League begins presentation of awards for the 2005 season
Published on May 2, 2005 under National Lacrosse League (NLL) News Release
The National Lacrosse League begins the announcements of its annual awards today with the Sportsmanship Award. The award goes to Gary Gait of the Colorado Mammoth, who earns the award in the final season of his legendary career. The league also announced the winners of the team executive awards, as well as the winner of the Tom Borrelli Award, presented to the Writer of the Year. The first annual Tom Borrelli Award goes to Mike Koreen of the Toronto Sun.
Gary Gait earns the Sportsmanship Award for the second consecutive year after splitting the award with Peter Lough of the Arizona Sting last season. Gait led the Mammoth to an 8-8 regular season record in 2005, the final season of his illustrious career. The fifteen- year veteran earned the award for his role as captain of the Mammoth this season and the forward set the tone for the team on the turf and in his leadership efforts. Gait was the teams top point scorer (33G, 48A, 81pts) in 2005 and tallied the league's ninth best point total this season. Gait also set an example for his teammates by serving just four penalty minutes throughout the entire regular season. Gait's leadership paid off leading the Mammoth to the fourth lowest total penalty minutes in the league with 372 minutes this season.
Gary Gait retires from the NLL as the league's all-time leading scorer with 1,091 points and the all-time leading goal scorer with 596. Gait also tallied an all-time second best 495 assists in his career. Gait's Sportsmanship Award will be added to a long list off NLL awards. Among his many accomplishments Gait was the 1991 Rookie of the Year, League MVP six times (1995-1999, 2003), won the Scoring Title seven times, and First Team All-Pro fourteen times in addition to holding numerous other league records and awards.
The NLL also announced that Toronto Rock beat writer Mike Koreen of the Toronto Sun earned The Tom Borrelli Award, presented to the Writer of the Year. Koreen has covered the Rock and the NLL for the past six seasons and is often the first to report on major news developments from around the league. The award was voted on by team executives, as well as members of the league media.
The league also announced the winners of the 2005 Team Executive Awards. Jason Linscott of the Colorado Mammoth was named Ticket Sales Executive of the Year, John Maher of the Minnesota Swarm was named the Marketing Executive of the Year, Yvonne Fox of the Toronto Rock was named Team Operations Executive of the Year, John Ellis of the Colorado Mammoth was named Team Sponsorships Executive of the Year, and Bob Poole of the Calgary Roughnecks was named the Public Relations Executive of the Year.
The 2005 Equipment Manager of the Year award goes to Al Tate of the Calgary Roughnecks and the Athletic Trainer of the Year award goes to Dave Murray of the Toronto Rock.
These awards were determined by a vote of executives from the ten member clubs. The Team Public Relations Executive of the Year Award was voted on by team executives, as well as members of the league media. The league will present the annual award for the overall Executive of the Year on May 9th (see enclosed schedule).
The annual player awards are determined by a vote of the Governors, General Managers and Head Coaches of the league's ten member clubs.
The schedule of announcements is as follows:
Monday 5/2
Sportsmanship Award - Gary Gait, Colorado Mammoth
"The Tom Borrelli Award" for Writer of the Year â Mike Koreen, Toronto Sun
Ticket Sales Executive of the Year - Jason Linscott, Colorado Mammoth
Marketing Executive of the Year - John Maher, Minnesota Swarm
Operations Executive of the Year - Yvonne Fox, Toronto Rock
Sponsorships Executive of the Year - John Ellis, Colorado Mammoth
Public Relations Executive of the Year - Bob Poole, Calgary Roughnecks
Equipment Manager of the Year - Al Tate, Calgary Roughnecks
Athletic Trainer of the Year - Dave Murray, Toronto Rock
Tuesday 5/3
Defensive Player of the Year (for a defenseman, non-goaltender)
Wednesday 5/4
Goaltender of the Year
Thursday 5/5
Head Coach of the Year
Friday 5/6
General Manager of the Year
Monday 5/9
Executive of the Year
Tuesday 5/10
Rookie of the Year and All-Rookie Team
Wednesday 5/11
First and Second All-Pro Teams
Thursday 5/12
Most Valuable Player
(end of award announcements)
Saturday 5/14
Champion's Cup Final, 3:30 PM Eastern â Live on NBC and The Score
National Lacrosse League Stories from May 2, 2005
- Roughnecks staff honoured - Calgary Roughnecks
- Minnesota Swarm's John Maher Named NLL Marketing Executive of the Year - Minnesota Swarm
- League begins presentation of awards for the 2005 season - NLL
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.
