Jax Summer Update

August 25, 2008 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Portland Lumberjax News Release


PORTLAND, August 25, 2008 - The showdown is almost set. The New Westminster Salmonbellies of the Western Lacrosse Association hold a 3-0 series lead over the Coquitlam Adanacs and are one win away from reaching the Mann Cup National Championship. They will face either the Peterborough Lakers or the Brampton Excelsiors from Major Series Lacrosse. The Lakers hold a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven-series with game six slated for Tuesday night.

The Salmonbellies have been led all series by Portland LumberJax forward Peter Morgan. Morgan has scored four goals and added one assist. His brother, defenseman David Morgan, has chipped in with four assists during New Westminster's dominating run.

For the Adanacs, defenseman Brad MacDonald has scored one goal and added one assist while defenseman Ray Guze has accumulated eight penalty minutes in two games of action during the series.

In MSL, defenseman Brodie Merrill has scored two goals and added four assists during the series. Merrill has also kept busy by winning the Major League Lacrosse Championship with the Rochester Rattlers. The Rattlers beat the Denver Outlaws, who featured forward Ryan Powell, 16-6. In the championship game, Merrill scored one goal and collected three ground balls while Powell scored one goal and added two assists in the losing effort.

Along with his first MLL Championship, Merrill was also recently named the Warrior Defensive Player of the Year for the third consecutive time.

The Jax were also well represented during the WLA's regular season. Forward Cory Conway split the season between the third place Victoria Shamrocks and with the Shamrocks' Junior A club. With the parent club, Conway appeared in two games and tallied an assist. In the junior ranks, Conway scored nine goals and added 29 assists during the regular season.

Also tied for third place were the Burnaby Lakers, who featured forward Spencer Martin. In seven games, Martin scored two goals and added five assists.

In fifth place, the Maple Ridge Burrards were led by transition player Tyler Codron, who scored four goals and added three assists in 16 games of action. Practice player Derek Lowe was third on the Burrards with 43 points and Assistant General Manager Daren Fridge coached the team.

In last place were the Langley Thunder who featured two Portland players on the roster. Forward Kyle McEwen was fifth on the team with 28 points and practice player Jonathan Munk added three assists in 15 games of action.

In the junior ranks, forward Peter Jacobs split time between MSL's Junior A Akwesasne Indians and with the Iroquois National Team at the World Under-19 Field Lacrosse Championships. Goalie Joel Weber enjoyed a fine regular season with the Junior A Coquitlam Adanacs, stopping 86% of the shots he faced.

Below lists the Portland players who are playing this summer.

WESTERN LACROSSE ASSOCIATION

New Westminster Salmonbellies

Dave Morgan

Peter Morgan

Coquitlam Adanacs

Ray Guze

Brad MacDonald

Victoria Shamrocks

Cory Conway

Maple Ridge Burrards

Tyler Codron

Derek Lowe

Langley Thunder

Kyle McEwen

Jonathan Munk

JUNIOR A

Victoria Shamrocks

Cory Conway

Coquitlam Adanacs

Joel Weber

MAJOR SERIES LACROSSE

Brampton Excelsiors

Brodie Merrill

JUNIOR A

Akwesasne Indians

Peter Jacobs

MAJOR LEAGUE LACROSSE

Denver Outlaws

Ryan Powell

Rochester Rattlers

Brodie Merrill



National Lacrosse League Stories from August 25, 2008


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