2004 NLL season

2004 NLL season
League National Lacrosse League
Sport Indoor lacrosse
Duration December 26, 2003 – May 7, 2004
Number of teams 10
Regular season
Season MVP Jim Veltman (Toronto Rock)
Top scorer Gary Gait (Colorado Mammoth)
Playoffs
Eastern champions Toronto Rock
  Eastern runners-up Rochester Knighthawks
Western champions Colorado Mammoth
  Western runners-up San Jose Stealth
Champion's Cup
Champions Calgary Roughnecks
  Runners-up Buffalo Bandits
Finals MVP Curtis Palidwor (Calgary)

The 2004 National Lacrosse League season began on December 26, 2003, with the Arizona Sting hosting the Vancouver Ravens. That game was the Sting's first-ever game and the first event held in the new Glendale Arena (now Gila River Arena) in Glendale, Arizona. The season concluded with the championship game on May 7, 2004. Over 19,000 fans, the second largest crowd ever at an NLL game, packed the Pengrowth Saddledome (now Scotiabank Saddledome) to watch the Calgary Roughnecks defeat the Buffalo Bandits 14–11.[1] This game was the first NLL championship game since 1998 that did not feature the Toronto Rock.

The collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the league and the Professional Lacrosse Players' Association expired before the 2004 season, and the lack of a new agreement caused a 12-day players strike in December 2003. On December 17, the NLL and PLPA announced that the previous CBA had been extended by one year, guaranteeing that the 2004 season would be played without strikes or lockouts.[2]

Team movement

2004 was a season of turmoil for the NLL – two franchises disappeared while three others moved cross-country, causing a division realignment. Gone was the three-division format that had been used in the preceding two seasons; the league was now split into East and West divisions. The Ottawa Rebel and New York Saints franchises both folded, and the following teams moved:

These three joined Colorado, Calgary, and Vancouver in the West division, while perennial rivals Toronto, Buffalo, Rochester, and Philadelphia were left to fight over three playoff spots in the East.

Milestones

Final standings

Regular season

Reference: [5]

East Division
PTeamGPWLPCTGBHomeRoadGFGADiffGF/GPGA/GP

1Toronto Rock xy16106.6250.05353202176+2612.6211.00
2Rochester Knighthawks x1688.5002.06226173186-1310.8111.62
3Buffalo Bandits x1688.5002.04444205198+712.8112.38
4Philadelphia Wings1679.4383.03544192198-612.0012.38
West Division
PTeamGPWLPCTGBHomeRoadGFGADiffGF/GPGA/GP

1Colorado Mammoth xyz16133.8120.07162223173+5013.9410.81
2San Jose Stealth x16115.6882.07144204201+312.7512.56
3Calgary Roughnecks x16106.6253.04462214187+2713.3811.69
4Arizona Sting1679.4386.06217200208-812.5013.00
5Vancouver Ravens16511.3128.03526188213-2511.7513.31
6Anaheim Storm16115.06212.01708171227-5610.6914.19

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: Losses; GB: 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

  Divisional Semifinals Divisional Finals Championship
                           
        
  3  Buffalo 19  
East Division
    1  Toronto 10  
3  Buffalo 13
  2  Rochester 9  
    E3  Buffalo 11
  W3  Calgary 14
  3  Calgary 13  
2  San Jose 11  
3  Calgary 13
West Division
    1  Colorado 11  
      

All Star Game

The 2004 All-Star Game was held at Pepsi Center in Denver on February 22, 2004. The East division defeated the West 19–15, and Buffalo's Mark Steenhuis was named game MVP.

All-Star teams

Eastern Division starters   Western Division starters
Colin Doyle, Toronto Gary Gait, Colorado
Blaine Manning, Toronto Tracey Kelusky, Calgary
John Tavares, Buffalo Gavin Prout, Colorado
Pat Coyle, Toronto Jim Moss, San Jose
Mike Hasen, Rochester Andy Ogilvie, Vancouver
Pat O'Toole, Rochester (goalie) Gee Nash, Colorado (goalie)
Eastern Division Reserves Western Division Reserves
Mike Accursi, Buffalo Ted Dowling, Calgary
Jake Bergey, Philadelphia Mark Shepherd, Anaheim
Paul Cantabene, Philadelphia Jay Jalbert, Colorado
Glenn Clark, Toronto Rob Kirkby, Calgary
Kyle Couling, Buffalo Mike Law, Anaheim
Steve Dietrich, Buffalo (goalie) Pat Maddalena, Arizona
Derek Malawsky, Rochester Mike Miron, Arizona (goalie)
Tom Marechek, Philadelphia Casey Powell, Anaheim
Jeff Ratcliffe, Philadelphia Josh Sanderson, San Jose
Mark Steenhuis, Buffalo Dan Stroup, Vancouver
Andrew Turner, Rochester Kaleb Toth, Calgary
Jim Veltman, Toronto Cam Woods, San Jose

Awards

Award Winner Team
MVP Award Jim Veltman Toronto
Rookie of the Year Award Taylor Wray Calgary
Les Bartley Award (Coach of the Year) Paul Day Rochester
GM of the Year Award John Mouradian San Jose
Executive of the Year Award Steve Govett Colorado
Defensive Player of the Year Award Cam Woods (tie) San Jose
  Taylor Wray Calgary
Goaltender of the Year Award Gord Nash Colorado
Sportsmanship Award Gary Gait (tie) Colorado
  Peter Lough Arizona
Championship Game MVP Curtis Palidwor Calgary

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 No awards given
2 Gary Gait Gary Gait Mike Miron AJ Shannon
3 Ted Dowling John Grant, Jr. Matt King Randy Daly
4 Blaine Manning Blaine Manning Andy Ogilvie Craig Conn
5 Mike Regan Mike Regan Brandon Miller Nick Patterson
6 John Tavares Shawn Williams Curtis Palidwor Steve Hoar
7 Dallas Eliuk Derek Malawsky Dallas Eliuk Taylor Wray
8 John Tavares Jeff Ratcliffe Pat O'Toole Ryan Ward
9 Dan Teat Dan Teat Cam Woods AJ Shannon
10 Curtis Palidwor Shawn Williams Curtis Palidwor Scott Evans
11 Mike Miron Pat Maddalena Mike Miron Cam Bergman
12 Jim Veltman Jim Veltman Dwight Maetche Scott Evans
13 Shawn Williams Shawn Williams Peter Lough Chris Cercy
14 Jim Veltman Colin Doyle Dallas Eliuk Ryan Ward
15 Shawn Williams Shawn Williams Pat O'Toole Curtis Smith
16 Shawn Williams Shawn Williams Pat O'Toole Brad MacDonald

Monthly awards

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

Month Overall Rookie
Jan Gavin Prout Craig Conn
Feb John Tavares Craig Conn
Mar Jim Veltman Taylor Wray

Statistics leaders

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

StatPlayerTeamNumber
GoalsGary GaitColorado55
AssistsJosh SandersonSan Jose61
PointsGary GaitColorado93
Penalty MinutesTroy BonterreArizona73
Loose BallsJim VeltmanToronto179
Save PctGee NashColorado79.0

See also

References

  1. Philly, R.A. (May 7, 2004). "Capacity crowd cheers Calgary to Cup". Outsider's Guide to the NLL. Retrieved February 6, 2007.
  2. "Re-Lax! League Players Reach Agreement". NLL.com. December 17, 2003. Retrieved February 4, 2007.
  3. Tucker, Seth (January 10, 2004). "Sting outlasts Storm, 19–18, in triple OT". Outsider's Guide to the NLL. Retrieved February 4, 2007.
  4. Philly, R.A. (December 28, 2004). "League announces various rule changes". Outsider's Guide to the NLL. Retrieved February 4, 2007.
  5. "National Lacrosse League - 2004 Regular Season - Standings". NLL.com. Retrieved May 3, 2012.

External links


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