After a one-year hiatus, the PLL All Star Game made a return in 2021. While there were many notable absentees due to injury, the game and subsequent skills competition were still enjoyable.
The stars came out in full force in 2019 ⭐️
— Premier Lacrosse League (@PremierLacrosse) July 16, 2021
The 2021 PLL All-Star Game Presented by @Crowdstrike goes down Sunday at 7PM ET on @NBCSports 📺 pic.twitter.com/jQE5s39RMJ
PLL ALL STAR Game & Weekend 2021
The Game
In my eyes, an all-star game is a way to celebrate the best players in a league, or at least those who performed the best in a given season. My gripe with the all-star game in any pro sports league is the overly-relaxed feeling to the point that you wonder about the point of having one. I’m also a fan of having all-star festivities at the end of the season with cash rewards to encourage high-level play more similar to regular season contests.
The PLL All Star Game definitely showed off amazing skills, created a fun environment, and even toyed with faceoff rules for various reasons. I’m sure the average or newer fan really enjoyed it, but as a lacrosse diehard, the first three quarters of positional changes and turnovers just didn’t do it for me.
But the fourth quarter is when things seemed to ramp up. As the game got tighter, so did the effort and execution. Who doesn’t love an all-star game that ends with a timeout to set up a possible game-tying possession?
PLL All Star Game MVP
Tim Troutner was, deservedly so, the most talked about player of the day. He not only led his team to a victory, 23-21, but he also made an incredible 24 saves with a behind-the-back goal of his own. He single handedly raised $12,000 for the Oakland Lacrosse program thanks to the $500 per save reward.
BEHIND THE BACK GOALIE GOAL!!! 🔥🔥🔥@T_troutner15 @PLLRedwoods pic.twitter.com/SXnnqj3QHR
— Premier Lacrosse League (@PremierLacrosse) July 19, 2021
PLL Skills Challenge
This is always one of my favorite events, especially in the NHL and NFL. I appreciate seeing some of the world’s best players showing off their skills, speed, and creativity through these specific events.
Overall, the performances were solid, but the one event that I think the league’s injuries hurt the most was the freestyle challenge. No offense to Dhane Smith and TD Ierlan, who I thought performed great, but it’s hard to imagine a freestyle challenge without the likes of Lyle Thompson or Paul Rabil. I mean, just look at this beauty from Rabil in the MLL skills competition years ago.
PLL Accuracy Challenge: Marcus Holman
Talk about ACCURATE 🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯
— Premier Lacrosse League (@PremierLacrosse) July 19, 2021
With every single target hit… @MarcusHolman1 is the back-to-back Accuracy Competition winner!
Skills Challenge presented by @vineyardvines 🐳 pic.twitter.com/alqi2evjaH
PLL Fastest Player: Romar Dennis
Romar Dennis is officially the FASTEST player in the PLL 💨💨💨@PLLAtlas pic.twitter.com/vUbq5n4WOW
— Premier Lacrosse League (@PremierLacrosse) July 19, 2021
PLL Fastest Shot: Jake Froccaro
FINAL ROUND@Simple__Jake slings it at 1️⃣1️⃣4️⃣ mph pic.twitter.com/tSUMlErcfq
— Premier Lacrosse League (@PremierLacrosse) July 19, 2021
PLL Goalie Challenge: Kyle Bernlohr
The winning stand in the Goalie Competition 🧱@kbernlohr35 makes 9️⃣ saves to secure his spot at the top pic.twitter.com/4CLOzlYuWR
— Premier Lacrosse League (@PremierLacrosse) July 19, 2021
PLL Freestyle Challenge: Dhane Smith
. @dhanesmith92 🤝 @Joshbyrne94
— Premier Lacrosse League (@PremierLacrosse) July 19, 2021
The shot that won the Freestyle Competition presented by @vineyardvines pic.twitter.com/UgIyIm7IRF