Merrill, Walters and Thomson Named to 2009 All-MLL Team
August 21, 2009 - Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
Hamilton Nationals News Release
TORONTO - Toronto Nationals Lacrosse is pleased to announce that Brodie Merrill, midfielder Joe Walters and attacker Merrick Thomson have been named to the 2009 All-MLL team as released today by Major League Lacrosse. The All-MLL team recognizes the best players at each position from the season and completes the season-end league awards. Merrill, who played in all 12 regular season games for the Nationals, picked up an impressive 69 ground balls this season, putting him third on the all-time regular season list.
His 20 points and 12 assists lead all defensive players in the two categories for 2009. Along with this most recent announcement, Merrill was also honoured earlier this week as the Warrior Defensive Player of the Year for the fourth consecutive season. The defender has also set personal career highs this season in goals, with 8, and points, with 20.
Walters, who leads the Nationals with a career high 17 assists, is second in points for the team with 42. The midfielder put up 23 goals in the regular season, including 2 two-pointers, 3 power-play goals and 1 short-handed goal. On June 4th he received the Bud Light Game MVP for his 5 goal effort in Toronto's defeat of the Washington Bayhawks. Thomson, as a unanimous selection also joins teammates Merrill and Walters to the All-MLL team. He tallied 50 points with 44 goals and 6 assists for the 2009 season. His 44 goals not only leads the League but places him at a tie for sixth place all-time on the single season goal list. He had two game-winning goals and an astounding 50% shooting percentage, helping him to win the Bud Light Game MVP award three times this season.
Both Walters and Thomson have been awarded spots on the All-MLL team for the second consecutive year in 2009. The #2 Toronto Nationals head to Annapolis, Maryland this weekend to face off against the #3 Long Island Lizards at 3:00 p.m. ET as the second semifinal game in the Major League Lacrosse 2009 New Balance Championship Weekend at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. The winner of the Toronto versus Long Island game will play on Sunday, August 23 at 1:00 p.m. ET in the championship game in hopes of hoisting the Steinfeld Cup. The winner will face either the Denver Outlaws or Boston Cannons who play for their fate in the #1 vs. #4 semifinal match up at noon on Saturday. TSN2 will feature the Saturday August 22nd semi-final game between the Nationals and the Lizards at 3:00 p.m. EST as well as the MLL New Balance Championship Game on August 23rd at 1:00 p.m. EST.
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Major League Lacrosse Stories from August 21, 2009
- Chicago Machine's Kevin Leveille Named to All MLL Team - Chicago Machine
- Merrill, Walters and Thomson Named to 2009 All-MLL Team - Hamilton Nationals
- 2009 All-MLL Team Announced - MLL
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