December 24, 2007
Portland LumberJax
Division: West
Web site: portlandjax.com
Last Year: 4-12, sixth place
Head Coach: Derek Keenan (20-28 career, 15-17 with LumberJax)
The Jax were the lowest-scoring team in the NLL last season with 153 goals, but Dan Dawson, taken from Arizona with the first pick in the dispersal draft, should be a huge help in that regard. He's 30th on the career scoring list with 186 goals and 405 points in 91 games. He really hit his stride last season with the Sting, finishing second in scoring to NLL MVP John Grant Jr. of Rochester. The Jax also got Derek Malawsky, 13th in career scoring with 189 goals and 537 points in 128 games, from Arizona. They'll join returnees Ryan Powell and Peter Morgan, who were the only Jax to break 40 points last season, and Spencer Martin, who tallied 41 points for the Minnesota Swarm. Defenseman/transition ace Brodie Merrill played at an all-world level again during his second season and led the league in loose balls, the first time Toronto's Jim Veltman hasn't been at the top of the list. Ageless goaltender Dallas Eliuk (OK, he's 43) is back for his 18th season. He's the career leader in saves, games played and wins.
Schedule
Jan 12 vs. New York
Jan 24 vs. Colorado
Jan 26 at Calgary
Feb 2 at Edmonton
Feb 7 at Colorado
Feb 10 at Minnesota
Feb 17 vs. Edmonton
Feb 22 vs. Calgary
Mar 1 vs. Edmonton
Mar 8 at Calgary
Mar 20 vs. Colorado
Apr 5 vs. San Jose
Apr 6 at San Jose
Apr 11 vs. Philadelphia
Apr 18 at San Jose
Apr 26 at Buffalo
Projected Starting Lineup
F Dan Dawson (47g, 60a, 107pts, 65 LBs with Arizona)
F Ryan Powell (23g, 31a, 54pts, 65 LBs)
F Derek Malawsky (20g, 35a, 55pts, 78 LBs with Arizona)
D Brodie Merrill (4g, 19a, 23pts, 196 LBs)
D Richard Morgan (10g, 10a, 20pts, 69 LBs)
G Dallas Eliuk (3-9, 12.19 GAA, 75.6 SV%).
Dec. 21, 2007
The 2008 National Lacrosse League season begins Dec. 29 as the Colorado Mammoth host the Calgary Roughnecks at the Pepsi Center in Denver. Before then, LMO will be releasing team-by-team previews by resident Hall of Fame writer Tom Borrelli, excerpted from the January issue of Lacrosse magazine.
For more this NLL season, check back to LMO for Borrelli's weekly column and become a member of US Lacrosse to begin your monthly subscription to LM.
Portland LumberJax
Division: West
Web site: portlandjax.com
Last Year: 4-12, sixth place
Head Coach: Derek Keenan (20-28 career, 15-17 with LumberJax)
The Jax were the lowest-scoring team in the NLL last season with 153 goals, but Dan Dawson, taken from Arizona with the first pick in the dispersal draft, should be a huge help in that regard. He's 30th on the career scoring list with 186 goals and 405 points in 91 games. He really hit his stride last season with the Sting, finishing second in scoring to NLL MVP John Grant Jr. of Rochester. The Jax also got Derek Malawsky, 13th in career scoring with 189 goals and 537 points in 128 games, from Arizona. They'll join returnees Ryan Powell and Peter Morgan, who were the only Jax to break 40 points last season, and Spencer Martin, who tallied 41 points for the Minnesota Swarm. Defenseman/transition ace Brodie Merrill played at an all-world level again during his second season and led the league in loose balls, the first time Toronto's Jim Veltman hasn't been at the top of the list. Ageless goaltender Dallas Eliuk (OK, he's 43) is back for his 18th season. He's the career leader in saves, games played and wins.
Schedule
Jan 12 vs. New York
Jan 24 vs. Colorado
Jan 26 at Calgary
Feb 2 at Edmonton
Feb 7 at Colorado
Feb 10 at Minnesota
Feb 17 vs. Edmonton
Feb 22 vs. Calgary
Mar 1 vs. Edmonton
Mar 8 at Calgary
Mar 20 vs. Colorado
Apr 5 vs. San Jose
Apr 6 at San Jose
Apr 11 vs. Philadelphia
Apr 18 at San Jose
Apr 26 at Buffalo
Projected Starting Lineup
F Dan Dawson (47g, 60a, 107pts, 65 LBs with Arizona)
F Ryan Powell (23g, 31a, 54pts, 65 LBs)
F Derek Malawsky (20g, 35a, 55pts, 78 LBs with Arizona)
D Brodie Merrill (4g, 19a, 23pts, 196 LBs)
D Richard Morgan (10g, 10a, 20pts, 69 LBs)
G Dallas Eliuk (3-9, 12.19 GAA, 75.6 SV%).
