Jax Re-Sign Powell And Disher

November 14, 2008 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Portland Lumberjax News Release


PORTLAND, November 14, 2008 - The Portland LumberJax have re-signed forward Ryan Powell and franchise player, goalie Matt Disher to one-year contracts, Head Coach/General Manager Derek Keenan announced today. Powell will enter his fourth season in the Rose City as the franchise leader in points scored (156) and assists (100).

Powell was third in goals (21), tied for first in assists (43) and second in points (64) for the Jax in 2008. The West Carthage, New York native scored at least two points in every game and scored five points or more in eight of the 16 regular season games.

In the playoffs, Powell was second on the team with 10 goals and 10 assists. Playing on the biggest stage in the National Lacrosse League Championship Game, the two-time All-Star scored two goals and added a Portland career-high six assists.

One of only three current players to score at least one point in every game he's appeared in over the course of at least one full season (Derek Malawsky and Peter Morgan), Powell has tallied an assist in 42 straight regular season games.

"It is Ryan's time to step up and be a premier offensive player in the NLL," said Keenan. "He proved last year down the stretch and through the playoffs that he is just that. Now we will look for Ryan to be our leader on offense. The learning curve for Ryan Powell is complete and I think he will now be a dominant offensive performer for the Jax."

Powell is also a premier outdoor lacrosse player. Powell plays for the Denver Outlaws of Major League Lacrosse. In 2008, he scored 38 points (15 goals, 23 assists) during his first season with the Outlaws. In 2006, Powell became the first player in MLL history to earn both the Offensive Player of the Year and Bud Light Most Valuable Player Award in the same season. Powell is also a two-time MLL MVP (2001 and 2006).

Prior to his professional career, Powell was a standout lacrosse player at Syracuse. Powell was an All-American four times (1997-2000) and won the NCAA Division I National Championship as a senior in 2000. Powell also received the Lt. Raymond Enners Award as the Division I National Player of the Year and earned the Lt. Col. Jack Turnbull Award as the Division I National Attackman of the Year in 2000.

In 13 games last season, Disher went 2-5 and posted a saves percentage of 77% while allowing 11.22 goals-per-game. With Portland, in four games, Disher went 2-2 and posted a saves percentage of 78.7% while only allowing 10.83 goals-per-game.

In the playoffs, the nine-year NLL veteran went 1-1, stopping 80 of the 113 shots he faced. In the West Division Semifinal, Disher picked up the win as he made 47 saves en route to an 18-16 win. After only playing the first 16 minutes of the West Division Championship due to a sprained MCL, Disher returned for the NLL Championship Game. In 60-minutes of action, the Arthur, Ontario native made 27 saves as Portland fell 14-13 to the Buffalo Bandits.

"Matt brings great stability to the goaltending position," said Keenan. "He was good for us last year after we acquired him in a trade. I think he has even better days ahead under the tutelage of Assistant Coach Dallas Eliuk."

The Jax also re-signed defenseman Ray Guze and signed defenseman Paddy Corrigan to one-year deals. Guze scored a career-high two goals, added an assist and spent 34 minutes in the penalty box in 2008 for the Jax.

Corrigan appeared in 18 games this season for the Maple Ridge Burrards of the Western Lacrosse Association, scoring five goals and adding six assists.



National Lacrosse League Stories from November 14, 2008


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central