Brodie Merrill Named to All Star Team West
Published on February 7, 2011 under National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Edmonton Rush News Release
Edmonton, AB- The National Lacrosse League announced today that Rush Captain Brodie Merrill was selected to compete on the NLL All-Star Team for the Western Division. The game will take place on Sunday, Feb. 27 at 1 p.m. CST at Turning Stone Casino Arena in Verona, N.Y.
For the fifth time in his six-year career, Merrill, 29, was selected to the All-Star Team. The native of Orangeville, Ontario was named the NLL Transition Player of the week during week #3 of the 2011 season, despite the 9-8 lost to the Minnesota Swarm on Saturday, January 22 at Xcel Energy Centre. He netted three (3) goals, two (2) assists and nine (9) loose balls.
In five games, Merrill has tallied 60 loose balls, 10 points (4g, 6a) for the Rush in 2011. He recorded a career point-best in 2010, with 53 points (17g, 36a).
The All-Star team lineups were selected by the votes of the league's coaches, media and fans, who voted via online ballot at the league's website, NLL.com. The reserves for the East and West teams will be announced later this week.
The East All-Star starting lineup consists of forwards Casey Powell (Boston Blazers) and Colin Doyle (Toronto Rock), transition player Mark Steenhuis (Buffalo Bandits), defensemen Chris White (Buffalo Bandits) and Pat McCready (Rochester Knighthawks) and goaltender Brandon Miller (Philadelphia Wings).
The West All-Star starting lineup consists of forwards Ryan Benesch (Minnesota Swarm) and Scott Ranger (Calgary Roughnecks), transition player Brodie Merrill (Edmonton Rush), defensemen Andrew McBride (Calgary Roughnecks) and Mike Grimes (Washington Stealth) and goaltender Nick Patterson (Minnesota Swarm).
The reserves for the East and West teams will be announced later this week. A list of the starting lineups below includes the number of times that each player has been selected to the league's All-Star Game. Among the starters, Colin Doyle has now been selected to his ninth NLL All-Star Game, the most of any player in league history.
Last week the league announced that the East will be coached by Toronto Rock head coach Troy Cordingley, and the West by Washington Stealth head coach Chris Hall. Ed Comeau and Rush GM/Head Coach Derek Keenan will serve as assistant coaches for the East and West, respectively.
The game will feature the All-Stars of the Eastern Division vs. the All-Stars of the Western Division. The game will be televised live on VERSUS. Details on the Canadian telecast of the game will be made at a later date.
2011 All-Star Game Starting Lineups (and # of career ASG selections)
East
F - Casey Powell (7th)
F - Colin Doyle (9th)
T - Mark Steenhuis (7th)
D - Pat McCready (2nd)
D - Chris White (3rd)
G - Brandon Miller (2nd)
West
F - Scott Ranger (1st)
F - Ryan Benesch (1st)
T - Brodie Merrill (5th)
D - Andrew McBride (2nd)
D - Mike Grimes (1st)
G - Nick Patterson (2nd)
The Rush take on former Rush captain, Chris McElroy with the Washington Stealth this Friday, February 11 at 7:00 p.m. in Rexall Place in a home and away series. The Rush will travel following the game Friday, to Everett, Washington for a battle against the Stealth on Saturday, February 12.
National Lacrosse League Stories from February 7, 2011
- Roughnecks to Battle Toronto - Calgary Roughnecks
- 02-07 Riggers McBride and Ranger Make Starting Line up on NLL All-Star Team - Calgary Roughnecks
- Wings Brandon Miller Named to NLL East All-Star Team - Philadelphia Wings
- Washington Stealth Defenseman Grimes Named All-Star Game Starter - Washington Stealth
- Colin Doyle Name East All-Star Starter - Toronto Rock
- Knighthawks Pat McCready Named to East All-Star Starting Lineup - Rochester Knighthawks
- Brodie Merrill Named to All Star Team West - Edmonton Rush
- Swarm and Homegrown Lacrosse Enter Third Year of Collaborative Relationship - Minnesota Swarm
- Minnesota Swarm's Benesch and Patterson Selected All-Star Starters - Minnesota Swarm
- Steenhuis, White Named All-Star Starters - Buffalo Bandits
- National Lacrosse League All-Star Game Starting Lineups Announced - NLL
- Wings Fight Pediatric Cancer with Auction - Philadelphia Wings
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