The NLL season is really heating up as teams are vying for playoff position and games are getting more intense every week. Many players also potentially played their last games with their current teams before many will be sent elsewhere with the trade deadline approaching. Let’s see who had a winning weekend and who ended up in the losers column in this week’s Winners and Losers.
Winners
Bryan Cole
The Swarm only had two lefty forwards dress for their game against Rochester, but transition player Bryan Cole stepped up big time to play some offensive shifts. He scored 3 goals and had 3 assists to help defeat the Knighthawks in a big Eastern Conference win. Cole only had 4 points coming into this game and showed he still has the scoring touch he had in Junior lacrosse and at the University of Maryland. He could be huge down the stretch as another option on the Swarm left side.
Kyle Buchanan
Kyle Buchanan’s tremendous play has possibly been overshadowed by other Seals superstars so far this season, but Buchanan has been a steady scorer all season. This past weekend he had his best game yet as a Seal scoring 5 goals and adding an assist in a big bounce back win. Buchanan is a dynamic speedy player who can slice through a defense or shoot the hell out of the ball from outside. He has been one of the big reasons for the Seals’ success in their first season. Definitely deserving of one of our winner spots on Winners and Losers.
David Brock
If the voting for Defender of the Year happened today David Brock would be one of the top candidates. He has gotten better and better every game this season for the Black Wolves who are having a great season. Brock was on another level against Colorado as he collected 11 loose balls, had 4 caused turnovers, and scored an unassisted goal in transition. Brock is terrorizing opposing teams and making the Black Wolves one of the hardest teams to play against in the league.
Honorable Mentions
Jeff Shattler
Jeff Shattler continues to his stellar play with the Rush as this savvy veteran’s career has had a renaissance in Saskatchewan. His 7 points were a difference maker as the Rush won another edition of the Battle of the Prairies against Calgary.
The NLL Partnering with Geico
This is big news for the success and continued growth of the league moving forward. Partnering with Geico opens the door for even more sponsorships from large companies and more money and interest in the NLL. The future is looking very bright for the NLL.
Losers
Teams at the Bottom of the Standings
No one likes making the losers column here on Winners and Losers, but Rochester and Philadelphia in the East and Colorado and Vancouver in the West are coming up on must win games to have any hopes of making the playoffs. Eight of the eleven teams will make the playoffs meaning as of this week three out of these four teams wouldn’t make it. There is still lots of lacrosse to be played, but these teams are going to have to turn it around very soon to save their seasons. With their struggles also comes the trading away of key players to the teams higher up in the standings trying to make championship runs and planning for next year’s draft.
