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2004 NLL season

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2004 NLL season
LeagueNational Lacrosse League
SportIndoor lacrosse
DurationDecember 26, 2003 – May 7, 2004
Number of games16
Number of teams10
Regular season
Season MVPJim Veltman (Toronto Rock)
Top scorerGary Gait (Colorado Mammoth)
Playoffs
Eastern championsToronto Rock
  Eastern runners-upRochester Knighthawks
Western championsColorado Mammoth
  Western runners-upSan Jose Stealth
Champion's Cup
ChampionsCalgary Roughnecks
  Runners-upBuffalo Bandits
Finals MVPCurtis Palidwor (Calgary)
NLL seasons

The 2004 National Lacrosse League season is the 18th season in the NLL that 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

  • January 9: The Anaheim Storm play their first ever home game, losing to the Arizona Sting 19–18 in the first triple overtime game in NLL history. Mark Shepherd scored the teams first regulation goal. [3] This is a record not likely to ever be broken – before the 2005 season, the NLL changed overtime periods to 15 minutes from five.[4] Since then, no games have even seen double overtime.

Final standings

Regular season

Reference: [5]

East Division
PTeamGPWLPCTGBHomeRoadGFGADiffGF/GPGA/GP

1Toronto Rockxy16106.6250.05–35–3202176+2612.6211.00
2Rochester Knighthawksx1688.5002.06–22–6173186−1310.8111.62
3Buffalo Banditsx1688.5002.04–44–4205198+712.8112.38
4Philadelphia Wings1679.4383.03–54–4192198−612.0012.38
West Division
PTeamGPWLPCTGBHomeRoadGFGADiffGF/GPGA/GP

1Colorado Mammothxyz16133.8120.07–16–2223173+5013.9410.81
2San Jose Stealthx16115.6882.07–14–4204201+312.7512.56
3Calgary Roughnecksx16106.6253.04–46–2214187+2713.3811.69
4Arizona Sting1679.4386.06–21–7200208−812.5013.00
5Vancouver Ravens16511.3128.03–52–6188213−2511.7513.31
6Anaheim Storm16115.06212.01–70–8171227−5610.6914.19

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; GBGames 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 15
2 San Jose 14
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 Mark Shepherd 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.

Stat Player Team Number
Goals Gary Gait Colorado 55
Assists Josh Sanderson San Jose 61
Points Gary Gait Colorado 93
Penalty Minutes Troy Bonterre Arizona 73
Loose Balls Jim Veltman Toronto 179
Save Pct Gee Nash Colorado 79.0

See also

References

  1. ^ Philly, R.A. (May 7, 2004). "Capacity crowd cheers Calgary to Cup". Outsider's Guide to the NLL. Archived from the original on August 18, 2007. 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. Archived from the original on August 18, 2007. Retrieved February 4, 2007.
  4. ^ Philly, R.A. (December 28, 2004). "League announces various rule changes". Outsider's Guide to the NLL. Archived from the original on August 18, 2007. Retrieved February 4, 2007.
  5. ^ "National Lacrosse League - 2004 Regular Season - Standings". NLL.com. Retrieved May 3, 2012.