Expansion Blazers Host Jax

January 27, 2009 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Portland Lumberjax News Release


PORTLAND, January 27, 2009 - The Portland LumberJax (2-3) wrap up their busiest month of the 2009 National Lacrosse League season by traveling to Boston to meet the expansion Blazers on Saturday, January 31st at 4:30 p.m. PST at the TD Banknorth Garden. The Jax are seeking to end the month with a .500 record for the first time since the 2006 season.

After starting the season 1-3, Portland returned home last Friday to host the Edmonton Rush at the Rose Garden Arena. The Rush had previously beaten the Jax in Edmonton, so redemption was the word of the week as Portland pummeled Edmonton 15-10. Like the 14-5 win in Colorado earlier in the month, the 15-10 thrashing was a complete team effort that saw many players set season and career-high's across the board.

On the offensive end, forward Cory Conway scored a career-high four goals and finished with a career-high seven points. Through the first five games of the season, Conway is leading the team in goals (10), assists (15) and points scored (25).

Rookie forward Tim Campeau tallied a career-high four assists en route to a career-high of four points and transition player Tyler Codron scored a career-high three goals and added a career-high five points. Overall, nine different players scored as Portland set a season-high with 15 goals.

The defense established its usual physical presence early on, pushing the Rush offense around and limiting the number of offensive possessions. Defenseman Richard Morgan epitomized the physicality, getting into two fights and winning both soundly. The gentle giant first tussled with Dan Teat and then traded blows with tough guy Ryan McNish.

Defenseman Pat Jones won 21 of 29 face-offs and defenseman Brodie Merrill helped control the transition game by scooping up 21 loose balls to up his league leading total to 91.

Goalie Matt Disher stopped 50 of the 60 shots he faced in the win to increase his league leading save total to 208. Disher has only allowed 9.86 goals-per-game and has stopped 80.6% of the shots he's faced during the first month of the season.

The expansion Blazers (2-2) are coming off a home-and-home sweep of the Philadelphia Wings. After dropping their first two games of the season, the Blazers have seemed to gel under Head Coach/General Manager Tom Ryan.

Boston has been led by former Portland forward "Dangerous" Dan Dawson, who has scored five goals and added 21 assists. First year forward Daryl Veltman has also chipped in with 11 goals and 13 assists.

Reaching the .500 plateau is just the first step for the defending West Division Champions. Two home games follow in February before the home stretch in March and April.



National Lacrosse League Stories from January 27, 2009


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