Minnesota Swarm Defenseman Ryan Cousins Named NLL Defensive Player of the Year

Published on May 1, 2007 under National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Minnesota Swarm News Release


SAINT PAUL/MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The National Lacrosse League (NLL) announced today that Minnesota Swarm defenseman Ryan Cousins has been named the NLL Defensive Player of the Year.

"It's a pleasure to finally see Ryan rewarded for all his hard work," said Minnesota Swarm General Manager Marty O'Neill. "He had another great season in 2007 and has been the main fixture in the process of building our team."

"It's an honor to be selected as the Defensive Player of the Year out of such an elite group of players in the NLL," said Cousins. "I'm very excited and surprised by this, knowing there are a number of other players that could have won this award. This is a great personal highlight that I will treasure for years to come."

Cousins, 26 (4/1/81), led team defensemen and set career-highs in every major statistical category tallying nine goals, 14 assists and 108 loose balls in 16 games with Minnesota in 2007. The 6-1, 200-pound defenseman ranked tied for first amongst NLL defensemen with two shorthanded goals and tied for fourth in scoring with 23 points. The team captain also recorded 16 penalty minutes (PIM) during the regular season, his lowest total since 2003. Cousins added two goals in the Swarm's 14-8 playoff loss at Buffalo in the East Division Semifinals.

The Toronto, Ontario-native has recorded 48 points (18-30=48), 136 PIM and 340 loose balls in 83 career NLL games during six seasons with Columbus, Arizona and Minnesota. Since joining the Swarm prior to the start of the 2005 campaign, Cousins has notched 40 points (16-24=40), 93 PIM and 221 loose balls in 46 games and helped lead the team to the playoffs the past two seasons. He was acquired from Arizona along with forward Chad Culp in exchange for Brock Robertson and the Swarm's first round pick in the 2006 NLL Entry Draft on Nov. 5, 2004.

The award winners are chosen by a vote of the leagues coaches, general managers, and executives. Previous winners of the Defensive Player of the Year Award include: Brodie Merrill (2006), Andrew Turner (2005), Cam Woods/Taylor Wray (co-winners, 2004), and Jim Moss (2003).

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