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Boston Blazers Return After A 10-year Absence With A New Look, New Coach And Local Ownership

October 4, 2007 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Boston Blazers News Release


Boston (October 4, 2007) - After a decade on the sidelines, the Boston Blazers today return to the National Lacrosse League (NLL), revealing its team name and new blazing red and white team colors to fans across New England. The Blazers, the newest and 14th member of the NLL, begin their inaugural season in January 2008 at the TD Banknorth Garden.

The Blazers face-off against the New York Titans on Jan. 19 in their home opener. The Philadelphia Wings, Toronto Rock, Minnesota Swarm, Rochester Knighthawks, Portland LumberJax, Buffalo Bandits and Chicago Shamrox also battle the Blazers at the Garden in a 16-game regular season. (Please see attached schedule).

Team officials also announced that Blazers group, individual and season tickets are available by calling 1-888-TIX-BLAZ (849-2529) or visiting www.blazerslacrosse.com. Tickets are $75, $50, $40, $35, $20 and $10 and are also available at the TD Banknorth Garden Box Office and all Ticketmaster outlets.

"I grew up a Blazers fan and I'm thrilled that fans across New England will once again have the opportunity to root for them," said Blazers Owner and Littleton, Mass. native Tim Armstrong. "Lacrosse is not only the fastest growing sport in New England, but also across the country. The name 'Blazers' is both nostalgic and also appropriate."

The thirst for an NLL franchise in Boston was finally satisfied on May 9, 2007 when the league announced it had awarded a team to Armstrong, who is President of Advertising and Commerce at Google, Inc. The team that day also announced former NLL star and former Boston Blazers standout Tom Ryan as head coach.

While the Blazers name may be familiar the logo is certainly not. The new Blazers logo features a lacrosse player's darkened silhouette next to a red flame that blazes from the team's name. The Blazers also introduced the "Blazer B," a red capitalized "B" with flames shooting out from the top. The Blazers team colors are red and white.

"Boston is a great sports town and we know its fans expect championships," said Blazers Head Coach Tom Ryan, who won an NLL title while playing for Philadelphia. "We are assembling a balanced roster of veterans and young players that should translate into an exciting brand of lacrosse. Our goal is to be competitive and play hard in every game."

Ryan played nine years in the NLL and amassed 202 total career points (82 goals and 120 assists). He coached the U.S. Indoor Lacrosse team in the 2007 World Indoor Lacrosse Championships and has assembled a Blazers roster that includes Marshfield, Mass. native Sean Morris and Patrick Merrill, the Blazers' No. 1 overall pick from Toronto in the 2007 Expansion Draft. Merrill boasts 435 face-off wins, which ranks 17th on the all-time NLL list.

The 1975 Boston Bolts were the first professional indoor lacrosse team to play in Boston. In 1992, Major Indoor Lacrosse League's New England Blazers relocated to the Boston Garden from the Worcester Centrum. The New England Blazers, formed in 1989, were renamed the Boston Blazers and played in Beantown until 1997. The Blazers called the FleetCenter (now TD Banknorth Garden) home in 1996-97 and made four playoff appearances in six seasons in the Hub.

There will be 3,941 days between the Blazers' last game played (March 29, 1997) and their first game of 2008 on Jan. 12 at Edmonton. More than 3,950 days will have passed between Blazers home games (March 22, 1997 to Jan. 19, 2008).



National Lacrosse League Stories from October 4, 2007


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