NALL Profiles: Patrick Crosby

Welcome to today's NALL Profile, featuring Kentucky Stickhorses goaltender Patrick Crosby. If you have missed one the previous NALL Profiles have featured Brian Caufield, John Lade, Ricky Pages, and Dan Deckelbaum.

Patrick Crosby was drafted third overall in the NALL National Draft by the Kentucky Stickhorses. He's another one of those American goaltenders looking to prove himself. Crosby played college hockey at Temple, and has picked up goalie as time has gone along. Many players have transitioned well from hockey goalie to box lacrosse goalie The past four Summers Crosby has played in the Ontario Senior B League, having to fly up from Philadelphia.

Crosby has been around the US lacrosse community for a few years now. In 2008 Crosby participated in the USIL combine. He is a member of the US Development team, as so many of the best players in this league are. He also has some international experience, as he started for Slovakia in the World Indoor Tournament this past summer in Prague, Czech Republic. Unfortunately, Patrick and the Slovakian team finished 0-3 in their pool. Pat is not the only NALL player to have ties overseas. Both Peter Poupe and Jamie Plunkett (Both of the Hershey Haymakers) have played over in the Czech Republic.

One of the interesting NALL story lines will be quality of goaltending. At this point, I am optimistic about what these American goalies have to offer. The NALL has what many would say are the two top American goalies in Erik Miller (Jacksonville Bullies) and Ginny Capicchioni, as well as some young guys who need to prove themselves. The NALL gives some goalies a chance to develop that they never would have been given before. After a little bit maybe we'll see more Americans competing for NLL spots. As for now, we have a wealth of talent developing in the states in the NALL.

NALL Profiles: Dan Deckelbaum

Our next featured player in the NALL Profiles is Hershey Haymakers forward Dan Deckelbaum. Deckelbaum signed as one of Hershey's franchise players in November. He was the second franchise signing by Hershey, after they locked up fellow USA Development team member Ginny Capiccioni.

Dan played college lacrosse at Delaware, where he enjoyed much success. He was a four year letter winner at middie, where he totaled 98 points in 62 games played (76 g, 22 a). In 2006 he led the Blue Hens in goals, scoring 31. The Owings Mills, Maryland native was instrumental in his senior year for Delaware, where the Blue Hens were CAA Champions and made their way to the NCAA Final Four. Delaware beat number 2 ranked Virginia and UMBC on their way to losing to the eventual champions Johns Hopkins.

Deckelbaum graduated from Delaware in 2007, and since has played lacrosse professionally. He was selected by the Chicago Machine in the third round (28th overall) in the 2007 MLL Draft. Since, Deckelbaum has only played 9 games in the MLL. He played two seasons in Chicago, playing 7 games and scoring 4 goals. In 2009 he was on the Washington Bayhawks roster, but did not play any games. Last season for the expansion Rattlers Deckelbaum played two games. He scored no goals, had one loose ball and four shots on goal.

The past few years, Deckelbaum has been a member of the US Indoor Development team and a member of the US Bowhunter Cup team, so he does have some indoor lacrosse experience. Deckelbaum has more experience than most in the NALL, so he should be a valuable member of the Haymakers. When asked about signing in Hershey he said, "I'm honored to be one of Hershey's franchise players. After traveling to play all over Canada and the East Coast I'm looking forward to playing in front of the fans in Hershey and spreading the game of lacrosse at its highest level."

As for the Haymakers coach, Hunter Francis, he has this to say about their franchise signing. "Dan is a relentless competitor who keeps himself in a supreme level of physical condition, he literally plays the entire floor in the box game. After conducting our reviews and interviews, Dan was the clear choice. I am confident he will be a star in the sport of box lacrosse for years to come."

Do you think Deckelbaum will be a league leader? Who would you like to be the next feature player in the NALL Profiles series? Comment below! Remember to take a listen to Goods On Lacrosse on the Lacrosse Radio Network this Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. eastern to hear Steve Panarelli, the first overall pick in the NALL National draft by Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, talk about the NALL and MLL.

Minnesota Swarm Announce New Jerseys

Yesterday the Minnesota Swarm announced their new home uniforms, and boy are they interesting. The Swarm, whose jerseys have become more and more out there as time has gone along, somehow managed to go further out of the box then they did last time. The jerseys feature honeycomb decorated grey shoulders with blue and yellow stripes running down the arms. It features the same alternate logo that has appeared on the Swarm jersey for the past few years.

The Swarm's Director of Brand Management and Communication, Matt McCormack, said, "Incorporating the honeycomb look into the shoulders of the new uniforms really ties in a theme that has been prevalent in our branding over the last few years. I think Swarm fans will love the way these new uniforms look on the field and in the stands."

The jerseys incorporate a new material that improves player motion. If you see the jersey up close you can really tell the difference in material. More pictures of the jersey can be seen here on the Swarm's website.

Traditionalists will hate me for this, but the jersey is growing on me. Its way out there, I know. Who says trying something new has to be a bad thing? I find these jerseys very clean cut and sharp, as well as find them much better than their previous jerseys. This is a sport that needs to catch people's attention. Try and look at this jersey and tell me it wouldn't catch your attention. It may be the strangest jersey I've ever seen, but I still think its a really cool design.

NALL Previews: Kentucky Stickhorses

Welcome to the first of five in the NALL Team Previews feature. We start off with the furthest west team, the Kentucky Stickhorses. Kentucky got some interesting players in the rookie draft as well as the past weekend's National Draft. We will start with the Rookie Draft.

The first ever Stickhorse draftee was Brian Caufield out of Albany. I would talk about Brian, but I'm pretty sure that I've already talked enough about him in the Voices of Lacrosse feature on him as well at the NALL Profile I did on him. So if you want to learn more about Brian, you're covered. They also drafted Taylor Embery (Colorado School of Mines), Max Schmidt and Brain Farrell (Both from Maryland), Jovan Miller (Syracuse, but has already signed with Colorado), and Porter McKay (Denison). Schmidt has a very impressive list of honors, including 2011 USILA honorable mention All-American and 2010 Pre-Season honorable mention All-American. Brian Farrell was a 2011 USILA Second Team All-American as well as a Tewarraton Award nominee. Both should be important factors for the Stickhorses.

From there we move to the National Draft that took place this weekend. There are a few names that you should keep an eye out for with Kentucky. With their first pick in the draft, they got their starting goaltender. Pat Crosby (Pictured above, middle) is one of the strong young American goaltenders out there. He's tried out for the US Indoor team before and looks to improve his game in the NALL.

With their second pick, the Stickhorses drafted a player with some MLL experience with the pick of Long Island Lizards long-stick middie Ricky Pages. Just the other day I did an NALL Profile on him, so if you're interested in learning more about Ricky just click the link. He's a guy with a ton of potential in the indoor style of the game.

In the third round Kentucky picked up another guy with some MLL experience, even if its very minimal to this point. Joel Zalesky out of Seton Hill (Not to be confused with Seton Hall) went 15th overall to Kentucky. Zalesky has been in the MLL for three seasons, all with the Hamilton Nationals franchise. However, he has only played in one game. In his one game he has 1 assist and 4 shots. Zalesky had a very successful college career playing for D-II Seton Hill. He set a school record his senior year with 44 goals and 31 assists, a school leading 75 points. He was also named as a D-2 All-American and the Eastern Coast Conference player of the year.

In the 4th round Kentucky picked up a former member of the Boston Blazers practice squad, Ajemian (Pictured above, Right). Ajemian played no games in the NLL, but was on the Blazers roster for two seasons. He was also a member of the Boston Cannons of the MLL for one season, but only played in one game. At Fairfield in college Ajemian served as a captain his senior year and was named to the All-NEILA team as well as being chosen for the annual North/South NCAA All-Star game.

The rest of the draft went like this for Kentucky: (5) Emmitt Printup, Onondaga, (6) David Mitchell, Cornell, (7) Dave McCarty, Albany, (8) Ed Prevost, North Carolina, (9) Mike Unterstein, Hofstra, (10) Ryan Maciaszek, Nazareth, (11) Chase Williams, Bellarmine, (12) Corey Malampy, Widener U, (13) Joel Derechinski, Gordon College, (14) Julian Maliszewski, (15) Peter Mezzanotte, (Towson), and finally (16) Brandon Dube, Ednicott College.

Who do you think is the best player on Kentucky's roster? Anyone you're excited to see get a shot? Comment below! The next team featured will be the Charlotte Copperheads, next Saturday. Keep checking back on the site for the latest NALL news.

NALL: Where Do We Stand?

Today I thought I'd just make a general post about where we are on the NALL front at this point. I remember back when this was first announced, I read the forums. All you heard about was how this league wouldn't even get off the ground, it would fold before they ever played a game. But look how far the league has already come. The NALL has 5 teams set up for their first season with ownership groups that seem to be very interested in growing the sport of lacrosse. There are already rumored expansion teams for the league. They haven't even played yet! That's a really good sign.

We've seen the first ever college draft, with many big names joining the league. David Earl out of Notre Dame became the first player drafted into the league. Only a short time later, Josh Amidon became the first player to sign with their team when he signed with the Shamrocks. Since we have seen many of the rookies sign with their teams. Teams have started to sign franchise players, as Ryan Hotaling (Charlotte), Dan Deckelbaum (Hershey), and Ginny Capicchioni (Hershey) have all signed.

This weekend we witnessed the first National Draft, and we now know the makeup of the majority of the NALL rosters. Steve Panarelli went first overall to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Shamrocks, another player with some MLL experience. We saw a few guys who have been on NLL and MLL rosters before, which was a very good sign. I expect a few more players to sign as free agents as time goes along, especially guys that have been cut by their NLL teams.

We are a little more than a month away from the NALL Season. The question I have to ask you is this: How do you feel about the NALL so far? To me they have done just about everything right. As a NLL or MLL fan, will you be following the new league? You may see some really good young stars develop. I'd think it'd be good to give it a shot.

NALL Profiles: Ricky Pages

Hello everyone, and welcome to today's edition of NALL Profiles, featuring Kentucky Stickhorses draft pick Ricky Pages. In case you've missed it the past NALL Profiles have featured Shamrocks defenseman John Lade and Kentucky Stickhorses forward Brian Caufield. We continue with another Stickhorse (Insert Stickhorse Mania Joke Here).

Ricky Pages was drafted in the second round (9th pick overall) by the Kentucky Stickhorses in the past week's draft. Pages was one of the NALL draft picks with some prior professional lacrosse experience. Pages has played three seasons in the MLL with the Long Island Lizards as a long pole middie. He has played 23 games in the MLL totaling 5 goals. But the stats don't tell all the story. He has grabbed 59 loose balls in that span as well. Pages has developed into one of the best long pole middies in the MLL. In his first year in the league in 2008 Pages was named to the "Young Guns" All-star team in the MLL.

Pages had success in college at the Ohio State University. His senior year he was a preseason All-American honorable mention as well as a member of the pre-season All-GYLL team. He shared Ohio State's defensive MVP award in 2006 and 2007.

Pages will be interesting to watch in indoor lacrosse. He was on the Minnesota Swarm's roster at one point, but he never played for the team. He uses a D-pole in outdoors obviously, so it will be interesting to see him adapt to playing shorty again. One of the more interesting things to watch in the NALL is how defensemen adjust to playing with shorter sticks than they are used to.

Pages has said his favorite part about lacrosse is the aggression. At 6'2'', 175 pounds, Pages could be a physical menace in the NALL. Aggression is the name of the game when you translate to indoor, and I think Pages has that down already. What you'll need to watch out for is the possibility of a slight adjustment period, as I'm guessing he takes a more transition or forward role for the Stickhorses.

How do you feel about the possible success of a long pole middie or long pole defenseman adjusting to the Indoor game? Who would you like to see featured as the next NALL profile? Stickhorse fans, if you'd like to follow Ricky on Twitter his username is @RickyPages11. I'd like to welcome Ricky to the NALL, its really good to see some MLL players involved in the league. Remember I have my weekly show, Goods On Lacrosse, tonight at 6. My guests are both members of the Charlotte Copperheads. We start off with former Boston Blazer, defenseman Ryan Hotaling. Then we finish off the show with Copperhead and InLax writer Kevin Iwanusa talking about being drafted this past weekend. Hope you take a listen.

When Other Athletes Fail, Turn to Lacrosse, and the NLL

Today my friends, we are going to do some tie-overs to other sports. In case you haven't heard, ESPN's Outside the Lines has reported that NL MVP Ryan Braun has tested positive for performance enhancing drugs. Recently everyone had began thinking the steroid era of baseball was over, the years of Barry Bonds and McGuire were over. Now the baseball world is taken back, as one of their young non-steroids star did the unthinkable... steroids.

When steroids in baseball come up, it usually leads to some sort of discussion about what's wrong with sports today, and what we can do to fix it. Now, I'm not the guy who runs around screaming for doctors to be paid more than athletes. Whenever anyone says that, I just tell them that's how the economy works. There is a market for sports, so there will obviously be money involved. But with players moving around looking for more money all the time, what is the real motivation anymore? Do people really play sports for the love of the game anymore?

This may be an odd reference, but it ties into the 90's movie BASEketball starring the creators of South Park. It begins with a satire on the world of sports today. It talks about how players put more time into their celebrations then their actual play. It talks about how guys play for a different team every year so they can get more and more money. The two main characters create a game for normal guys, separate from the world of corporate sports. The fans love it, because they can connect to the players.

Isn't that lacrosse? Players are not making much in this league. We all know that. Many are normal guys, teachers, businessmen, your average Joe. Guys are playing this sport because they love the game. Lacrosse is pure. When was the last time you heard about a lacrosse player being busted for performance enhancing drugs? When was the last time you heard about a lacrosse player getting arrested at a bar after partying with his buddies?

This is a something lacrosse should really push in their marketing. Are you tired of mainstream sports? Tired of all the money that is involved with them? Come watch a lacrosse game! I always hear people, especially older people, talk about how they miss when sports was about loving the game. Guys would play not for money, but to be able to play baseball. Guess what people? That still exists! Lacrosse is the average person's sport. I can tell you one thing, that could get people in the seats.

An affordable form of entertainment in which the players aren't spoiled brats in this economy? With the right marketing scheme these teams could be selling out every night. What do you think about lacrosse being separate from pro sports? Do you think the NLL and NALL should market this? Tell me what you think in the comments section down below and on Twitter. Interested to see what other people think about this topic.

NALL Draft: The Aftermath

So the NALL Draft has come and gone, and now we are left to analyze how each team ended up. Today we look at some of the notable players taken and some interesting stories from today's long but entertaining draft. Who do you think ended up with the best team?

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton had the first pick in the draft, and they went with the veteran with NLL experience, defenseman Steve Panarelli. The one time MLL All Star played three seasons in the NLL, two with Philadelphia and one with Washington. He totaled 7 points in his time in the NLL. On his personal twitter, Panarelli said "Real excited and honored to be the 1st pick in today's NALL draft. Big thanks to the WB Shamrocks...Now let's go chase a RING!!"

Hershey was obviously watching some lacrosse overseas. Their first round pick was Jamie Plunkett, who has been playing lacrosse over in Czech Republic for the Jinzi Metzo. Their second round pick was Peter Poupe from Prague, Czech Republic. Pretty cool to have some guys who've been playing overseas in the North American Lacrosse League.

With the third pick in the draft the Kentucky Stickhorses got their goalie in Pat Crosby out of Temple. Crosby is one of the few American goaltenders with indoor lacrosse experience. Crosby tried out for the USIL team combine a few years back. In the second round they went with a guy with some MLL experience, Ricky Pages. He was on the Swarm roster a few years back but never played. Pages is a three year veteran of the MLL with the Long Island Lizards. He has emerged as one of the best long pole middies in the game.

The Jacksonville Bullies drafted Irish born Ryan Licht out of Farleigh Dickinson University. He has an interesting story, the school has an article about him from a few years back here. In the second round they selected Wade Bucktooth out of Onandaga. He is Brett Bucktooth of the Bandit's cousin. He is just one of many Onandoga guys selected today, as Bucktooth, Printup, Lyons, Jacobs, and Stout were all taken.

One of our own was drafted today, as InLax writer Kevin Iwanusa was drafted by the Charlotte Copperheads in the 11th round. Congrats to Kevin on being selected. Kevin will be joining me on my show Goods On Lacrosse this Wednesday at 6 p.m. Eastern Standard time.

One other piece of news came out today. US goaltender Erik Miller has signed with the Jacksonville Bullies according to Bullies PR. As of now it is just waiting on league approval. Miller started for the US in the indoor championships at Prague this summer. Expect the announcement later this week.

You can find the whole draft here where it is organized by team and by round. Remember to keep checking back to InLax for all your latest NALL news. Listen in this Wednesday as I host two Copperheads on my show Goods On Lacrosse. I host the previously mentioned Kevin Iwanusa and Copperheads franchise player and former Boston Blazer Ryan Hotaling. If you're on twitter, follow me @GoodsOnSabres. Check out Twitter for some NALL drafted players, there are a lot of them. A few that I've found are @StevePanarelli (Steve Panarrelli, Shamrocks), @JoshRock08 (Josh Rachman, Hershey), and @TysonLW (Tyson Geick, Bullies). If you find any more comment below.

NALL Draft Today: Where Will You Be?

We are so very close to finding out who will be on the rosters for the five members of the North American Lacrosse League. This weekend the first ever National Combine will be taking place in Richmond, Virginia at the Clover Hill Auditorium. The combine, as has been reported for a while now, will be run by the USIL like the regional combines were. It will test players agility, as well as box skills, as players are put to their limit for the two day test. Teams should be able to see who has real potential to be a successful NALL player.

Following the combine will be the inaugural National Draft on that Saturday, December 11th. The draft will begin at 1:00 p.m. eastern standard time, and can be followed in many different ways. First, the NALL has announced by calling 712-432-0900 and entering the code 419896 you can listen to the draft results as the draft happens. The League will also be posting all of the picks to twitter using the hashtag #NALLDRAFT. If you haven't yet, follow @NALacrosse, @InLaxWeTrust, and myself @GoodsOnSabres for all the latest NALL news as well as coverage of the draft as it happens.

The draft order goes:

1.Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Shamrocks

2. Hershey Haymakers

3. Kentucky Stickhorses

4. Jacksonville Bullies

5. Charlotte Copperheads

If you're interested, I'll be hosting a NALL Draft pre-show special on the Lacrosse Radio Network an hour before the draft, noon eastern. I will be joined by NALL front office members Anthony Caruso and Dale Weingarten, and ReLax Sundays host, also a goalie who tried out for the Haymakers, Mike Horowitz.

Report: Copperheads sign Ryan Flanagan

The Charlotte Copperheads of the North American Lacrosse League announced today that they have signed former North Carolina defender Ryan Flanagan. Flanagan was selected by the Copperheads in the second round of the NALL rookie draft. He was a co-captain of the Tar Heels his senior year, and experienced much success outdoors.

He won the Schmeisser Award in 2010 as the nations top defender, meaning the last two Schmeisser Award winners will bbe in the NALL (With John Lade of the Shamrocks being the other). He's 6'6'' and 220 lbs., so at that size he should be a force to reckon with in the Indoor game.

It will be interesting to see how these long pole defenders adjust to the short sticked indoor game. Remember to watch out for my NALL draft preview show on the Lacrosse Radio Network at noon on Sunday. Follow the site for all the latest NALL Draft news, as well as my NALL Team Reviews that will be coming soon.

The Goalie Issue: Where are the Americans?

Since the idea of the NALL was brought up, goalies have always been thought of as an issue for the league. Where will an all-American league get box goaltenders from? Today I'll be discussing why there are no American goaltenders, how more American goaltenders can be developed, and what the NALL's role is in all this. A lot to swallow, I know. We will start with the basics.

There are very few American goaltenders in the NLL. You see it in the indoor tournaments, American goaltenders are hard to come by. There aren't many to choose from. Why is this? Because when you think about it, where are they going to play? I live in Buffalo, one of the US hotspots for indoor lacrosse, and there is no where to play box near the city. You have to drive out to the Reservation if you want to play. Say you live in Virginia? Good luck finding an indoor lacrosse league to play in.

Sure, box lacrosse works at a lower level in Canada. But Canada has something that most of America doesn't have, lots of ice rinks. Sure, there are ice rinks in the north. The further south you go, the less rinks you're going to find. In Buffalo there are 3 rinks, not including the First Niagara Center. How many rinks do you think there are in Georgia? Not as many, I can tell you that. And even if there are rinks, it doesn't mean that lacrosse will be played. You have to put down a floor or turf, which many rinks probably don't want to do. Ice time is very costly, and that's just when the ice is being used. How much will it cost to put down the turf and take it off, as well as maintain the ice under it. Quickly lacrosse becomes much more expensive than most people are willing to pay.

Youth box lacrosse is non-existent right now. If that grows, then the player pool will grow. I know its been thrown around a lot this summer, but a collegiate box league would be a huge step forward for the sport. Even at a club level box lacrosse in college would be a great thing. Just getting guys playing it will give teams way more goalies to choose from. It may also give some outdoor goalies a chance to try out indoor. They are two completely different words, its not like an outdoor goalie can just go to the NLL and try out playing indoor. You even look at guys like John Galloway (pictured above) who is an excellent goalie, but is trying to play as a transition player in the NALL. Guys need to start playing box lacrosse at a young age to help develop some of the skills.

What is the NALL's role in all this? Its very simple really. Say you're an American goalie who just started up trying out indoor. You're not going to beat these Canadian goalies who've been playing since they were young. The NALL gives you time to develop your skills against some really good players. Maybe at some point you'll get a shot at the NLL. 10 new jobs have opened up in American cities for indoor goaltenders. Who's going to step up, and what will the quality of goaltending be? I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Remember to check out my radio show on the Lacrosse Radio Network, Goods On Lacrosse, tomorrow at 6 p.m. eastern. My guest will be recently resigned Washington Stealth captain Lewis Ratcliff. Make sure to check out my show from last week with Jim Jennings in the archives if you haven't listened yet. As always check me out on twitter @GoodsOnSabres and watch my YouTube videos! I've got those up and going again, just search GoodsOnSabres on YouTube. Thanks for reading!

NLL Season Preview: Calgary Roughnecks

The Calgary Roughnecks are a team that most don't consider as being a top contender for the Champions Cup. But, like always, Calgary has a lot of talent and could be real threat in the western conference. When you have the NLL MVP Jeff Shattler on your team, opponents should watch out. Shattler had 29 goals and 46 assists last season for the Roughnecks in their 10th year of existence.

Shattler isn't the only source of offense for the Riggers, as guys like Dane Dobbie, Daryl Veltman, Scott Ranger, and Dickson also man the offense. Dobbie had an outstanding 4th season in Calgary, scoring 34 goals and 41 assists, five points below his total from the previous year.Calgary also brought in a few great offensive talents, including the likes of Shawn Evans and draft pick Travis Cornwall. Evans was acquired in a trade from Rochester, bringing in another player who scored at least 70 points last season. Cornwall was drafted 7th overall by the Roughnecks in this year's draft. He showed a lot of potential for the Coquitlam Adanacs, and looks to bring that skill to the NLL.

What it comes down to for the Roughnecks is how they play on the back end. They have some great defenders, including captain Andrew McBride, but still allowed many goals. Their goaltenders aren't bad (In a league with nine teams, it would be hard to have terrible goaltenders) but they aren't world class. Mike Poulin and Nick Rose are both decent, but they haven't really proved themselves yet. I believe if the goaltending tightens up, they may win the Western Conference.

Calgary took a step back in many ways last year, trying to find chemistry without guys like Tracey Kelusky and Josh Sanderson. A year more experienced and a year wiser, I believe Calgary has a ton of great young leaders who are ready to step up big time. Their offense on paper is stacked, but will they live up to it? Can the defense and goaltending tighten up? I guess we'll have to wait and see.

The Fighting Issue: Does it Have a Place in Lacrosse?

What should the NLL and NALL do about fighting? How important is it to the game? Today I challenge the fighting issue, and talk about the negatives and positives that come from fighting in lacrosse. Its become a hot topic, and one that has caused a huge rift between traditionalist outdoor fans and indoor fans. Before I go any further, I should probably explain each side's argument.

Box lacrosse fans love their sport. They are proud of the toughness required to play box lacrosse. They love hard hits and huge fights just as much as big goals. One of my favorite players to ever suit up for the Bandits is Pat McCready, not only because he was so "speedy" but because he could toss with the best of them. Outdoor fans usually see it a little differently. Many view indoor lacrosse as a "thugush" sport that takes real lacrosse and slows it down. Most give little respect to the indoor form of the game.

Can professional lacrosse succeed when it is divided like this, indoor and outdoor? Is fighting that important to the game that it couldn't be erased to serve as a compromise between the two versions of the sport?

This summer, the NALL was formed. Details were slow early on, but one rule change from NLL lacrosse came out early. There would be no fighting in the NALL. This made sense to me, as all the teams would be playing in the United States, where outdoor lacrosse is more popular. With places like Charlotte (ironically where Pat McCready started his career) where college lacrosse is really popular, fans may not want to see their favorite players drop the gloves and start beating on the other team. This did cause quite a stir among lacrosse fans, who thought this would not be like real box lacrosse. Does getting rid of fighting make box lacrosse soft?

I do love fighting, it is one of my favorite parts of box lacrosse. That being said, the NALL may be on to something. Maybe for the sport to become more popular, fighting can't be a part of the game. Most of America does not like "thugish" sports. The other day I was watching a hockey line brawl from Finland on a prominent news/mail site. Personally I thought the fight was incredibly exciting. I went to read the comments, to realize I was in the minority. Most people think these factors that hockey fans and box lacrosse fans think as "exciting" are turn-offs to the sports. The NALL will gain fans who are interested in a fast moving and exciting sport, not fans who are looking to watch a tough and gritty sport. When it comes down to it, there are more fans who like sports with no fighting (like football and baseball) than UFC fighting or hockey.

If it comes down to it, I am willing to give up on fighting in order to grow the sport. I know, some may feel that the sport would lose its toughness because of this. But think of it this way, there would still be hitting and pushing after the play. I'm assuming most people think football is a tough hard-hitting sport. Do they ever really fight? The furthest football fights normally go is a bunch of guys just pushing each other around. Fans can still watch Billy Dee Smith plaster a forward to the boards, they just wouldn't see Brandon Francis drop the gloves.

Do I want to see fighting banned in the NLL, or NHL for that matter? No, I'd be upset about it. But in the grand scheme of things, if it helps the sport how can I be against it? What do you think about fighting in lacrosse? Do you think its essential to the game experience, or do you think its an expendable factor? Comment below as always about your opinions. Remember to check out my first show on the Lacrosse Radio Network, Goods On Lacrosse, at 6 p.m. eastern tomorrow night. My guest will be former NLL commissioner and current Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Shamrocks owner Jim Jennings. Follow me on twitter @GoodsOnSabres for all the latest news.

NALL Profiles: John Lade

John Lade is our focus as we move on two the second edition of the NALL Profiles series. Lade was drafted with the 26th pick (6th Round) in the NALL college draft by the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Shamrocks. Lade is a shutdown outdoor defenseman, who looks to translate that talent to the indoor game. He has already signed with the Shamrocks, so expect him to be suiting up in green and orange this winter.

The Morristown, New Jersey native had  a very successful college career, starting at Villanova for his freshman year and then transferring to Syracuse. Lade was named to the USILA All-American first team both his Junior and Senior year at Syracuse. His senior year he became only the fourth defenseman in the storied Syracuse Orange lacrosse history to win the William C. Schmeisser Award as the top defenseman in the country. Lade also received a few more honors in his college career, as he was named to the All-Big East first team both his Junior and Senior years. 

Before ever playing for Syracuse, Lade was a part of US Under 19 team in 2008 that won a gold medal at the World Championship in Coquitlam, British Columbia. The US went 5-0 in Round Robin play, then went on to beat England 25-5 in the semi-finals. They matched up against the hosting team, Canada, in the finals. They ended up winning 19-12 to win the Gold Medal and keep the US's streak of winning every Under-19 championship alive.

Lade was drafted with the 16th pick in the 2011 MLL Draft by the Boston Cannons. Lade played three games his rookie season, getting 3 ground balls. He was traded to Rochester this off-season for the 19th pick in the 2012 MLL entry draft.

It was announced on October 31st that Lade had signed with the Shamrocks, joining former Syracuse teammate Josh Amidon. Hopefully he will develop into a great NALL defenseman in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Remember, Shamrocks tickets cam be purchased at the website at great prices.

Who do you want to be the next feature player for the NALL Profiles? Comment below with any ideas. Remember to check out my show on the lacrosse radio network, Goods On Lacrosse. It will take place every Wednesday at 6 p.m. eastern starting this week. I'll throw in some NLL, NALL, even some CLax. Make sure to check that out. Please follow me on twitter @GoodsOnSabres, I'm hoping to get to 50 followers by the end of the week. Also check out yesterday's Lax Live with Marisa Ingemi, as I was the second guest on the show. We talk some NALL and NLL lacrosse. And finally, as always, thanks for reading!

Does the NLL Have a Role in International Boxla?

In 2010 the European Lacrosse League started up its first season, the first organized lacrosse league in Europe. The formation of this six team league was a huge step towards growing box lacrosse in Europe.

Is it the NLL's role to help this league and more leagues like it grow? If box lacrosse was a world wide sport, wouldn't it get more recognition in the states?

With the lack of money in lacrosse right now, were are in a spot where it may be a while before we start seeing real international competition in the NLL or the NLL really backing any international league.

You never see a player in the NLL from somewhere other than the US or Canada. It makes sense, that's where all the teams are. But there are foreign players in the NHL, because that's there main source of income. For the pay NLL players get, few players will be drawn to uproot their lives in Europe to move here and play lacrosse. Hopefully someday this will be achievable, and remember, the NHL didn't always have foreign players.

But is it the NLL's duty to help grow box lacrosse internationally? In my opinion, no. Its the FIL's duty to attempt to grow box lacrosse. The NLL has enough on their hands, they have to worry about growing the sport here, where the teams actually are! Sure, a premiere game in Europe to start the season would be a cool idea. The problem is, where is that money coming from? Until the NLL gets a foothold in the US and Canada, they shouldn't even consider spreading their influence to other countries.

To grow box lacrosse, the FIL needs to get more aggressive. There are 25 member nations of the Federation of Indoor Lacrosse, but only 9 indoor members. The FIL needs to encourage incoming and current members to participate in both forms of the sport. They should host lacrosse tournaments in some of the countries. Hopefully there's enough support to start a professional league, similar to the ELL. Maybe even the NALL puts a team in a place like Mexico City. Only one thing is certain: the growth of indoor lacrosse internationally is vital to the sport surviving long term. If its played around the world, the sport will get more recognition. Maybe you see the world tournament on TV. Maybe someone other than the US, Canada, or Iroquois will have a chance at winning. If anything it makes box lacrosse a whole lot more interesting.

Is the NLL Presentation Style Good for the Sport?

Since really getting into box lacrosse, I'm come across many people who dislike the way the NLL is portrayed and the things they do at the game. If I had a quarter for every traditionalist who complained about playing music during the play I'd own an NLL team.

There are certain aspects about the NLL that are very different than the traditional big sports. The question I discuss today is quite simple: Are these NLL quirks good for the sport or should the NLL aim for a more traditional audience?

Going to a Bandits game is like a big party for me, and I think I speak for many when I say that. The loud music during play, the ridiculous play-by-play that is broadcasted in the arena, it is all part of the experience to me. It's very different than a Sabres game. Not only is it a completely different audience, its a different atmosphere. I believe it is a positive atmosphere.

NLL games are very kid friendly events. They are quite a spectacle to see, just ask any first timer. It's not like going to an NFL, NHL, or NBA game. In my opinion, that's a good thing. The NLL cannot compete with those leagues. The games need to be fun, and at points kind of silly, because that's what draws people into the crowd. If you ask a majority of the fans why they are at the game, its not because they are a die-hard NLL fan. Its because the games are a fun time and they enjoy going to them.

You know what demographic lacrosse is popular with right now? Kids. The next generation is the key to the growth of lacrosse. I've met my fair share of kids, and if they are bored, they won't want to come back. You and I may think a football game is thrilling, but a ten year old will not love all the stops and starts. I know at ten I loved the loud music and the fact that there were more goals in one game than the NHL had in three or four. I was hooked, and look at me now. I'm writing about the sport.

For the time being, the NLL needs to be out there, because it sets it apart. Lacrosse by itself will have a hard time drawing people into games. Until the NLL gets a larger demographic, they can't afford to suddenly get less interesting. If the NLL starts selling out in all their arenas, then we can revisit the topic of making the sport a tad more traditional. I am certain I will gain the disapproval of many NLL fans for saying this.

Remember, check out my interview from yesterday with Charlotte Copperhead's head coach Tom Ryan. Starting next week I will be hosting "Goods On Lacrosse" on the Lacrosse Radio network every Wednesday at 6PM. I'll be talking NLL, NALL, CLax, you name it. As always remember to follow me on twitter at @GoodsOnSabres.

Voices of Lacrosse: Tom Ryan

Today is the third installment of "Voices of Lacrosse". Today we feature our first coach, Charlotte Copperheads coach Tom Ryan. Ryan was the coach for the Boston Blazers of the NLL for two seasons. Now he takes his talents down south to Charlotte, to try and win the first ever NALL championship with the Copperheads.

I asked him about the upcoming season and the NALL. As always, venture over the jump to hear what Coach Ryan has to say.

When did you first hear about the NALL, and what got you interested in the league?

I heard of the league back in the spring. Graham D’Alvia is both the President of the Copperheads and of the US Indoor Team. I love box lacrosse and feel strongly in helping grow the sport in the US. This league encompasses both of those passions in my life. But let’s face it…pro lacrosse is a tough business. The NALL owners are trying to create a business model that can sustain teams in the long run. That is something I want to be apart of.

What do you feel the NALL's role is in the growth of lacrosse in the states?

The NALL will give 100 players a chance to play lacrosse at the professional level. Watching the best players in the sport is inspiring and motivating for kids learning the game. It gives them new ideas about what is possible.

How has the talent at the combine looked? Are there players that stick out to you?

I was very pleased with the talent level at the Charlotte Combine. It is important for us to build the Copperheads with a solid base of relatively local players. There were at least a dozen guys that have a good shot of making our team. This past weekend was the Hershey Combine in Baltimore, and once again there were a couple dozen guys that can play. At each of the combines we have had players that stand out. Brian Caufield was one at the Wilkes-Barre Combine that resulted in him being drafted in the first round of our College Draft. I would rather not mention any other names at this point because they are still free agents until our National Draft and Combine December 10-11 in Richmond, VA.

What attributes do you look for in players to identify if they have potential to have success in indoor lacrosse?

First and foremost I look for athleticism and toughness. Those are a must. Next you look for raw skill and decision-making. We have been doing a lot of instruction at the combines. For guys who have limited box experience you look to see if they can incorporate what is being taught.

How do you feel about your first ever rookie draft? What do you like about first round pick Brett Schmidt?

We were very happy with the outcome of the College Draft. Our top three picks were all guys who will be living in North Carolina and have a good chance of making our team. Brett Schmidt had a great summer playing for the Denver Outlaws and I felt he was one of the top performers in the MLL Semifinals. Brett (Maryland), Ryan Flanagan (UNC) and John Galloway (Syracuse) were all dominant NCAA players throughout their college careers. Their athleticism and skill set make them outstanding candidates for the NALL.

How has the response to the Copperheads in Charlotte been so far?

The response from the Charlotte Lacrosse Community has been very encouraging. Lacrosse at the youth level has exploded here and I think lacrosse fans are psyched to support it at the professional level.

Will there be differences in your coaching style between the NLL and the NALL?

I don’t expect many changes strategically from the style we played in Boston. I have learned a lot over the past few years through my experiences in the NLL and coaching the US Indoor Team. I think I have matured as a coach and as a result my coaching style has evolved.

Do you have anything to say to the Copperhead fans about the team?

My personal mission statement in creating the Copperheads is to find quality people who are willing to make this organization a priority in their life for the next 6 months. Attitude and effort are huge with me. There is always a spot on my team for someone who is willing to do whatever it takes to make the Copperheads a success.

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As always thanks for checking out today's "Voices of Lacrosse" with coach Tom Ryan. Remember if you haven't yet, check out the previous two "Voices of Lacrosse" interviews, with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton forward Jeremy Boltus and Kentucky Stickhorses forward Brian Caufield. Look out for an article from me tomorrow about the NLL. Thanks for reading!

Buffalo Bandits: An Inside Look

As I enter my 5th year as a Bandits season ticket holder, it almost seems different. I obviously am much more into the sport than I was before, and with there once again being only 9 teams I feel like I know just about everyone. But with there being only 9 teams, it seems that almost everyone of them is pretty good. That changes how I analyse my team. No longer do you just need a few good players, you need great ones. Do the Bandits have great players? I'm not certain yet.

Last season was an odd one for many Bandits fans. At times we showed flashes of excellence, other times we just looked terrible. For every great start, we would blow a game big time in the 4th quarter. I think there are a few key factors that will determine how well the Bandits play this season.

1. Goaltending: This is an obvious issue for the Bandits, and the one seemingly brought up most often. Will Mike Thompson be healthy? It's looking more and more like he will be, which is a huge positive for the Bandits. Although Mikey can be hit or miss at points, when he's on his game is one of the best goalies in the sport. Once again it looks like Montour is out for the season, which is really a shame because he was at the top of his game when he got injured originally. Goodleaf got some experience this summer because of the injury to Thompson, so he should be better as well. If all goes according to plan the Bandits should be pretty solid in net.

2. Discipline: I love Billy Dee Smith ramming a guy over the benches as much as the next guy. However, at points the Bandits get a little out of hand. Almost every year they lead the league in penalty minutes. Especially with the rule change allowing three goals to be scored in the five minute majors, the Bandits need to be much more disciplined. Brandon Francis, that means no using your stick as a club.

3. Playing without Tavares: Johnny T is back for another year, but obviously he is not in the physical shape he was in his prime. He's going to miss a few games with injury. Last year, it seems the Bandits fell to mush whenever he wasn't in the lineup. They need to fix this because (I know this seems crazy) John Tavares will not play for the Bandits forever. We will need to survive without him. Secondary scoring is vital to this team. Who picks up the slack? Kelusky, Clancy, Steenhuis, Wiles, Vyse, Resataris, and Thenhuis will all be looked to for scoring. This leads me into my final point...

4. Will Steenhuis return?: Ever since Mark had the crazy year he has been invisible. My theory has always been people figured out what he does. Heck, it wasn't that hard. I've watched him go and do the same move hundreds of times. Unfortunately, it just doesn't work anymore. He basically just gives the ball up a lot. I wish he would pass a tad more. Going down low and trying to spin out and run to the goal is great, but when it doesn't work, please try to do something else.

That's all I have to say about the Bandits key factors coming into the season. What do you think the Bandits need to do to be successful? Are they Champions Cup contenders? As always comment below with any opinions. Follow me @GoodsOnSabres for all the latest NLL, NALL, and NHL news.

Voices of Lacrosse: Brian Caufield

Today marks the Second Edition of "Voices of Lacrosse", featuring Kentucky Stickhorse Brian Caufield. Caufield, the 6'4'' forward out of the University at Albany was taken third overall by the Kentucky Stickhorses in the NALL rookie draft. A few weeks back, I featured Caufield in the first ever NALL profile. He saw it on Twitter, and since I have gotten in contact with him to allow him to expand on his game and the transition to the NALL. Continue for my exclusive interview with the third overall pick.

How did playing at the University of Albany help you as a lacrosse player and a person?

Playing lacrosse at the University at Albany was an amazing experience for me.  Coach Marr has taught me a ton about the game and made me a smarter player.  After a rough transition into college my freshman year, I feel that I have overcome a lot of adversity and it has made me a better person.  I feel that overcoming adversity can give you the knowledge and understanding to help others going through similar situations.  Coach Marr has helped me through a lot and I couldn’t thank him enough! Great Coach and Great Program.  Keep an eye out for the Danes in the coming years.

How did you first find out about the NALL and what drew you in?

I think my dad was the one that told me about the league.  I talked to a few NLL teams but I felt that the NALL would give me more experience to learn the game.  I’m excited to be able to play the sport I love year round. 

Before the draft, did you talk to all the teams about possibly being drafted?

I had talked to most of the teams before the draft as many of the draft picks did.  Most of the talk consisted of my plans and if I would like to play for their team.  I had talked to coach Schroeder at a combine I had attended in Pennsylvania.  After this conversation I was hoping I would end up in Kentucky. 

How did you feel about being taken third overall by Kentucky?

I was thrilled to see that I was taken third to Kentucky.  I have been training hard and am looking forward to this upcoming season.

Have you ever been to Lexington? What excites you most about playing there?

I have never been anywhere in Kentucky! A few of my college teammates visited Louisville and had some great things to say about the area.  I’m looking forward to being involved with growth of lacrosse in Kentucky and will be helping out with a few clinics in the area. 

What's your first impression of Coach Schroeder been?

My first impression of Coach Schroeder is that he is a really down to earth coach who is trying to put together a championship team.  I’m looking forward to being coached by him after I have read about the success he has had coaching in Kentucky. 

What aspects of your game best translate to the box scene?

I feel that the box game suits my style of play very well.  Within the small area of play my size, stick skills, and smart decision-making will translate well into the box scene. 

8. How do you feel about the NALL's role in growing box lacrosse in the States?

The NALL will definitely give the American players more experience in box lacrosse.  This will lead to the States being more competitive with Canada and the Iroquois at the box world games. Being involved with Kentucky is a great opportunity to help further spread lacrosse to the West. 

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Remember to follow Brian on Twitter all season long @BrianCaufield to keep in the loop about his adventures in Kentucky. This month, Brian has been growing a mustache for a special cause. Through "Mustache Madness" he has been raising money with the Headstrong Foundation in an attempt to defeat blood cancer. Please visit his page for more details, and donate towards the cause. Every donation helps them get closer to their goal. To learn more visit his Mustache Madness Page.

Once again, thanks to Brian for all his cooperation and for being so easy to work with. Coming up next is Charlotte Copperheads coach Tom Ryan. Just a reminder, "Voices of Lacrosse" will appear right hear on InLax every Tuesday, so keep coming to the site! Remember to follow me on twitter @GoodsOnSabres for all your lacrosse news.