Titans' Casey Powell Named NLL MVP
from press release
Orlando Titans forward Casey Powell has been named the 2010 NLL
Most Valuable Player.
Powell enjoyed another standout season as the leading scorer for
the regular season Eastern Division Champion Titans, setting a new
career-high in goals with 44 - good for second most in the league -
despite missing two games due to injury. He made teams pay
often while on the man-up, finishing the regular season tied for
fourth most power play goals (10). His 5.71 points/game average was
also the fourth highest figure in the league.
Powell stepped up his level of play during crunch time, posting
the second most game-winning goals in the league (three). He also
enjoyed his best month of the season during April, a month in which
the Titans went 4-1 and clinched the top seed in the Eastern
Division. Powell doubled his previous high goal total for any
month this season, scoring 18 goals and adding 11 assists for 29
points. He scored four goals on three different occasions in
April, and during the final weekend of the season totaled seven
goals and eight assists in two games at Philadelphia and
Minnesota. Powell was named Game MVP in all four April
victories for the Titans. He becomes the first US-born player
to win the award; all previous winners were Canadian-born.
“I was very surprised. There’s a lot of great
players in this league, a lot of players well deserving of this
award; obviously, I’m very excited,” said Powell.
“It was exciting to be part of history as the first
professional lacrosse team in Florida, and to have a great fan
base. We were definitely motivated by them.”
“My team was the reason I was named MVP,” said Powell.
“The guys around me are unbelievable. I think we have
the top goaltender (Matt Vinc) in the league and the best defense
in the league. Hats off to my teammates and coaching
staff.”
“Casey Powell continues to elevate his game each year and
has now reached the pinnacle of the sport. I wish to
congratulate Casey on his extraordinary season in leading the
Titans to the Eastern Division title,” said NLL Commissioner
George Daniel.
Past NLL MVPs
2009 – Dan Dawson
2008 – Athan Iannucci
2007 – John Grant
2006 – Steve Dietrich
2005 – Colin Doyle
2004 – Jim Veltman
2003 – Gary Gait
2002 – Paul Gait
2001 – John Tavares
2000 – John Tavares
1999 – Gary Gait
1998 – Gary Gait
1997 – Gary Gait
1996 – Gary Gait
1995 – Gary Gait
1994 – John Tavares
The NLL also released its all-pro teams.
First Team All-Pro:
F Casey Powell, Orlando
F Josh Sanderson, Calgary
F Dan Dawson, Boston
T Brodie Merrill, Edmonton
D Sandy Chapman, Toronto
G Matt Vinc, Orlando
Second Team All-Pro:
F Colin Doyle, Toronto
F Lewis Ratcliff, Washington
F Rhys Duch, Washington
T Jordan Hall, Orlando
D John Orsen, Orlando
G Anthony Cosmo, Boston
In other postseason awards:
* Toronto Rock forward Stephen LeBlanc was named NLL Rookie of
the Year.
* The Edmonton Rush's Brodie Merrill won his second straight
Transition Player of the Year award.
* The Titans' Matt Vinc was named NLL Goaltender of the Year.
* The Rock's Sandy Chapman was named NLL Defensive Player of the
Year.
* The Washington Stealth's Chris Hall and Edmonton Rush's Derek
Keenan shared the Les Bartley Award for top head coach.
