2001 NLL season

2001 NLL season
League National Lacrosse League
Sport Indoor lacrosse
Duration December 21, 2000 – April 27, 2001
Number of teams 9
Regular season
League champions Toronto Rock
Runners-up Philadelphia Wings
Season MVP John Tavares (Buffalo Bandits)
Top scorer John Tavares (Buffalo Bandits)
Champion's Cup
Champion's Cup champions Philadelphia Wings
  Runners-up Toronto Rock
Champion's Cup MVP Dallas Eliuk (Philadelphia)
NLL seasons
← 2000 season

2002 season →

The 2001 National Lacrosse League season began on December 21, 2000 and concluded with the championship game on April 27, 2001. The Philadelphia Wings won their 6th NLL championship, defeating the Toronto Rock 9-8 in Toronto. Philadelphia had now won twice as many championships as any other team in NLL history (the Buffalo Bandits had won three, and the Rock two). The Championship game was one of only two games (out of ten) the Rock lost at home during the 2001 season, and ended Toronto's bid for an unprecedented third straight Championship.

The NLL expanded its schedule from 12 games to 14 during this season.

The lowest-scoring game in NLL history happened during the 2001 season, as the Toronto Rock and Albany Attack combined for only 11 goals in a 7-4 Toronto win at the Air Canada Centre.

Contents

Team Movement

For the 2001 season, one expansion team was added to the NLL, the Columbus Landsharks. In addition, the Syracuse Smash ended a dismal existence (dead last in the standings for three straight years) in Syracuse, moving to Ottawa, Ontario to become the Rebel. Unfortunately, the Rebel would finish in the basement three straight years as well. The Pittsburgh CrosseFire, formerly the Baltimore Thunder, moved again, this time to Washington, becoming the Washington Power.

In addition, the Toronto Rock moved from the aging Maple Leaf Gardens to the Air Canada Centre for the 2001 season. The first Rock game at the ACC was a 17-7 Toronto win over the Ottawa Rebel on the opening night of the season, December 21, 2000[1].

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
Toronto Rock 11 3 - .786 6-1 5-2 168 125
Philadelphia Wings 10 4 1 .714 6-1 4-3 205 177
Rochester Knighthawks 10 4 1 .714 6-1 4-3 198 159
Washington Power 9 5 2 .643 4-3 5-2 226 204
Buffalo Bandits 8 6 3 .571 4-3 4-3 248 218
New York Saints 6 8 5 .429 3-4 3-4 179 181
Albany Attack 5 9 6 .357 3-4 2-5 152 169
Columbus Landsharks 3 11 8 .214 1-6 2-5 134 201
Ottawa Rebel 1 13 10 .071 0-7 1-6 144 220

All Star Game

No All-Star game was held in 2001.

Playoffs

  Semifinals Championship
                 
3  Rochester 11  
2  Philadelphia 12  
    2  Philadelphia 9
  1  Toronto 8
4  Washington 9
1  Toronto 10  

Awards

Award Winner Team
MVP Award John Tavares Buffalo
Rookie of the Year Award Tracey Kelusky Columbus
Coach of the Year Tony Resch Philadelphia
Executive of the Year Award Russ Cline Philadelphia
Goaltender of the Year Award Bob Watson Toronto
Championship Game MVP Dallas Eliuk Philadelphia

Weekly Awards

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

Week Player of the Week
1 no award given
2 John Grant Jr.
3 John Tavares
4 Roy Colsey
5 Derek Malawsky
6 Steve Toll
7 Jake Bergey
8 Devin Dalep
9 Pat O'Toole
10 Gee Nash
11 Tracey Kelusky
12 Kim Squire
13 Kevin Finneran
14 Pat O'Toole
15 Matt Shearer
16 Roy Colsey
17 Dallas Eliuk

Monthly Awards

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

Month Overall Rookie
Jan Derek Malawsky Tracey Kelusky
Feb John Tavares Kris Bryde
Mar Gary Gait Tracey Kelusky

Statistics Leaders

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

Stat Player Team Number
Goals Roy Colsey New York 51
Assists John Tavares Buffalo 64
Points John Tavares Buffalo 115
Penalty Minutes Pat Coyle Toronto 65
Loose Balls Jim Veltman Toronto 161
Save Pct Pat O'Toole Rochester 79.7

See also

References

  1. ^ Ben Knight. "Toronto Rocks Ottawa in season opener, 17-7". Outsider's Guide to the NLL. http://www.lacrosse-network.com/outsidersguide/game0101otto.htm. Retrieved 2006-12-13. 

External links

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