Merrick Thomson

Merrick Thomson
Born September 9, 1983 (1983-09-09) (age 28),
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Position Attack / Forward
Height
 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Former NCAA Team University at Albany
NLL Team Philadelphia Wings
MLL Team
F. Teams		 Free Agent
Hamilton Nationals
New Jersey Pride
Nationality  Canada
Pro Career 2007–present
Shoots Left

Merrick Thomson (born September 9, 1983) is a former lacrosse player from Hamilton, Ontario. He played the attack position for the Hamilton Nationals of Major League Lacrosse and for the Philadelphia Wings of the National Lacrosse League.

Contents

College career

Thomson played collegiate lacrosse at the University at Albany. He was co-captain of the Great Danes, alongside Frank Resetarits, and helped lead his team to the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament as a senior.[1] Thomson made an immediate impact in the NCAA. As a freshman, he equaled the NCAA single game record of playoff goals scored, with six, in a contest against the Syracuse Orangemen, earning America East Conference Rookie of the Year in 2004.[2] In 2005, he led the nation in goals scored per game, with 3.38 per game, and in 2007 was named an All-American (third-team).[3]

Professional career

MLL

Thomson plays in Major League Lacrosse with the New Jersey Pride. In limited playing time as a rookie, Thomson impressed, and has proved himself a valuable asset in the future to the Pride.[4] In 2008, his second season in the league, Thomson scored 42 goals (finishing with the second most on the season) and was awarded the Warrior Most Improved Player award.[5] During the 2009 MLL season Thomson played for the Toronto Nationals. Thomson had a career high in goals with 44. He then helped lead Toronto to the MLL Championship and won the MVP award for the playoffs.

Thompson suffered a concussion during the 2009 championship game. The injury has sidelined Thomson for the entire 2010 NLL season with the Wings. He has also been placed on Injury Reserve for the 2010 MLL season with the Nationals.

NLL

Thomson was selected in the first round (second overall) by the Philadelphia Wings of the National Lacrosse League in the 2007 NLL Entry Draft. A consensus first round draft pick, the Wings chose Thomson to strengthen their left-handed offensive attack.[6] Thomson captured Rookie of the Week honors in week 4 of the 2008 NLL season, and also was named Rookie of the Month for January.[7]

Awards

Statistics

NCAA (Division I)

Season Team GP G A Pts GB
2004 UAlbany 16 47 12 59 23
2005 UAlbany 16 54 20 74 22
2006 UAlbany 15 31 11 42 27
2007 UAlbany 18 56 13 69 23
NCAA Totals 65 188(a) 56 244 95
(a) 5th on NCAA career goals list

Major League Lacrosse

    Regular Season   Playoffs
Season Team GP G 2ptG A Pts GB PIM GP G 2ptG A Pts GB PIM
2007 New Jersey 5 9 0 1 10 5 0 - - - - - - -
2008 New Jersey 12 42 0 10 52 10 2 - - - - - - -
2009 Toronto 11 44 0 6 50 13 1.5 2 6 0 0 6 5 1
MLL Totals 28 95 0 17 112 28 3.5 2 6 0 0 6 5 1

National Lacrosse League

    Regular Season   Playoffs
Season Team GP G A Pts LB PIM GP G A Pts LB PIM
2008 Philadelphia 15 26 29 55 59 26 1 1 3 4 7 0
2009 Philadelphia 15 39 30 69 70 2 -- -- -- -- -- --
NLL Totals 30 65 59 124 129 28 1 1 3 4 7 0

References

  1. ^ "Top-Ranked Cornell Edges UAlbany in Overtime IN NCAA Lacrosse Quarterfinals". Albany.edu. http://www.albany.edu/sports/mens/lacrosse/mlaxstories.htm. Retrieved 2007-05-21. 
  2. ^ "Merrick Thomson New Jersey Pride Player's Bio". NewJerseyPride.com. http://www.newjerseypride.com/team/roster/index.html?player_id=41. Retrieved 2007-09-01. 
  3. ^ a b "University of Albany Men’s Lacrosse Media Guide". Albany.edu. http://www.albany.edu/sports/mens/lacrosse/mediaguide06.pdf. Retrieved 2007-09-01. 
  4. ^ "Season in Review: Offense". NewJerseyPride.com. http://www.newjerseypride.com/news/recentpridenews/index.html?article_id=422. Retrieved 2007-09-01. 
  5. ^ "Thomson named Warrior Most Improved Player". MajorLeagueLacrosse.com. August 14, 2008. http://www.majorleaguelacrosse.com/news/pressreleases/index.html?article_id=1193. Retrieved 2008-08-14. 
  6. ^ "Entry Draft prospect: Merrick Thomson". NLL.com. http://nll.com/article.php?id=3063. Retrieved 2007-09-01. 
  7. ^ "Iannucci & Thomson sweep Monthly Awards". NLL.com. February 5, 2008. http://nll.com/article.php?id=3274. Retrieved 2008-02-05.