Western Division
ARIZONA STING
Coach: Bob Hamley, 2005 NLL coach of the year
2005 record: 9-7, lost in Champion’s Cup final, 19-13 to Toronto
Key acquisitions: Veteran goaltender Rob Blasdell (13.37 goals-against average) via trade with Edmonton, defender Bruce Murray; Matt Brown, fifth overall entry draft pick from the University of Denver
Key loss: Defender Mark Cochrane retired
Who to watch: Dan Dawson, a 24-year-old giant by lacrosse standards at 6-foot-5, scored 48 goals to earn first team all-pro honors. Craig Conn, a late-season acquisition, scored an NLL-leading 12 goals and seven assists in the playoffs.
CALGARY ROUGHNECKS
Coach: Chris Hall
2005 record: 10-6, lost in semifinals, 19-15 to Arizona
Key acquisitions: Defenseman Rob Kirkby, key member of Calgary’s 2004 Champion’s Cup title team via trade from Arizona; defender Andy Ogilvie (75 loose balls in 2004) returning from a severe knee injury
Key loss: Defender Brad MacDonald via trade to Toronto
Who to watch: Tracey Kelusky, Lewis Ratcliff and Kaleb Toth combined for 235 points last season.
COLORADO MAMMOTH
Coach: Gary Gait
2005 record: 8-8, lost to Arizona, 16-13 in first round of playoffs
Key acquisitions: Free agents Rich Catton, Chris Gill and Ben Prepchuk; rookies Steve Voituk and Dan Carey, seventh overall entry draft pick from Canisius
Key losses: Gait to retirement; Del Halladay in expansion draft
Who to watch: Former DU forward Mike Law, a free agent who did not play in 2005 after scoring 22 goals with 31 assists in 2004 for Anaheim
EDMONTON RUSH
Coach: Paul Day
2005 record: None (expansion team)
Key acquisitions: NLL 2005 defenseman of the year Andrew Turner from Rochester; veteran forward Jim Quinlan via trade from Toronto
Who to watch: Cam Bergman, a speedy, 22-year-old transition player
PORTLAND LUMBERJAX
Coach: Derek Keenan
2005 record: None (expansion team)
Key acquisitions: Nine-time all-pro goaltender Dallas Eliuk via trade from Philadelphia; Mike Hominuck, first pick of expansion draft; Brodie Merrill, No. 1 overall entry draft pick from Georgetown; former Mammoth Del Halladay and Ted Dowling.
Who to watch: Brothers Peter (22 goals) and Richard (18 goals) Morgan played for the disbanded Anaheim Storm and Keenan last season.
SAN JOSE STEALTH
Coach: Walt Christiansen
2005 record: 4-12, didn’t make playoffs
Key acquisitions: First-round entry draft picks Matt Vinc (sixth overall from Canisius) and Jeff Zywicki (eighth overall from Massachusetts)
Key loss: None
Who to watch: Ryan Boyle (42 points), 2005 rookie of the year
Eastern Division
BUFFALO BANDITS
Coach: Darris Kilgour
2005 record: 11-5, lost to Rochester, 19-14 in first round of playoffs
Key acquisitions: Former Arizona veterans Cory Bomberry, Lindsay Plunkett and Troy Bonterre via trade; defender Chris Langdale (missed 2005 because of work conflict and injury)
Key loss: Forward Jason Crosbie (50 points in 2005) via trade to Arizona
Who to watch: John Tavares, second-leading all-time NLL scorer (1,051 points), NLL 2005 goaltender of the year Steve Dietrich
MINNESOTA SWARM
Coach: Adam Mueller
2005 record: 5-11, didn’t make playoffs
Key acquisitions: Forward Kasey Beirnes (62 points in 2004; injury limited him to one game in 2005) and defenseman Darryl Gibson (84 loose balls in 2005) from Arizona via trade; Nolan Heavenor, 17th overall entry draft pick from Limestone College
Key loss: None
Who to watch: Ryan Ward scored 44 points in 11 games after the Swarm acquired him Feb. 8 from Philadelphia; Riley Kemp led the Swarm with 94 loose balls in 2005.
PHILADELPHIA WINGS
Coach: Lindsay Sanderson
2005 record: 6-10, didn’t make playoffs
Key acquisitions: Veteran defenseman Glenn Clark and goaltender Matt Roik. Former Mammoth defender Brad Self and ex-Mammoth goalkeeper Erik Miller; Sean Greenhalgh, third overall entry draft pick from Cornell; Luke Wiles, fourth overall entry draft pick from Delaware
Key losses: Nine-time all-pro goaltender Dallas Eliuk traded to Portland; all-time franchise scoring leader Tom Marechek retired. Touted rookies Kyle Harrison and Benson Erwin are not playing because of injury and work conflict, respectively.
Who to watch: Dan Finck (73 loose balls as an all-rookie selection in 2005)
ROCHESTER KNIGHTHAWKS
Coach: Ed Comeau
2005 record: 10-6, lost to Toronto in semifinals, 12-10
Key acquisitions: Rookie Shawn Evans, second overall entry draft pick; 2005 all-rookie Andrew Burkholder (31 points, 83 loose balls) via trade from Philadelphia
Key losses: NLL 2005 defenseman of the year Andrew Turner to Edmonton; defenseman Casey Zaph (brain injury)
Who to watch: John Grant Jr. (105 points in 2005, second in NLL), Shawn Williams (83 points in 2005) and Mike Accursi (71 points in 2005)
TORONTO ROCK
Coach: Terry Sanderson
2005 record: 12-4, Champion’s Cup winner, 19-13 over Arizona
Key acquisitions: Veteran defenders Brad MacDonald and Scott Campbell
Key loss: Defender Glenn Clark
Who to watch: First team all-pro Colin Doyle (111 points); second team all-pros Blaine Manning (105 points), Josh Sanderson (102 points), 41-year-old defenseman Jim Veltman (193 loose balls), goaltender Bob Watson (11.78 goals-against average)
