Minnesota Swarm Hosts Toronto Rock Saturday at 7:00 PM At Xcel Energy Center

Published on March 30, 2006 under National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Minnesota Swarm News Release


SAINT PAUL/MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The Minnesota Swarm (6-6) hosts the Toronto Rock (7-6) Saturday night at Xcel Energy Center looking for its first-ever victory over the Rock. The Swarm also needs a win to keep pace in the East Division playoff race as the club is currently tied with Philadelphia for fourth place in the East Division, a half-game behind Toronto. The top four teams in the East will qualify for postseason action.

Minnesota had its two-game winning streak snapped in a 13-11 home loss to Buffalo last Friday. Despite the loss, the Swarm has already surpassed its win total from its inaugural season when it went 5-11 with four games remaining this year. Minnesota will play three of its final four games at home. Following Saturday's contest the Swarm will play at Rochester on April 8, host San Jose on April 9 and host Portland on April 15.

Toronto defeated Minnesota in its first meeting this season, 13-8, at Air Canada Centre on March 3. Aaron Wilson (4-3=7), Josh Sanderson (3-4=7) and Colin Doyle (3-4=7) led the Rock in scoring with seven points each. Kelly Hall led Minnesota with four goals and Ryan Ward tallied a goal and four assists. Swarm goaltender Nick Patterson suffered his second loss of the season allowing 12 goals on 47 shots.

Toronto has three of the top seven scorers in the NLL as Sanderson ranks second with 81 points (23-58=81), Doyle ranks third with 76 points (32-44=76) and Blaine Manning ranks seventh with 64 points (22-42=64). Goaltender Bob Watson is 7-6 with an 11.20 GAA and a .770 save percentage.

Ward leads Minnesota in scoring with 53 points (15-38=53) this season. He collected a goal and four assists in Friday's loss to Buffalo. Ward ranks 13th in the NLL in scoring and 10th in assists. He was named Week 12 Offensive Player of the Week after recording a franchise record 10 points (3-7=10) in the Swarm's 14-12 come-from-behind win at Portland on March 17. Chad Culp ranks second on the team in scoring with 40 points (18-22=40) and Kasey Beirnes ranks third with 39 points (17-22=39). Patterson owns a 5-2 record and ranks fourth in the NLL with a 10.53 GAA and second with a .794 save percentage.

The first 5,000 fans in attendance at Saturday's game will receive a Minnesota Swarm hockey puck. Swarm home regular season single game tickets range from $12.00 to $27.00 per game. For more information on becoming a Minnesota Swarm season ticket holder please call (888) MN-SWARM.

Fans can watch Saturday's game against the Toronto Rock online via B2 networks for $6.00. To watch the game online go to www.mnswarm.com ten minutes before the start of a game and click on the WATCH THE GAME LIVE ON B2 link to purchase and watch the game. A high-speed connection is required.

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National Lacrosse League Stories from March 30, 2006


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