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MLL End of Season Awards Spotlight League’s Best

With Championship Weekend right around the corner, Major League Lacrosse has been recognizing some of the hardest working members of their organization, and rightfully so! It’s time for the end of the year MLL Awards. We’re talking winners here… tried and true.

Brine Coach of the Year

Jim Stagnitta was an easy choice for this award. Not only did he lead the Denver Outlaws to a historical 14-0 record in the regular season, he earned this award in dominating fashion, collecting nine of the 16 total first place votes. First ever undefeated season AND a record breaking regular season win total? How could you pick anyone else?

Stagnitta will now focus his energy on helping lead his Denver Outlaws through Championship weekend, as they look to capture their first MLL Championship in franchise history.

Jim Stagnitta Goalie Coach
Congrats go out to Jim Stagnitta!

Cascade Rookie of the Year

There is no doubt that Rob Pannell earned this award, posting 42 total points on the season, ranking fourth in goals scored (25), third in assists (17) and second in total points (42) for all rookies EVER. His 42 points was also good enough for ninth overall in the league, and he only played in 10 games! We’d say that’s a pretty impressive performance for a rookie campaign that would end with Pannell finishing in the top five on the all-time rookie scoring list in all three of the above categories.

This also marks back to back years for a Lizards’ player getting Rookie of the Year honors, with Matt Gibson taking last year’s MLL Rookie of the Year. Strong Island represent!

Photo Credit: Tommy Gilligan
Photo Credit: Tommy Gilligan

Check out the full press release for both Coach of the Year and Rookie of the Year below.

Denver Outlaws Coach Jim Stagnitta Named Brine Coach of the Year

Stagnitta earns award after leading team to undefeated regular season

BOSTON (Aug. 14, 2013) – Major League Lacrosse is proud to announce   Denver Outlaws’ Coach Jim Stagnitta as the 2013 Brine Coach of the Year.  Coach Stagnitta led the talented Outlaws squad to the first perfect season in MLL history, ending the regular season with an unprecedented 14-0 record.WATCH: Denver Outlaws Sounds of the Game“Receiving this award is a great honor and the culmination of the hard work of many people,” said Stagnitta.  “Starting with a selfless group of players who bought into the system, a phenomenal staff including Tony Seaman, B.J. O’Hara and Stan Ross, they all contributed to making this season a success. It is also a great honor to be recognized by my peers. It is a group of people that I have a lot of respect for and knowing they voted for me adds more to this award.”

This season’s Denver team boasts a stacked roster with skilled players on both ends of the field.  Eager young players like Chris Bocklet and Eric Law, combined with veteran leaders such as Brendan Mundorf and Jesse Schwartzman, provide a strong core for a team that depends on balance throughout the ranks.  Talent alone, however, does not win games. Stagnitta acted as an architect this season, putting together pieces of a puzzle to build the most successful regular season team in MLL history.

“Coach Stagnitta’s award is very well deserved,” said MLL Commissioner David Gross. “Going 14-0 in the regular season is something that no other MLL coach has done and at this point can only be matched and not surpassed.”

The second year head man beat out three other coaches who had fantastic seasons — Dave Huntley of the Hamilton Nationals, Mike Cerino of the Charlotte Hounds and Dave Cottle of the Chesapeake Bayhawks. Huntley, who led the Nats to their best season in club history finished second in the voting with four first place votes, also receiving five second and third place votes. The Hounds’ Cerino finished third in this year’s voting, compiling a first place vote along with seven second and four third place tallies. Cottle received two first place votes and four third place votes.

While this is only Stagnitta’s second season in the MLL, he is no stranger to regular season success.  Last year, Denver finished first in the league with an impressive 11-3 record.  The Outlaws were also major contenders in post-season play, making an appearance in last year’s Championship game.

Before joining the Outlaws coaching staff in 2011, Stagnitta spent the previous 10 years as the Head Coach at Rutgers University.  In his time at Rutgers, the Scarlet Knights made two consecutive NCAA tournament appearances in 2003 and 2004 and established themselves as one of the top lacrosse programs in the nation.  Coach Stagnitta’s efforts earned him NCAA coach of the year in 2003.

Before Rutgers, Stagnitta spent twelve years as head coach at Washington and Lee University, ending each season with a winning record, and worked three years as an assistant coach at the University of Pennsylvania, his alma mater.  Stagnitta ended his extensive college coaching career with a 213-132 record.

Coach Stagnitta’s successful college coaching career has no doubt helped him build this championship contending Denver Outlaws team.  After a tough loss in last year’s championship game, Stagnitta created a smarter, tougher, hungrier Denver team that shows no signs of stopping any time soon.

2013 Brine Coach of the Year Voting

Coach Team

1st Place Votes

2nd Place

3rd Place

Jim Stagnitta Denver

9

4

3

Dave Huntley Hamilton

4

5

5

Mike Cerino Charlotte

1

7

4

Dave Cottle Chesapeake

2

0

4

 

About BrineHeadquartered in Warren, Michigan, Brine has been rooted in the game of Lacrosse since 1950. The successor to the original W.H. Brine Company founded in 1922, Brine was a pioneer in creating a more durable, powerful stick for the masses. Brine prides itself on being a brand dedicated to commitment, hard work and most importantly – the game of Lacrosse. For over 60 years, Brine has been innovating and improving the game of Lacrosse. Stick by stick. Head by head. Victory by victory.About Major League Lacrosse

Major League Lacrosse (MLL), the premier professional outdoor lacrosse league, was founded by Jake Steinfeld and is headquartered in Boston. Major League Lacrosse commenced play in June 2001 and entered its thirteenth season in 2013. MLL has continued to lead the sport of lacrosse into the mainstream of competitive team sports. The league is made up of eight teams: The Boston Cannons, Charlotte Hounds, Chesapeake Bayhawks, Denver Outlaws, Hamilton Nationals, New York Lizards, Ohio Machine and Rochester Rattlers. More information about the league can be found atwww.majorleaguelacrosse.comFacebook or  Twitter.

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New York Lizards’ Rob Pannell named Cascade Rookie of the Year

2013 Tewaaraton Award winner led impressive rookie class to cap a phenomenal year.

BOSTON (August 13, 2013) – After an outstanding performance in his first season as a professional, Major League Lacrosse is proud to present New York Lizards’ attackman Rob Pannell, with the 2013 Cascade Rookie of the Year Award as voted by the MLL coaches and general managers.”It’s an incredible honor to be named Cascade Rookie of the Year considering the amazing talent of this year’s rookie class,” said Pannell. “It has been a whirlwind end to my college career and start of my professional career and this award caps off a great summer. A lot of credit also goes to my teammates who have made it easy for me to come into the League and continue to do what I have done in my last two years of college.”WATCHRob Pannell’s 2013 Highlights

Pannell edged out Ohio Machine attackman Logan Schuss earning seven First Place votes out of a possible 16. Schuss was awarded five First Place votes while Hamilton Nationals Tucker Durkin finished third with six Second and four Third Place votes.

“This has been one of the best rookie classes in League history,” said MLL Commissioner David Gross. “Pannell immediately made an impact on the Lizards and has posted impressive numbers. I would like to congratulate him on a well-deserved award.”

After being selected as a member of MLL’s 2012 draft class, eager fans were forced to wait an extra year to see Pannell suit up in an MLL uniform, due to an injury suffered at the beginning of his fourth season at Cornell. After taking a semester off from school to remain eligible for the Big Red, Pannell returned stronger than ever leading his team as both an emotional, and statistical leader. Pannell’s senior campaign resulted in an impressive run through the NCAA tournament eventually being ousted in the national semifinals, but not before the former All-American was able to break the NCAA all-time scoring record, previously held by Charlotte Hounds’ attackman Matt Danowski.

Within a week from ending his collegiate career, the former number one overall pick was awarded the 2013 Tewaaraton Award given to the nation’s best college player, and made his MLL debut the following day recording a hat-trick and an assist on his way to earning Cascade Rookie of the Week honors.

READ: Past Cascade Rookies of the Year and where they went in the Collegiate Draft

Pannell made an immediate impact for the Lizards posting some of the best offensive numbers by a rookie in league history. With 42 total points (25 goals, 17 assists), he lifted New York’s offense to new heights earning him a trip to the 2013 All-Star game in Charlotte, presented by Moe’s Southwest Grill on July 13.

Pannell’s impressive offensive abilities landed him a place in the top five on the all-time rookie scoring list in all three categories. New York’s newest offensive weapon now ranks; fourth in goals scored (25), third in assists (17), and second in totals points with (42).

Number three’s presence on, and off the field has made him a favorite among fans and a nightmare for opposing defenses and he is sure to have a very bright future in the MLL in the years to come.

2013 Cascade Rookie of the Year Voting

Name Team 1st Place Votes 2nd Place 3rd Place
Rob Pannell New York

7

5

2

Logan Schuss Ohio

5

0

7

Tucker Durkin Hamilton

0

6

3

Dave Lawson Rochester

2

0

0

John Ranagan Rochester

0

2

0

Scott Ratliff Boston

0

2

0

Mason Poli Charlotte

0

1

0

Jesse Bernhardt Chesapeake

0

0

2

Eric Law Denver

0

0

2

About Cascade LacrosseBased in Liverpool, NY, Cascade has a celebrated and rich history of delivering revolutionary technology, unrivaled player experiences and 360 degree innovation to the lacrosse community and beyond.  Cascade was founded in 1986 and acquired by Bauer Performance Sports, Ltd. in June 2012. As a leader in sports equipment, the company has pioneered advances in head protection beginning with its very first sport helmet for lacrosse. Today, Cascade continues this tradition by routinely adding to its long list of game-changing transformations in safety, comfort and performance. Proud partnerships include 16 NCAA Champions since 1995, Major League Lacrosse and dozens of NHL players who choose Cascade Sports technology.  The company delivers innovative high performance headgear to lacrosse, ice hockey, field hockey, swift water rescue and white water sport markets. Learn more at www.cascadelacrosse.com.  Bauer Performance Sports, Ltd. is a publicly traded company on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BAU) whose affiliates market products under the BAUER, MISSION, MAVERIK, CASCADE and INARIA brands.About Major League Lacrosse

Major League Lacrosse (MLL), the premier professional outdoor lacrosse league, was founded by Jake Steinfeld and is headquartered in Boston. Major League Lacrosse commenced play in June 2001 and entered its thirteenth season in 2013. MLL has continued to lead the sport of lacrosse into the mainstream of competitive team sports. The league is made up of eight teams: The Boston Cannons, Charlotte Hounds, Chesapeake Bayhawks, Denver Outlaws, Hamilton Nationals, New York Lizards, Ohio Machine and Rochester Rattlers. More information about the league can be found atwww.majorleaguelacrosse.comFacebook or  Twitter.