All-Star Game Starters, Coaches Announced
February 25, 2008 - National Lacrosse League (NLL) News Release
The National Lacrosse League announced the starting lineups for the 2008 All-Star Game, which takes place on Sunday, March 16th at 4PM Eastern at Rexall Place in Edmonton. The starters were determined by a combination of fan voting, team General Managers/Head Coaches voting, and league media voting. Each accounted for one-third of the total vote for the starting lineups.
Philadelphia's Athan Iannucci will make his first career All-Star appearance. The second-year forward leads the league with 25 goals in five games, an average of five goals-per-game.
Buffalo forward John Tavares will make his seventh All-Star appearance. The league's all-time leading scorer is currently second in the league with 32 assists. Teammate Mark Steenhuis will make his fourth All-Star appearance. The 27-year-old transition player is currently tied for fourth in league scoring with 20 goals.
Rochester forward John Grant will make his fifth All-Star appearance. The 2007 league MVP is tied for fourth in league scoring with 20 goals.
Minnesota's Nick Patterson will make his first All-Star appearance. The 25-year-old goaltender currently leads the league with 327 saves and has backstopped the Swarm to a 6-2 start. Teammate Ryan Cousins will make his fourth All-Star appearance. The 26-year-old defenseman has seven goals, including two overtime game-winners for the Swarm.
Rochester's Ed Comeau will serve as Head Coach of the East All-Stars, while Buffalo's Darris Kilgour will serve as Assistant Coach.
In the West, Colorado has the most All-Star starters with three. Forwards Dan Carey and Gavin Prout will make their third and sixth All-Star appearances, respectively. Carey leads the Mammoth with 17 goals, while Prout tops the league in assists with 34. Goaltender Gee Nash makes his fourth All-Star appearance. Nash currently leads the league with a 10.10 Goals Against Average.
Portland's Brodie Merrill makes his third All-Star appearance. The 26-year-old transition player currently leads the league with 97 loose balls in eight games.
San Jose's Jeff Zywicki makes his second All-Star appearance. The 26-year-old forward is second to only Iannucci with 24 goals in seven games. Teammate Eric Martin will make his first All-Star appearance. The 26-year-old defenseman has scooped 76 loose balls in seven games, second in the West to only Merrill.
Edmonton's Bob Hamley will serve as Head Coach of the West All-Stars, while San Jose's Walt Christianson will serve as Assistant Coach. The four All-Star Game coaches are the head coaches who led their teams to the Divisional Finals last season.
The remaining 12 reserve players on each All-Star team will be named later this week.
EAST DIVISION ALL-STAR STARTERS
F Athan Iannucci, Philadelphia
F John Tavares, Buffalo
F John Grant, Rochester
T Mark Steenhuis, Buffalo
D Ryan Cousins, Minnesota
G Nick Patterson, Minnesota
WEST DIVISION ALL-STAR STARTERS
F Jeff Zywicki, San Jose
F Dan Carey, Colorado
F Gavin Prout, Colorado
T Brodie Merrill, Portland
D Eric Martin, San Jose
G Gee Nash, Colorado
National Lacrosse League Stories from February 25, 2008
- Grant Named Starter For NLL All-Star Game - Rochester Knighthawks
- Carey, Nash, Prout To Start For West All-Stars - Colorado Mammoth
- Minnesota Swarm's Patterson, Cousins Named To NLL All-Star Team - Minnesota Swarm
- Wings' A.I. Chosen As A Starter For 2008 National Lacrosse League All-Star Game - Philadelphia Wings
- Merrill Named All-Star Starter - Portland Lumberjax
- Tavares And Steenhuis To Start For Eastern Division All-Stars - Buffalo Bandits
- All-Star Game Starters, Coaches Announced - NLL
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