Minnesota Swarm signs seven players

Published on November 12, 2007 under National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Minnesota Swarm News Release


SAINT PAUL/MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - Minnesota Swarm General Manager Marty O'Neill today announced the National Lacrosse League (NLL) team has signed F Colin Achenbach, G Kevin Croswell, D Nick Inch, F Craig Point, D Reggie Van Velzen, F Travis Bland and D Isaiah Kicknosway.

A native of Burnsville, Minn., Achenbach, 24 (10/11/83), is an Apple Valley High School graduate and becomes the first Minnesota-born player signed to a contract by the Swarm. He wrapped up his collegiate lacrosse career at Long Island University C.W. Post following a two-year stint at Pace (N.Y.) University. At C.W. Post, the 6-foot-2, 175-pound attacker was a two-time All-American and landed on the 2006 All-New York Collegiate Athletic Conference (NYCAC) First Team as a senior after leading the nationally-ranked Panthers with 50 points (30-20=50) in 11 games.

Croswell, 22 (10/21/85), spent the summer playing with Langley of the Western Lacrosse Association (WLA), compiling a 4-7-0 record and 9.96 goals against average (GAA) in 14 appearances. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound native of Peterborough, Ontario, was selected by Minnesota in the third round (31st overall) of the 2006 NLL Entry Draft.

Inch, 22 (12/20/84) collected three points (2-1=3) and seven PIM in 11 games with Kitchener-Waterloo Kodiaks of the Ontario Lacrosse Association (OLA) this summer after splitting the 2006 campaign between Kitchener-Waterloo and Six Nations. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound defenseman appeared in six games with the Six Nations Chiefs and recorded seven PIM before being traded to the Kodiaks where he tallied two points (1-1=2) and 11 PIM in 10 contests in 2006. Minnesota acquired the Kitchener, Ontario-native in a trade with Toronto on Sept. 13, 2006.

Point, 21 (1/19/86), was the third overall pick in the 2007 NLL Entry Draft and was acquired from Boston in a draft day trade. Point is from Ohsweken, Ont., and led the Iroquois Nationals in scoring at the World Indoor Championships in May. He also led Onondaga Community College to the 2006 National Championship. Point was a member of the Minto Cup Champion Six Nation Arrows of the Junior Ontario Lacrosse League.

Van Velzen, 24 (8/22/83) hails from St. Catherines, Ont. He was named Second Team All-Canadian in 2006 while playing for Brock, and played most recently for the St. Catharines Athletics of the Junior Ontario Lacrosse League.

Bland, 21 (2/15/86) is from Georgetown, Ont. Bland most recently played for the Mississauga Tomahawks of the Junior Ontario Lacrosse League.

Kicknosway, 22 (4/22/85) was a Second Team All-America selection at SUNY-Onondaga last season. He hails from Wallaceburg, Ont., and helped lead Onondaga to a second consecutive undefeated season and NJCAA National Championship in 2007. He most recently played for the Six Nation Chiefs of the Ontario Lacrosse League.

Minnesota opens its fourth NLL campaign at Toronto on Friday, Jan. 11 and then hosts the Rock on Saturday, Jan. 12 at 7:00 p.m. at Xcel Energy Center in the home opener. Swarm lower level season ticket packages are on sale now and start at $80. Certain seating locations include buy two season tickets and get two complimentary plus free parking. Lower level 4-game plans start at $44. Single game tickets will go on sale in early December. Call 888-MNSWARM or info@mnswarm.com for more information.

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