Currier, de Snoo, Vinc Win National Lacrosse League Transition, Defensive Player, Goaltender of the Year Awards
June 29, 2022 - National Lacrosse League (NLL) News Release
PHILADELPHIA - The National Lacrosse League (@NLL), the largest and most successful professional lacrosse property in the world, today announced that Zach Currier of the Calgary Roughnecks has won the NLL Transition Player of the Year Award; Mitch de Snoo of the Toronto Rock claimed the Defensive Player of the Year Award; and Buffalo Bandits netminder Mat Vinc earned his NLL-record eighth Goaltender of the Year honors, as the league continued its unveiling of 2021-22 award winners this week.
Currier, 28, helped lead the Roughnecks to the second seed in the West Conference after a slow start to the season. The former first round pick from the 2017 NLL Entry Draft led the league in loose ball recoveries at 237. He also set a record for most caused turnovers in a season with 62, the next closest on the season recorded 39. Among defensemen and transition players, he ranked in the top 10 in points with 19, (10 goals, nine assists). It's the first Transition Player of the Year award for Currier, who became the first Roughneck to win the award since Jeff Shattler in 2011. Currier won 56.8% of his faceoff draws through the season, taking the most he has through his NLL career and led the team in blocked shots at 11.
De Snoo, 29, ends Graeme Hossack's reign as the Defensive Player of the Year, marking the first of his career and the first for the Rock since 2010 when Sandy Chapman claimed the title. The Rock, anchored by de Snoo, were the only team to allow fewer than 10 goals per game through the regular season. The defenseman was tied for second in the NLL with 39 caused turnovers, with his teammate Brad Kri. De Snoo led the Rock with 185 loose ball recoveries and 18 blocked shots while also contributing 20 points on eight goals and 12 assists.
Vinc, 40, has now claimed the Goaltender of the Year award in eight of the last 12 seasons with three different franchises (Orlando Titans, Rochester Knighthawks, and Buffalo Bandits). He was one of four goalies to surpass the 1,000 minutes played mark during the season and finished third in goals against average at 10.10. Vinc led the NLL in wins (14), saves (747) and save percentage (.807). With Vinc in net, the Bandits had the best record in the regular season at 14-4.
Through the season, Vinc hit multiple career milestones including his 13,000th career minute played (no other player has reached 12,000), 9,000th save (no other player has more than 7,500), and 130th regular season win (no other player has 110). Vinc also contributed with nine assists on the season, third among goalies.
All awards were voted on prior to the start of the 2022 playoffs and were based on regular season statistics.
Below is the all-time list of winners for the NLL Transition Player of the Year.
2022 - Zach Currier, Calgary Roughnecks
2020 - Challen Rogers, Toronto Rock
2019 - Challen Rogers, Toronto Rock
2018 - Joey Cupido, Colorado Mammoth
2017 - Brodie Merrill, Toronto Rock
2016 - Brad Self, Rochester Knighthawks
2015 - Joey Cupido, Colorado Mammoth
2014 - Jordan MacIntosh, Minnesota Swarm
2013 - Jordan MacIntosh, Minnesota Swarm
2012 - Andrew Suitor, Minnesota Swarm
2011 - Jeff Shattler, Calgary Roughnecks
2010 - Brodie Merrill, Edmonton Rush
2009 - Brodie Merrill, Portland Lumberjax
2008 - Mark Steenhuis, Buffalo Bandits
2007 - Steve Toll, Rochester Knighthawks
Below is the all-time list of winners for the NLL Defensive Player of the Year.
2022 - Mitch de Snoo, Toronto Rock
2020 - Graeme Hossack, Halifax Thunderbirds
2019 - Graeme Hossack, Rochester Knighthawks
2018 - Graeme Hossack, Rochester Knighthawks
2017 - Jason Noble, Georgia Swarm
2016 - Ryan Dilks, Saskatchewan Rush
2015 - Kyle Rubisch - Edmonton Rush
2014 - Kyle Rubisch - Edmonton Rush
2013 - Kyle Rubisch - Edmonton Rush
2012 - Kyle Rubisch - Edmonton Rush
2011 - Pat McCready, Rochester Knighthawks
2010 - Sandy Chapman, Toronto Rock
2009 - Billy Dee Smith, Buffalo Bandits
2008 - Ryan Cousins, Minnesota Swarm
2007 - Ryan Cousins, Minnesota Swarm
2006 - Brodie Merrill, Portland Lumberjax
2005 - Andrew Turner, Rochester Knighthaws
2004 - Cam Woods, San Jose Stealth & Taylor Wray, Calgary Roughnecks
2003 - Jim Moss, Albany Attack
2002 - Pat Coyle, Toronto Rock
Below is the all-time list of winners of the NLL Goaltender of the Year Award.
2022 - Matt Vinc, Buffalo Bandits
2020 - Doug Jamieson, New England Black Wolves
2019 - Matt Vinc, Rochester Knighthawks
2018 - Matt Vinc, Rochester Knighthawks
2017 - Dillon Ward, Colorado Mammoth
2016 - Evan Kirk, New England Black Wolves
2015 - Matt Vinc, Rochester Knighthawks
2014 - Matt Vinc, Rochester Knighthawks
2013 - Matt Vinc, Rochester Knighthawks
2012 - Mike Poulin, Calgary Roughnecks
2011 - Matt Vinc, Rochester Knighthawks
2010 - Matt Vinc, Orlando Titans
2009 - Ken Mountour, Buffalo Bandits
2008 - Bob Watson, Toronto Rock
2007 - Anthony Cosmo, San Jose Stealth
2006 - Steve Dietrich, Buffalo Bandits
2005 - Steve Dietrich, Buffalo Bandits
2004 - Gee Nash, Colorado Mammoth
2003 - Pat O'Toole, Rochester Knighthawks
2002 - Rob Blasdell, Albany Attack
National Lacrosse League Stories from June 29, 2022
- Bandits Announce Rosters for Jr. NLL Tournament - Buffalo Bandits
- Vinc Wins NLL Goaltender of the Year for 8th Time - Buffalo Bandits
- Zach Currier Named NLL Transition Player of the Year - Calgary Roughnecks
- Mitch de Snoo Named NLL Defensive Player of the Year - Toronto Rock
- Currier, de Snoo, Vinc Win National Lacrosse League Transition, Defensive Player, Goaltender of the Year Awards - NLL
- Pat Gregoire Wins Tom Borrelli Award for NLL Media Person of the Year - Halifax Thunderbirds
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