Brodie Merrill Named April Player Of The Month
Published on May 5, 2010 under National Lacrosse League (NLL) News Release
Edmonton Rush transition player Brodie Merrill has been voted the National Lacrosse League's Player of the Month for the month of April. Toronto Rock forward Stephan Leblanc is the league's Rookie of the Month for April. Merrill becomes the first transition player to win Player of the Month honors this season (goaltenders Bob Watson and Matt Vinc won in January and February, respectively, followed by John Tavares in March). Leblanc nabs his second Rookie of the Month award after being named the top rookie in February as well (other winners were teammate Garrett Billings in January and Alex Gajic in March).
Merrill racked up nine goals, 11 assists (20 points) and 60 loose balls over Edmonton's five games in the month of April. Edmonton went 3-2 in April and locked up the third seed in the Western Division, with Merrill playing a key role in all three victories. The Rush defeated the top overall seed throughout the playoffs - the Washington Stealth - twice over that stretch, with Merrill tallying two goals, three assists and 16 loose balls in a 14-13 home win on April 2 and one goal, two assists and 12 loose balls in a victory in Washington by the same score on April 17. In the other Edmonton victory during the month of April, Merrill scored the overtime game-winning goal against the Minnesota Swarm to seal a 13-12 win on April 3.
Leblanc was outstanding in the month of April, tallying 14 goals and 12 assists (26 points), as well as three game MVP nods in Toronto's three April wins (the Rock went 3-1 during the month). His 14 goals and 12 assists led the team over the course of the month, helping to solidify a postseason berth for the Rock for the first time in two seasons. In a 13-6 victory On April 3 in Philadelphia, Leblanc had his best performance with 10 points from five goals and five assists. He led the Rock in scoring in the other two April victories as well, finishing with four goals and three assists on April 5 against the Calgary Roughnecks and four goals and two assists on April 16 against the Rochester Knighthawks.
The awards are voted on by the General Managers & Head Coaches of the league's eleven member clubs.
National Lacrosse League Stories from May 5, 2010
- Clutch Play In The Cards For Secore And Powell - Edmonton Rush
- Merrill Wins NLL Player Of The Month In April - Edmonton Rush
- Rock Forward Leblanc Named April's NLL Rookie of the Month - Toronto Rock
- Brodie Merrill Named April Player Of The Month - NLL
- Orlando Titans Game Notes - Orlando Titans
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