Outlaws' Dan Hardy Named Cascade Rookie of the Year
August 11, 2009 - Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
Denver Outlaws News Release
DENVER - The Denver Outlaws are pleased to announce that midfielder Dan Hardy (Syracuse) has been selected as the 2009 Cascade Major League Lacrosse Rookie of the Year, according to MLL Commissioner David Gross. The award was based on the votes submitted by head coaches and general managers from each of the League's six teams. Hardy quietly led all rookies in scoring this season with a total of 16 points (8 goals and 8 assists) in 10 games played with Denver.
"I am very happy for Dan," said Outlaws head coach and General Manager Brian Reese. "He has really done a great job for us and is an important part of our team. He picked up the speed of the MLL game quickly and didn't skip a beat in his transition from college."
Hardy was selected by the Denver Outlaws with the eighth overall pick in the 2009 MLL Collegiate Draft from Syracuse University, two days after he assisted on the game winning overtime goal to give the Orangemen the 2009 NCAA Men's Lacrosse Division I National Championship in a victory over Cornell. That capped off his outstanding Syracuse career with back-to-back National Championships. Hardy was also an USILA Honorable Mention All-American in 2007, 2008, and 2009.
Hardy began his professional lacrosse career with a bang, recording his highest point total of the regular season in his first MLL game (Washington Bayhawks; May 30) with a goal and three assists, including an assist on new teammate Matt Brown's (Denver) game-winning goal. Additionally, Hardy had the game-winning goal in the Outlaws' August 1st victory over the Long Island Lizards at Hofstra's Shuart Stadium.
Hardy received 17 points to win the award, while his Denver midfielder teammate Max Seibald (Cornell) finished second in the voting with 15 points. Seibald, the 2009 Tewaaraton Trophy winner, finished fifth among rookies in scoring, with 9 goals, 2 two-point goals, and 1 assist for 12 points.
Hardy, Seibald, and the No. 1 seed Denver Outlaws (9-3) will face-off against the Fourth seeded Boston Cannons (6-6) in the 10:00 AM MT semifinal on Saturday, August 22. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN2HD. Denver will host a viewing party to watch the semifinal game at Lodo's Bar and Grill in downtown Denver with drink specials, prizes and more. Doors open at 9:30 AM MT that day. The winner of the Denver/Boston battle will face either the Toronto Nationals (7-5) or the Long Island Lizards (6-6) in the New Balance MLL Championship Game on Sunday, August 23 at 11:00 AM MT.
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Major League Lacrosse Stories from August 11, 2009
- Outlaws' Dan Hardy Named Cascade Rookie of the Year - Denver Outlaws
- Denver's Dan Hardy Honored as 2009 Cascade MLL Rookie of the Year - MLL
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