Minnesota Swarm's Ryan Cousins and Nick Patterson Named to All Pro Teams

May 9, 2007 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Minnesota Swarm News Release


SAINT PAUL/MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The National Lacrosse League (NLL) today announced that Minnesota Swarm defenseman Ryan Cousins has been named to the NLL's First All Pro Team and goaltender Nick Patterson has been named to the NLL's Second All Pro Team for the second consecutive season.

Cousins, 26 (4/1/81), who was named the NLL's Defensive Player of the Year on May 1, is the first Swarm player in team history to receive First Team All-Pro honors. He led team defensemen and set career-highs in every major statistical category tallying nine goals, 14 assists and 108 loose balls in 16 games with Minnesota in 2007 as the Swarm advanced to the playoffs for the second straight season. The 6-1, 200-pound native of Toronto, Ontario ranked tied for first amongst NLL defensemen with two shorthanded goals and tied for fourth in scoring with 23 points. The team captain also recorded 16 penalty minutes (PIM) during the regular season, his lowest total since 2003. Cousins added two goals in the Swarm's 14-8 playoff loss at Buffalo in the East Division Semifinals.

Patterson, 24 (12/8/82), appeared in a career-high 14 games with Minnesota in 2007 and posted a 7-5 record, establishing a new franchise record for wins in a season and helped backstop the Swarm to its second consecutive postseason appearance. He ranked sixth in the league with an 11.43 goals against average (GAA) and a .775 save percentage and added three assists and collected 11 loose balls. Patterson stopped 47 of 55 shots faced in an 11-8 win at Philadelphia April 13 to help the Swarm clinch a playoff spot and earn the Week 16 Defensive Player of the Week Award. The 5-11, 185-pound native of Vancouver, British Columbia was also named to the 2006 NLL Second All Pro Team.

NLL First Team All-Pro Second Team All-Pro

F John Tavares, Buffalo Bandits F Gavin Prout, Colorado Mammoth

F John Grant, Rochester Knighthawks F Colin Doyle, San Jose Stealth

F Dan Dawson, Arizona Sting F Casey Powell, New York Titans

T Steve Toll, Rochester Knighthawks F Lewis Ratcliff, Calgary Roughnecks

D Ryan Cousins, Minnesota Swarm F Shawn Williams, Rochester Knighthawks

G Anthony Cosmo, San Jose Stealth G Nick Patterson, Minnesota Swarm

The award winners are chosen by a vote of the leagues coaches, general managers, and executives.

The league is announcing its season award winners leading up to the 2007 National Lacrosse League Championship presented by Edge Active Care on Saturday, May 12th. The Rochester Knighthawks and the Arizona Sting will meet in the championship game at Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, Arizona at 3:00 p.m. Central live on VERSUS.



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