NLL Announces 2007 Stat Champions
Published on April 16, 2007 under National Lacrosse League (NLL) News Release
The National Lacrosse League has announced the 2007 stat champions. Rochester Knighthawks forward John Grant Jr. captured his first points title with 111 this season, including winning the goal scoring title with 51. Buffalo's John Tavares led the league 61 assists while Brodie Merrill of the Portland LumberJax collected a league high 196 loose balls. San Jose Stealth goaltender Anthony Cosmo tallied a league best 10.2 goals against average and a league best 79.2% saves percentage.
2007 INDIVIDUAL STAT CHAMPIONS
Goals
John Grant Jr., Rochester Knighthawks - 51
John Grant edged Calgary's Lewis Ratcliff by one goal for the 2007 Goal Scoring Title. Grant wins the honor for the third consecutive season, despite missing a game this season. Grant's 51 goals this season is tied for the eighth highest single season total in NLL history. (Tied with Roy Colsey, New York Saints & John Tavares, Buffalo Bandits who each scored 51 goals in 2001.)
Points
John Grant Jr., Rochester Knighthawks - 111
Grant captured his first career NLL Points Title with 111 points this season, beating out Arizona's Dan Dawson (107 points) for the honor. Grant's 111 points ties him with Colin Doyle (2004) for the fourth highest single season points total in NLL history.
Assists
John Tavares, Buffalo Bandits - 61
John Tavares led the league with 61 assists this season. It is the sixth time in his career that he led the NLL in assists. Tavares beat John Grant and Dan Dawson each by a single assist for the crown. Tavares' 61 assists is tied for the ninth highest single season assists total in NLL history (Tied with Josh Sanderson, San Jose Stealth 2004).
Loose Balls
Brodie Merrill, Portland LumberJax - 196
Portland's Brodie Merrill becomes the first player not named Jim Veltman to win the Loose Balls crown since John Tavares won it in 1997. Note: Veltman did not play in 1997 and had led the league in this category every season he did play. Since the stat started being kept in 1992, Veltman had won the title 13 of the previous 14 years it was calculated. Merrill scooped up a league high 196 'loosies' for the title this season, topping Steve Toll and Geoff Snider, who each collected 177. Veltman came in fourth with 143 loose balls, despite playing only 13 games this season due to injury.
Penalty Minutes
Scott Ditzell, Rochester Knighthawks - 68
Scott Ditzell of the Rochester Knighthawks raked up a league high 68 penalty minutes for the first place Knighthawks this season. Ditzell sat two extra minutes in the box over Buffalo's Kyle Laverty. Ditzell's 68 penalty minutes is tied for sixth on the All-Time single season PIM leaders list, tied with Tom Naglieri (New York Saints, 2002) and Thomas Hajek (Philadelphia Wings, 2006).
Power Play Goals
Gary Rosyski, San Jose Stealth - 18
San Jose Stealth forward Gary Rosyski tallied a league high 18 power-play goals this season, edging Lewis Ratcliff by one.
Short Handed Goals
Three way tie - John Grant (Rochester), Bill McGlone (Chicago) & Jeff Moleski (Calgary) - 5
Rochester's John Grant, Chicago rookie Bill McGlone and Calgary's Jeff Moleski each scored five short handed goals this season to lead the league.
Shots on Goal
Lewis Ratcliff, Calgary Roughnecks - 203
Calgary Roughnecks sniper Lewis Ratcliff fired a league high 203 shots on goal this season, edging Rochester's John Grant, who took 199 shots.
Face-offs
Geoff Snider, Philadelphia Wings - 75% (201 of 268)
Philadelphia Wings rookie Geoff Snider beat out teammate Peter Jacobs (114 of 160 or 71.25%) for the highest face-off win percentage this season. Snider won 201 of 268 draws in 2007 for a league high 75% face-off win percentage. Colorado's Jamie Hanford won the most face-offs with 275 wins this season. Hanford won 275 of 416 attempts for a 66.1% win percentage. All three players topped the previous single season face-off wins percentage record, set by Peter Jacobs in 2005 (64.5%).
GOALTENDING LEADERS
Goals Against Average
Anthony Cosmo, San Jose Stealth - 10.22
San Jose Stealth goaltender Anthony Cosmo tallied a league best 10.22 goals against average this season. Cosmo beat out Arizona's Rob Blasdell (10.94 GAA) for the title.
Saves Percentage
Anthony Cosmo, San Jose Stealth - 79.2%
San Jose Stealth goaltender Anthony Cosmo stopped a league high 79.2% of shots faced this season. The veteran goaltender stopped 524 of 662 shots faced. Cosmo beat Toronto's Bob Watson (78.9%) for the title.
Goaltender Wins
Pat O'Toole, Rochester Knighthawks - 13 wins
Rochester Knighthawks goaltender Pat O'Toole recorded a league best 13-1 record in goal this season, helping Rochester to a league best 14-2 record.
Saves
Brandon Miller, Chicago Shamrox - 602
Chicago Shamrox goaltender Brandon Miller recorded a league high 602 saves this season. Rock goaltender Bob Watson finished second with 586 saves.
ROOKIE STATS
2006 First Overall Draft Pick Ryan Benesch swept the Rookie Goals, Assists and Points titles with 33 goals, 25 assists and 58 points. Wings forward Geoff Snider collected a rookie best 177 loose balls this season.
Rookie Goals
Ryan Benesch, Toronto Rock - 33
Rookie Points
Ryan Benesch, Toronto Rock - 58
Rookie Assists
Ryan Benesch, Toronto Rock - 25
Rookie Loose Balls
Geoff Snider, Philadelphia Wings - 177
TEAM STATS
Most Goals For
Rochester Knighthawks, 249
Fewest Goals Against
San Jose Stealth, 170
Power Play Goals For
Rochester Knighthawks, 67
Power Play Percentage
Rochester Knighthawks, 58.77%
Short Handed Goals For
Rochester Knighthawks, 23
Penalty Kill percentage
San Jose Stealth, 64.29%
Fewest Short Handed Goals Allowed
Edmonton Rush & Buffalo Bandits, 7
Fewest Power Play Goals Allowed
Arizona Sting & Edmonton Rush, 44
Best Overall Record
Rochester Knighthawks, 14-2
Best Home Record
Rochester Knighthawks, 8-0
*Rochester is the first team to finish undefeated at home since Buffalo finished 8-0 in 2003. It the fourth time a team has gone undefeated (8-0) at home since the league switched to the current 16 game schedule.
Best Road Record
Rochester Knighthawks, 6-2
National Lacrosse League Stories from April 16, 2007
- Kelusky To Represent Canada At Worlds - Calgary Roughnecks
- NLL Announces 2007 Stat Champions - NLL
- Team Canada selects Five Mammoth players - Colorado Mammoth
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