Skip to main content

Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:

1. The IMLCA held its annual convention this weekend in Baltimore, highlighted by the Nike Awards Luncheon.

Penn’s Mike Murphy (Division I), Indianapolis’ Greg Stocks (Division II) and Cabrini’s Steve Colfer (Division III) earned USILA Coach of the Year honors, while Penn State’s Peter Toner (Division I), Mount Olive’s Dylan Price (Division II) and Amherst’s Dan Annino each was named the IMLCA Assistant Coach of the Year in his respective division.

The joint luncheon is one of the ways in which the USILA and IMLCA are aligning their efforts, with Inside Lacrosse reporting that the two bodies have decided to unify at the leadership level.

All of the award winners are listed below.

USILA Division I Coach of the Year
Mike Murphy, Penn

USILA Division II Coach of the Year
Greg Stocks, Indianapolis

USILA Division III Coach of the Year
Steve Colfer, Cabrini

IMLCA Division I Assistant Coach of the Year
Peter Toner, Penn State

IMLCA Division II Assistant Coach of the Year
Dylan Price, Mount Olive

IMLCA Division III Assistant Coach of the Year
Dan Annino, Amherst

MCLA Coach of the Year
James Harkey, South Carolina

Junior College Coaches Award
John Savage, Nassau

IMLCA Creators Award
Phil Buttafuoco

NILCA Coach of the Year
Ajay Chawla

IMLCA Extra Man Award
Bob Scalise, Harvard

IMLCA Sticks & Service Award
Towson University

IMLCA Lifetime Service Award
Paul Wehrum, Union

NILCA Man of the Year
Clay White, Broadneck (Md.)

USILA Howdy Myers Man of the Year Award
Tom Abbott, NCAA officiating coordinator

USILA Frenchy Julien Service Award
Keith Bugbee, Springfield

USILA Doyle Smith Media Award
Matt Kinnear, Inside Lacrosse

Among other highlights of the convention were whiteboard workshops, live field demonstrations by professional players, presentations by Team USA’s Nick Myers (U19 head coach), Pat Myers (U19 assistant) and Seth Tierney (senior assistant), and the IMLCA Hall of Fame Reception formalizing the inductions of Don Leet, Tom Postel, William Schmeisser, Cliff Stevenson, Dick Watts and Chuck Winters.

2. It took just 10 seconds for Jake Withers to score the first goal in Halifax history.

The Thunderbirds, made up largely of players who migrated with the former Rochester Knighthawks to Nova Scotia, easily defeated the expansion New York Riptide 12-4 on Saturday. Warren Hill made 40 saves in the win.

In other NLL Week 2 results:

  • Josh Byrne scored the go-ahead goal on a crease dive (see “What We’re Watching” below), Matt Vinc made a series of saves on the ensuing possession and Dhane Smith added two insurance tallies in the final minutes, as Buffalo defeated San Diego 13-10.

  • Callum Crawford and Joe Resetarits combined for 12 points, as New England defeated host Toronto 12-8 in both teams’ season opener Saturday.

3. Calgary Roughnecks forward Dane Dobbie has been slapped with a six-game suspension for his role in a late-game skirmish in the Roughnecks’ season-opening 12-7 win over Vancouver on Nov. 29. Dobbie, the reigning NLL MVP and NLL championship MVP, was assessed with a gross misconduct penalty, which comes with a one-game suspension. Dobbie received an additional five games as a repeat offender. The PLPA is expected to appeal the ban.

WHAT WE’RE READING

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING

The redodge, the dive and Josh Byrne lands at No. 3 on “SportsCenter.”

An emotional tribute to San Diego Seals captain Brodie Merrill, whose brother, general manager and head coach Pat Merrill, hopes to reward his leap of faith with a title in his twilight.

 

 

WHAT’S ON TAP

  • Jack Goods’ weekly NLL notebook.

  • The December edition of our Holiday Gift Guide, featuring a little something for everyone in your lacrosse family this season.

“DIALED IN” IS POSTED DAILY MONDAY-FRIDAY AT 8 A.M. EASTERN ON USLAXMAGAZINE.COM. SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER FOR A WEEKLY DIGEST DELIVERED DIRECTLY TO YOUR INBOX.