Merrill Wins NLL Player Of The Month In April
May 5, 2010 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Edmonton Rush News Release
Edmonton, AB-- The Edmonton Rush are pleased to announce today that the National Lacrosse League has named Brodie Merrill as its Player of the Month for April 2010.
Merrill, the NLL's reigning Transition Player of the Year, was instrumental in leading the Rush to their first playoff berth in franchise history along with the club's best-ever regular-season record as they finished the campaign with an impressive 10-6 mark - good for third place in the West Division and tied for the third-best overall record in the league. The former NLL Rookie and Defender of the Year award winner was recently named the Rush's team MVP for the 2010 regular season.
Merrill's April numbers were phenomenal including nine goals and 11 assists for 20 points to go with 60 loose balls. Merrill ended the NLL regular season ranked second in the league in loose balls with 190 which also set a Rush franchise record. He finished fourth in scoring on the Rush with 53 points and third on the team in assists with 36. His totals for the regular season set Rush club records for goals (17), assists (36) and points (53) by a transition player.
The Orangeville, ON, native opened the month of April playing a huge role in back-to-back overtime victories for the Rush.
The six-foot-four, 205-pounder connected for two goals and three assists plus a game-high 16 loose balls in the Rush's 14-13 OT win over Washington - the home-turf victory which clinched the Rush's berth in the Champion's Cup playoffs. Merrill's goals came 2:50 apart to close the first quarter and open the second quarter and he followed those markers by setting up the Rush's next two goals by Gavin Prout and Dane Stevens. Merrill also set up a key goal by Brett Mydske just 34 seconds into the fourth quarter.
One night later, Merrill was again a key contributor as he scored twice and assisted on three more goals but his major feat on the night was notching the unassisted game-winner 5:36 into overtime as the Rush clipped the Minnesota Swarm 13-12 in St. Paul. Merrill also played a hand in getting the Rush to OT as he helped set up Gavin Prout's game-tying goal with only 14 seconds left in regulation.
Merrill added three goals and four assists over the Rush's next two games against Colorado and Calgary, and then completed the regular-season campaign with one goal and two assists plus a game-high 12 loose balls when the Rush defeated the Washington Stealth 14-13 in Everett. That win was the Rush's first-ever road victory over the Stealth and put the Rush on course for their run into the NLL playoffs.
The Rush head to Seattle, WA for the Divisional Playoff Game, Saturday, May 8, 2010, 8:30 p.m. against the Washington Stealth. Fans can listen to 1260 The Team and on-line at www.nll.com.
National Lacrosse League Stories from May 5, 2010
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