Jax player Ryan Sharp wins Mann Caup

Published on September 29, 2006 under National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Portland Lumberjax News Release


PORTLAND, Sept. 28, 2006 - LumberJax transition player Ryan Sharp works on his lacrosse skills in the off-season by competing for the Peterborough Lakers, a premier Canadian summer league team in Major Series Lacrosse (MSL). Joining the team this summer in a transaction from the MSL's Brooklin Redmen, Sharp not only played a major role with his team in Canada, but his time with the Lakers helped keep the rust off for this coming season with the LumberJax.

Sharp became part of a team with a fabled history in Mann Cup competition, competing 17 times for the coveted trophy since the tournament's conception in 1910. For the third straight year in a row, Sharp's Lakers matched up against Western Lacrosse Association (WLA) rival the Victoria Shamrocks, going head-to-head against Jax teammates Ryder Bateman and goalie Matt King for Canadian lacrosse bragging rights. Last year the two teams battled in a six-game series which saw Victoria as the victor. That served as payback from the year before when Peterborough took home their fifth title in championship play with Victoria as their opponent.

Since the championship was established, the East (MSL) and the West (WLA) summer leagues have alternated between host sites with the visiting team winning just 23 times in 80 attempts. According to the record books, the Lakers were the favored team playing host in the Peterborough Memorial Centre this summer. "The excitement of playing in front of a hometown crowd is overwhelming at times," explains Sharp. "But when things were going Victoria's way you could really feel the crowd sink into their seats."

Avenging the loss from last year's championship, Peterborough defeated the Shamrocks in five games during the best-of-seven series on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2006. The Lakers outscored Victoria 17-10 in the final game to win the 2006 Mann Cup. Sharp's teammate Dan Cary was named Mann Cup MVP leading the way with two goals and two assists for the night.

Throughout the tournament Jax players on both the Peterborough and the Victoria squads contributed to their respective summer teams. Bateman supported the Shamrocks with a goal and two assists in the final while teammate King dominated in net by only allowing seven goals and saving 28 shots (.800 save percentage). In the tournament's five games, Sharp contributed to the title with five goals while serving only 11 penalty minutes.

"I feel that I played strong defense for my team throughout the series," the Jax transition player said. "In the five-game series, I was twice named Defensive Player of the Game for the Lakers. I wanted to contribute to the team where I was needed on the field, whether I was helping to secure wins or battling back from deficits."

Sharp and Bateman compete for the LumberJax squad, both excelling in pushing the offensive transition and providing a another scoring option. These two players, along with King, were all part of last year's LumberJax team that clinched the Western Division Title in its inaugural season, a National Lacrosse League (NLL) first. Sharp faced a tough obstacle by defending Bateman on the field and scoring around Jax teammate King in goal.

"I didn't feel that I had an advantage when shooting on King. If anything I was more nervous to go up against him," Sharp added. "Since we practiced together all season, he knows all of my shot selections and tendencies like I know all of his. The advantage was definitely in his favor.

"Playing against teammates is always a challenge, because you don't want to let them get that edge on the field," he continued. "Ryder and I matched up many times throughout this series, and sometimes he managed to get around me but there were times I was able to prevent him too. We were very evenly matched."

Sharp grew up playing lacrosse in Peterborough, Ontario working his way through the youth and minor league ranks. The 6-foot-1-inch, 205-pound transition player joined the Jax through the 2005 NLL Expansion Draft from the Calgary Roughnecks. In the Jax inaugural campaign, Sharp scored 16 goals, racked up 14 assists and fought for more than 130 looseballs, helping him earn a spot on the 2006 All Star Team.

"I think that the motivation from my Mann Cup victory with the Lakers will carry over this winter while playing with the LumberJax," Sharp anticipated. "Having won the Western Division Title in our first season isn't something a lot of teams accomplish. I just hope that I can bring my experience from the tournament to Portland this season."

Sharp, along with the returning Jax and new signees, will all meet in mid-November for training camps. He has returned to Portland for the 2007 campaign as well, where he will live throughout the season.

"The best part of playing in a long series is the prize at the end," Sharp said. "Being named a National Champion has to be one of the greatest feelings you can ever experience. I was playing against some of the best players in lacrosse today for a chance at being on the number one team in summer leagues. That is a feeling I hope to share again with my teammates on a larger scale in Portland."

Season Tickets for the LumberJax start as low as $90. Packages include the eight regular season home games and the 2007 NLL All Star Game. Enjoy the benefits of being a Season Ticket Holder! Also, it's not too early to plan company or friends and family outings. Receive discounts when you bring out a group of fifteen or more. Tickets start at just $10 a seat with no applicable fees. For more information or to reserve your seats call the Jax ticket office at 503.797.9739. Who Wants More?

Tickets for the National Lacrosse League (NLL) 2007 All-Star Game are now on sale. The game will take place on March 10, 2007 at the Rose Garden, home of the Portland LumberJax. Tickets can be purchased at the Rose Quarter Box office, all participating Safeway locations, RoseQuarter.com, or by calling 1.877.789.ROSE (7673).

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National Lacrosse League Stories from September 29, 2006


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