2003 NLL season

2003 NLL season
League National Lacrosse League
Sport Indoor lacrosse
Duration December 27, 2002 – May 3, 2003
Number of teams 12
Regular season
Season MVP Gary Gait (Colorado Mammoth)
Top scorer John Tavares (Buffalo Bandits)
Playoffs
Eastern champions Colorado Mammoth
  Eastern runners-up Philadelphia Wings
Central champions Rochester Knighthawks
  Central runners-up Buffalo Bandits
Northern champions Toronto Rock
  Northern runners-up Calgary Roughnecks
Champion's Cup
Champions Toronto Rock
  Runners-up Rochester Knighthawks
Champion's Cup MVP Bob Watson (Toronto)

The 2003 National Lacrosse League season began on December 27, 2002 and concluded with the championship game on May 3, 2003.

In 2003, the NLL became the first major men's sports league in North America to feature a woman playing in a regular-season game. Ginny Capicchioni, a stand-out goaltender at Sacred Heart University, was signed by the New Jersey Storm as their third-string goaltender. She dressed for three games, though only played in one. Capicchioni collected one loose ball and made six saves while allowing 7 goals in 11 minutes of play.[1]

Team movement

2003 saw the Montreal Express suspend operations, and also saw the Washington Power move to Colorado, where even they were unprepared for the warm welcome they received in Denver. The franchise had drawn small crowds in Washington as well as in Pittsburgh and Baltimore before that, but averaged more than 16,000 fans per game[2] in 2003, second in the league only to Toronto.

Milestones

Final standings

Regular season

Reference: [4]

Central Division
P Team GP W L PCT GB Home Road GF GA Diff GF/GP GA/GP

1 Rochester Knighthawks – xyz 16 12 4 0.750 0.0 6–2 6–2 214 173 +41 13.38 10.81
2 Buffalo Bandits – x 16 12 4 0.750 0.0 8–0 4–4 231 188 +43 14.44 11.75
3 Albany Attack 16 8 8 0.500 4.0 4–4 4–4 198 191 +7 12.38 11.94
4 Columbus Landsharks 16 8 8 0.500 4.0 4–4 4–4 184 203 -19 11.50 12.69
East Division
P Team GP W L PCT GB Home Road GF GA Diff GF/GP GA/GP

1 Colorado Mammoth – xy 16 9 7 0.563 0.0 6–2 3–5 226 223 +3 14.13 13.94
2 Philadelphia Wings 16 8 8 0.500 1.0 6–2 2–6 203 209 -6 12.69 13.06
3 New York Saints 16 3 13 0.188 6.0 2–6 1–7 198 239 -41 12.38 14.94
4 New Jersey Storm 16 3 13 0.188 6.0 3–5 0–8 187 220 -33 11.69 13.75
North Division
P Team GP W L PCT GB Home Road GF GA Diff GF/GP GA/GP

1 Toronto Rock – xy 16 11 5 0.688 0.0 6–2 5–3 195 164 +31 12.19 10.25
2 Calgary Roughnecks – x 16 9 7 0.563 2.0 6–2 3–5 209 207 +2 13.06 12.94
3 Vancouver Ravens – x 16 9 7 0.563 2.0 5–3 4–4 208 196 +12 13.00 12.25
4 Ottawa Rebel 16 4 12 0.250 7.0 3–5 1–7 174 214 -40 10.88 13.38

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–LossesGB–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

Playoffs

  Quarterfinals Semifinals Championship
                           
        
  4  Colorado 11  
    2  Toronto 15  
6  Vancouver 12
  4  Colorado 15  
    2  Toronto 8
  1  Rochester 6
  5  Calgary 9  
3  Buffalo 16  
3  Buffalo 13
    1  Rochester 16  
      

Semifinals

Colorado 11 @ Toronto 15
Buffalo 13 @ Rochester 16

Championship

Toronto 8 @ Rochester 6

All Star Game

No NLL All-Star game was held in 2003.

Awards

Award Winner Team
MVP Award Gary Gait Colorado
Rookie of the Year Award Brian Langtry Colorado
Coach of the Year Darris Kilgour Buffalo
GM of the Year Award Kurt Silcott Buffalo
Executive of the Year Award Brad Banister Calgary
Defensive Player of the Year Award Jim Moss Albany
Goaltender of the Year Award Pat O'Toole Rochester
Sportsmanship Award Chris Driscoll New York / Toronto
Championship Game MVP Bob Watson Toronto

Weekly awards

The NLL gives out awards weekly for the best overall player, best offensive player, best defensive player, and best rookie.

Week Overall Offensive Defensive Rookie
1 Bill Greer Tracey Kelusky Matt Roik Patrick Merrill
2 Erik Miller Steve Toll Erik Miller Cam Sedgwick
3 Jason Clark Jason Clark Pat Campbell Chris Schiller
4 Steve Dietrich Pat Maddalena Bill Greer Tom Montour
5 Dallas Eliuk Blaine Manning Dallas Eliuk Aaron Wilson
6 John Tavares Del Halladay Curtis Palidwor Aaron Wilson
7 Chris Driscoll Chris Driscoll Curtis Palidwor Nick Polanco
8 Bill Greer Colin Doyle Pat O'Toole Lewis Ratcliff
9 Jim Veltman Tom Marechek Jim Veltman Aaron Wilson
10 Gary Gait Shawn Williams Gee Nash Travis Gillespie
11 Jeff Ratcliffe Jeff Ratcliffe Kyle Couling Brian Tower
12 Gary Gait Derek Malawsky Dwight Maetche Marc Morley
13 Gary Gait Curt Malawsky Gee Nash Brian Langtry
14 Tracey Kelusky John Grant, Jr. Pat O'Toole Brian Langtry
15 Pat Maddalena Mike Accursi Brian Beisel Brian Lantry
16 Erik Miller Pat Maddalena Erik Miller Marc Morley

Monthly awards

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

Month Overall Rookie
Jan Pat Maddalena
John Tavares (tie) 		Cam Sedgwick
Feb Chris Driscoll Aaron Wilson
Mar Gary Gait Brian Langtry

Statistics leaders

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

StatPlayerTeamNumber
GoalsGary GaitColorado61
AssistsJohn TavaresBuffalo58
PointsJohn TavaresBuffalo107
Penalty MinutesCasey ZaphRochester59
Loose BallsJim VeltmanToronto207
Save PctPat O'TooleRochester78.3

See also

References

  1. ↑ "PLUS: LACROSSE; First Woman Plays In League Game". The New York Times. April 14, 2003. Retrieved February 4, 2007.
  2. ↑ Philly, R.A. (August 11, 2003). "Denver to host 2004 All Star Game". Outsider's Guide to the NLL. Archived from the original on 21 December 2006. Retrieved February 4, 2007.
  3. ↑ "Tavares hits 400 as Bandits top 'Sharks, 19–16". Outsider's Guide to the NLL. February 1, 2003. Retrieved February 4, 2007.
  4. ↑ "National Lacrosse League - 2003 Regular Season - Standings". NLL.com. Retrieved May 3, 2012.

External links