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2003 NLL season

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2003 NLL season
LeagueNational Lacrosse League
SportIndoor lacrosse
DurationDecember 27, 2002 – May 3, 2003
Number of teams12
Regular season
Season MVPGary Gait (Colorado Mammoth)
Top scorerJohn Tavares (Buffalo Bandits)
Playoffs
Eastern championsColorado Mammoth
  Eastern runners-upPhiladelphia Wings
Central championsRochester Knighthawks
  Central runners-upBuffalo Bandits
Northern championsToronto Rock
  Northern runners-upCalgary Roughnecks
Champion's Cup
ChampionsToronto Rock
  Runners-upRochester Knighthawks
Finals MVPBob Watson (Toronto)
NLL seasons

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

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

Qualified for playoffs
Central Division
Team W L GB PCT Home Road GF GA
Rochester Knighthawks 12 4 - .750 6–2 6–2 214 173
Buffalo Bandits 12 4 - .750 8–0 4–4 231 188
Albany Attack 8 8 4 .500 4–4 4–4 198 191
Columbus Landsharks 8 8 4 .500 4–4 4–4 184 203
Eastern Division
Team W L GB PCT Home Road GF GA
Colorado Mammoth 9 7 - .563 6–2 3–5 226 223
Philadelphia Wings 8 8 1 .500 6–2 2–6 203 209
New York Saints 3 13 6 .187 2–6 1–7 198 239
New Jersey Storm 3 13 6 .187 3–5 0–8 187 220
Northern Division
Team W L GB PCT Home Road GF GA
Toronto Rock 11 5 - .688 6–2 5–3 195 164
Calgary Roughnecks 9 7 2 .563 6–2 3–5 209 207
Vancouver Ravens 9 7 2 .563 5–3 4–4 208 196
Ottawa Rebel 4 12 7 .250 3–5 1–7 174 214

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.

Stat Player Team Number
Goals Gary Gait Colorado 61
Assists John Tavares Buffalo 58
Points John Tavares Buffalo 107
Penalty Minutes Casey Zaph Rochester 59
Loose Balls Jim Veltman Toronto 207
Save Pct Pat O'Toole Rochester 78.3

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 December 21, 2006. Retrieved February 4, 2007. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ "Tavares hits 400 as Bandits top 'Sharks, 19–16". Outsider's Guide to the NLL. February 1, 2003. Retrieved February 4, 2007.
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