The NLL is still months away, but a lot has happened this offseason to shape the season already. Every month we will have an NLL preview, talking about different aspects that will matter this season.
NLL Preview- Scoring
A lot of prime offensive players switched teams this offseason. Including last season's MVP Casey Powell. The Boston Blazers offense has been well documented this offseason, acquiring Powell and Josh Sanderson from the Calgary Roughnecks.
But those were not the only players to switch teams. Geoff Snider was traded to Calgary, and Jeff Zwycki left the Washington Stealth. And with Colin Doyle being traded last offseason, this looks to be the norm in the NLL.
Who will lead?In the east, I think Boston. I've talked about them a lot so far already, so how about the west. If Calgary didn;t trace everybody, I would have said them, but I am going to go with Washington for now, the defending champs. Paul Rabil leads that team obviously, so I believe as of right now Washington will lead the West in scoring.
Who is in the cellar?Philadelphia. They lost Snider, which really hurts their offense. I don't see them even making the playoffs as of right now. In the west, I'm going with Colorado, though I do see them making the playoffs with Vinc. I think Minnesota will score more, but I do not believe they are good enough to make the playoffs this season.
Lead the league?I think Josh Sanderson will lead the league again. With playmaker Casey Powell playing with him, I can see a repeat for Sanderson.
Top 5?My top 5 point getters this season, in no order, would be Sanderson, Powell, Lewis Ratcliff, Colin Doyle, and Callum Crawford. Honorable mention: Paul Rabil
Showing posts with label Lewis Ratcliff. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lewis Ratcliff. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
NLL Preview: Washington Stealth
The NLL season is now only a few months away, and it's time to preview them.
The Stealth won their first ever championship last season, defeating the Toronto Rock in the Champions Cup. The Stealth held the best record all season, and when threatened by teams like Edmonton and Calgary, they hung on. The Stealth got clutch production all season long, and look like the favorites again in the west going into 2011.
The Stealth season started with one of their biggest trades in franchise history, trading Colin Doyle to Toronto for Lewis Ratcliff. Ratcliff responded to the move by becoming the second leading scorer in the NLL.
The Stealth had plenty of scorers in the top twenty along with Ratcliff, Rhys Duch, and Jeff Zywicki, who they just traded to Edmonton.
The Stealth played their first season in Washington as an up and coming team. They had made the playoffs the previous year, but were still under .500. The Roughnecks looked like the team to beat in the west. And many people were stunned when the Stealth traded Doyle, the face of the franchise for so long. The Stealth came out of the gate strong, and continued it until the end to win their championship.
The Stealth look a little different this year, trading away Jeff Zywicki and acquiring Jeff Moelski. But the Stealth don't look to let up, as they still have Paul Rabil, Cam Sedgewick, and Brian Carroll. Also in the mix is playoff hero Mike Grimes, a defensman.
The Stealth put a lot on young goaltender Tyler Richards last season, and he delivered. Richards, the Stealth's third round pick in 2007, was spending his third year in the league and was looking to make a big leap. Richards spent time as the Stealth's backup in 2009, playing in ten games with a save percentage of .803%. He was 3-1 that season. The Stealth named him their starting goaltender in 2010, and Richards played in every game. He went 5-4 with a .771%. Though Richards did not rank high in the goaltender rankings, he won the world championship.
The Stealth are one of the favorites again this season, keeping much of their team together.
The Stealth won their first ever championship last season, defeating the Toronto Rock in the Champions Cup. The Stealth held the best record all season, and when threatened by teams like Edmonton and Calgary, they hung on. The Stealth got clutch production all season long, and look like the favorites again in the west going into 2011.
The Stealth season started with one of their biggest trades in franchise history, trading Colin Doyle to Toronto for Lewis Ratcliff. Ratcliff responded to the move by becoming the second leading scorer in the NLL.
The Stealth had plenty of scorers in the top twenty along with Ratcliff, Rhys Duch, and Jeff Zywicki, who they just traded to Edmonton.
The Stealth played their first season in Washington as an up and coming team. They had made the playoffs the previous year, but were still under .500. The Roughnecks looked like the team to beat in the west. And many people were stunned when the Stealth traded Doyle, the face of the franchise for so long. The Stealth came out of the gate strong, and continued it until the end to win their championship.
The Stealth look a little different this year, trading away Jeff Zywicki and acquiring Jeff Moelski. But the Stealth don't look to let up, as they still have Paul Rabil, Cam Sedgewick, and Brian Carroll. Also in the mix is playoff hero Mike Grimes, a defensman.
The Stealth put a lot on young goaltender Tyler Richards last season, and he delivered. Richards, the Stealth's third round pick in 2007, was spending his third year in the league and was looking to make a big leap. Richards spent time as the Stealth's backup in 2009, playing in ten games with a save percentage of .803%. He was 3-1 that season. The Stealth named him their starting goaltender in 2010, and Richards played in every game. He went 5-4 with a .771%. Though Richards did not rank high in the goaltender rankings, he won the world championship.
The Stealth are one of the favorites again this season, keeping much of their team together.
Friday, July 16, 2010
England Wins Big Day 1
England didn't play the Iroquois Nationals like they expected, but I'm sure they'll take their 12-3 smashing over Germany.
Lewis Ratcliff scored a hat trick to help the English defeat the now Blue Grouped Germany. A goal just before half-time did the trick for a three-goal welcome cushion at half-time, before England stepped up in the second half and scored six goals without reply to put the contest out of sight.
Germany get on the scoresheet again, but England dominated the second half to make sure they went top of the Blue Division at this early stage.
I understand taking the Iroquois out of the Blue Group, but the decision to put Germany in puzzles me.
Speaking of the Iroquois, they will play a scrimmage tonight in hopes of still going to England.
Lewis Ratcliff scored a hat trick to help the English defeat the now Blue Grouped Germany. A goal just before half-time did the trick for a three-goal welcome cushion at half-time, before England stepped up in the second half and scored six goals without reply to put the contest out of sight.
Germany get on the scoresheet again, but England dominated the second half to make sure they went top of the Blue Division at this early stage.
I understand taking the Iroquois out of the Blue Group, but the decision to put Germany in puzzles me.
Speaking of the Iroquois, they will play a scrimmage tonight in hopes of still going to England.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Stealth win Champions Cup
Photot credit: NLL Insider
The Washington Stealth beat the Toronto Rock, 15-11 to win the Champions Cup. The Stealth, who had the best record in the regular season, went up by three goals early, the first two from former Rock Lewis Ratcliff. The Rock went on to score six unanswered goals and led 7-5 at halftime.
Into the third, Toronto led by as many as four and then Washington turned on the jets. The Rock sat up 10-6 before the Stealth scored eight straight goals to lead, and the Rock did not score in a span from 2:07 in the third to 2:53 in the fourth. The Rock made it a little interesting late by making it 14-11, but the Stealth's Mike Grimes scored with Bob Watson pulled. The Stealth win their first ever Champions Cup in franchise history.
Notes:
* Is this Bob Watson's last game in the NLL?
* A very well played game by both teams. Both players in the Doyle-Ratcliff deal played well, with Ratcliff scoring five.
* It must have been odd for Colin Doyle to watch the Stealth win the cup after captaining them for a long time without winning one.
* I think we now know who won that deal.
* Tyler Richards looked like a well seasoned veteran in this game, as he stopped several great Toronto chances.
* What a playoffs for Rhys Duch.
* Chris Hall becomes the first coach to win two championships with different teams since Les Barkley.
* Thanks for following the NLL this season at NLL Blog, stay here all season for coverage of NLL players during MLL season.
The Washington Stealth beat the Toronto Rock, 15-11 to win the Champions Cup. The Stealth, who had the best record in the regular season, went up by three goals early, the first two from former Rock Lewis Ratcliff. The Rock went on to score six unanswered goals and led 7-5 at halftime.
Into the third, Toronto led by as many as four and then Washington turned on the jets. The Rock sat up 10-6 before the Stealth scored eight straight goals to lead, and the Rock did not score in a span from 2:07 in the third to 2:53 in the fourth. The Rock made it a little interesting late by making it 14-11, but the Stealth's Mike Grimes scored with Bob Watson pulled. The Stealth win their first ever Champions Cup in franchise history.
Notes:
* Is this Bob Watson's last game in the NLL?
* A very well played game by both teams. Both players in the Doyle-Ratcliff deal played well, with Ratcliff scoring five.
* It must have been odd for Colin Doyle to watch the Stealth win the cup after captaining them for a long time without winning one.
* I think we now know who won that deal.
* Tyler Richards looked like a well seasoned veteran in this game, as he stopped several great Toronto chances.
* What a playoffs for Rhys Duch.
* Chris Hall becomes the first coach to win two championships with different teams since Les Barkley.
* Thanks for following the NLL this season at NLL Blog, stay here all season for coverage of NLL players during MLL season.
Friday, May 14, 2010
NLL Champions Cup Preveiw: Stealth vs Rock
It's time for the National Lacrosse League Champions Cup. This years matchup features the team with the best regular season, the Washington Stealth. They face a team in the Toronto Rock who look to tie the Philadelphia Wings record of six championships. Fresh off his rookie of the year, Stephen Leblanc look to knock off Rhys Duch and the Washington Stealth.
Leading Point Scorer(Playoffs): Was:Rhys Duch, 14 pts
Tor: Stephen LeBlanc, 12 pts
Goaltender: Was: Tyler Richards
Tor: Bob Watson
Injuries: Was: Travis Gillspie
Tor: None
Game Notes:
* The Rock look for their sixth championship in a year that was meant for rebuilding.
* A sub-plot in this game will be the return of Colin Doyle to the Stealth. Both Lewis Ratcliff and Doyle, the two center pieces in that deal, have not done much these playoffs
* The Stealth held the Rush to one goal in thirteen shots on Saturday
* The Rock were 0-4 on their power play
* The game can be seen Saturday night at 10:30 on NLL.com, or Sunday at 2pm on Versus. I will have an open thread to chat tomorrow night and Sunday.
Leading Point Scorer(Playoffs): Was:Rhys Duch, 14 pts
Tor: Stephen LeBlanc, 12 pts
Goaltender: Was: Tyler Richards
Tor: Bob Watson
Injuries: Was: Travis Gillspie
Tor: None
Game Notes:
* The Rock look for their sixth championship in a year that was meant for rebuilding.
* A sub-plot in this game will be the return of Colin Doyle to the Stealth. Both Lewis Ratcliff and Doyle, the two center pieces in that deal, have not done much these playoffs
* The Stealth held the Rush to one goal in thirteen shots on Saturday
* The Rock were 0-4 on their power play
* The game can be seen Saturday night at 10:30 on NLL.com, or Sunday at 2pm on Versus. I will have an open thread to chat tomorrow night and Sunday.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
A look back at the trade that shaped the Champions Cup
The face of the Stealth had been Colin Doyle all the way back to when they were the Albany Attack. He was the captain of the Stealth franchise and stood for everything for it. But last off season the Stealth traded Doyle to the Toronto Rock for Lewis Ratcliff, Joel Delgarno and Tyler Codron. The center piece for the Stealth was obviously Ratcliff, who went on to lead the NLL in goals with 46. Delgarno, a rookie, scored sixteen points in the first half of the season. Codron did not see much action this season due to a knee injury.
Early it looked like the Rock got the better part of the deal. Doyle was a great addition to a Rock team that was supposed to be in rebuilding. An interesting story line this series is Doyle faced the Toronto Rock in the 2002 Champions Cup as a member of the Attack.
Read more about this story here
The Champions Cup will air live on NLL.com and TSN2 in Canada. You watch the game via tape delay the next day on Versus at 2pm.
Early it looked like the Rock got the better part of the deal. Doyle was a great addition to a Rock team that was supposed to be in rebuilding. An interesting story line this series is Doyle faced the Toronto Rock in the 2002 Champions Cup as a member of the Attack.
Read more about this story here
The Champions Cup will air live on NLL.com and TSN2 in Canada. You watch the game via tape delay the next day on Versus at 2pm.
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