1998 NLL season

1998 NLL season
League National Lacrosse League
Sport Indoor lacrosse
Duration January 3, 1998 - April 28, 1998
Number of teams 7
Regular season
League champions Philadelphia Wings
Runners-up Baltimore Thunder
Season MVP Gary Gait (Baltimore Thunder)
Top scorer Gary Gait (Baltimore Thunder)
Champion's Cup
Champion's Cup champions Philadelphia Wings
  Runners-up Baltimore Thunder
Champion's Cup MVP Dallas Eliuk (Philadelphia)
MILL/NLL seasons
← 1997 season

1999 season →

Before the 1998 season, the Major Indoor Lacrosse League was renamed to be the National Lacrosse League, in the process increasing the length of the regular season from ten to twelve games. The first season as the NLL began on January 3, 1998 and concluded with the second championship game on April 28. The championship was decided by a best-two-of-three series, with the Philadelphia Wings defeating the Baltimore Thunder 16-12 in the first game and 17-12 in the second.

Contents

Team Movement

The 1998 season featured the debut of two new teams, and the removal of one. The Boston Blazers folded after nine seasons in Boston and New England, while the Ontario Raiders and Syracuse Smash began play.

Regular season

W = Wins, L = Losses, GB = Games Behind Leader, PCT = Winning Percentage, Home = Home record, Road = Road record, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against

Qualified for playoffs
Team W L GB PCT Home Road GF GA
Philadelphia Wings 9 3 - .750 3-3 6-0 166 148
Baltimore Thunder 8 4 1 .667 4-2 4-2 184 160
Rochester Knighthawks 6 6 3 .500 3-3 3-3 168 159
Buffalo Bandits 6 6 3 .500 4-2 2-4 166 171
Ontario Raiders 6 6 3 .500 4-2 2-4 165 157
New York Saints 5 7 4 .416 3-3 2-4 167 165
Syracuse Smash 2 10 7 .167 2-4 0-6 163 219

All Star Game

No All-Star Game was played in 1998.

Playoffs

  Semifinals Championship (best-of-3)
                 
4  Buffalo 12  
1  Philadelphia 17  
    2  Baltimore 0
  1  Philadelphia 2
3  Rochester 14
2  Baltimore 15  

Awards

Award Winner Team
MVP Award Gary Gait Baltimore
Rookie of the Year Award Colin Doyle Ontario
Championship Game MVP (Series) Dallas Eliuk Philadelphia
Championship Game MVP (Game 1) Dallas Eliuk Philadelphia
Championship Game MVP (Game 2) Bill Miller Philadelphia

Weekly Awards

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

Week Player of the Week
1 Gary Gait
2 Andy Piazza
3 Derek Collins
4 Chris Gill
5 Eric Seremet
6 Tom Marechek
7 Gary Gait
8 Darris Kilgour
9 Derek General
10 Russ Heard
11 Colin Doyle
12 Steve Sombrotto
13 Mark Millon
14 John Tavares
15 Bob Watson

Monthly Awards

Awards are also given out monthly for the best overall player and best rookie. The 1998 season was the first season that the Rookie of the Month award was given out.

Month Overall Rookie
Jan Gary Gait Curt Malawsky
Feb Darris Kilgour Jake Bergey
Mar Mark Millon Colin Doyle

Statistics Leaders

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

Stat Player Team Number
Goals Gail Gait Baltimore 57
Assists Jim Veltman Ontario 40
Points Gary Gait Baltimore 85
Penalty Minutes Pat Coyle Ontario 48
Shots on Goal Gary Gait Baltimore 156
Loose Balls Jim Veltman Ontario 194
Save Pct Steve Dietrich Rochester 77.9

See also

References

Eagle Pro Box Lacrosse League
Major Indoor Lacrosse League
1989 • 1990 • 1991 • 1992 • 1993 • 1994 • 1995 • 1996 • 1997
National Lacrosse League
1998 • 1999 • 2000 • 2001 • 2002 • 2003 • 2004
2005 • 2006 • 2007 • 2008 • 2009 • 2010 • 2011
East Division
West Division
Awards
Articles
Related Articles: Box lacrosse · Lacrosse · Major League Lacrosse