New England marketing executive Doug Reffue to the position of team president.
The team is not associated with the former Boston Blazers, who played in the 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".[1]
[edit] 2008 season
The Blazers were originally scheduled to begin play in the 2008 NLL season. 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.[2] 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.[3] 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.[4] 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.[4] A dispersal draft was held on November 5, 2007.[5]
[edit] Expansion Draft
On July 31, 2007 the 2008 NLL expansion draft was held and the results are as follows:
| Player |
Former Team |
| Patrick Merrill |
Toronto |
| Pat Campbell |
Edmonton |
| Gewas Schindler |
New York |
| Ryan Avery |
Calgary |
| Jed Prossner |
Portland |
| Jake Bergey |
Philadelphia |
| Brenden Thenhaus |
Buffalo |
| Darren Halls |
San Jose |
| Scott Stewart |
Minnesota |
| Jon Harasym |
Chicago |
| Mike Grimes |
Arizona |
| Brian Langtry |
Colorado |
| Brian Croswell |
Rochester |
Immediately following the draft, Boston traded away two of the players they chose:
- Brian Langtry was traded back to Colorado in exchange for Sean Morris and Casey Cittadino.[6]
- Brian Croswell was traded to Toronto for two picks in the 2007 entry draft as well as future conditional considerations.[7] This trade was voided on August 28, 2007 "due to a conditional consideration not being met".[8]
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
[edit] References
