NLL National Lacrosse League

NLL Announces First and Second All-Pro Teams

May 5, 2004 - National Lacrosse League (NLL) News Release


The National Lacrosse League announced the First and Second All-Pro Teams earlier today. The First team is comprised of the winners of the following categories: Most Valuable Player, Defensive Player of the Year, and Goaltender of the Year. The three remaining spots for the First All-Pro Team are comprised of the next three players who received the most points from votes from the Most Valuable Player Category. To account for the tie in Defensive Player of the Year, there are seven members on the First Team All-Pro. A Second All-League team was also selected using the same format. The All-Pro Teams were created based on a vote by the Head Coaches, Governors and General Managers of the league's ten member clubs. The voting for all annual awards took place after the conclusion of the regular season and ended before the start of the Champion's Cup Playoffs.

First Team All-Pro (Listed in no particular order of voting finish)
1. Gee Nash, Goaltender, Colorado Mammoth
Gee Nash of the Colorado Mammoth was selected to the First Team All-Pro after earning the Goaltender of the Year Award. After earning Second Team All-Pro status in 2000-01 with the New York Saints, Nash earns First Team honors for the first time in his five-year career. The Ajax, Ontario native led his team to a league best 13-3 regular season record and to a first round bye in the Champion's Cup Playoffs. Nash recorded a league best .790 save percentage, along with the second highest number of saves with 539, and posted the best goals against average (10.68) among regular starting goaltenders this season. Nash played in 14 regular season contests, posting an 11-3 record. The goaltender collected 52 loose balls and helped the Mammoth offense with 13 assists during the regular season. Nash served as the starting goaltender for the West Division All-Star team as well this season.

2. Shawn Williams, Forward, Rochester Knighthawks
Shawn Williams of the Rochester Knighthawks earns First Team All-Pro honors in his seventh National Lacrosse League season. This is Williams' first ever All-Pro honors. The Knighthawks forward had a breakout year this season earning Overall Player of the Week Honors a league leading three times (Weeks #13, 15, & 16). The Scarborough, Ontario native was also the only player to earn Offensive Player of the Week Honors more than once this season, winning the award an impressive five times (Week's # 6, 10, 13, 15, &16). The Knighthawks forward totaled 45 goals and 36 assists for 81 points this season leading the Knighthawks to an 8-8 regular season record and to a first round home game in the Champion's Cup Playoffs.

3. Cam Woods, Defenseman, San Jose Stealth
Cam Woods of the San Jose Stealth was selected to the First Team All-Pro for the first time in his career after earning Co-Defensive Player of the Year honors. The Toronto native won a share of the Defensive Player of the Year Award in his fifth National Lacrosse League season. Woods' performance on defense was integral in leading the Stealth to an 11-5 regular season record and to a first round home game in the Champion's Cup Playoffs. The Stealth defenseman also served in a leadership role for the squad as captain this season. Woods collected 111 loose balls, scored six goals and added 13 assists for 19 points this season. Woods presence on defense also earned him a spot on the 2004 West Division All-Star team.


4. Gary Gait, Forward, Colorado Mammoth
Gary Gait of the Colorado Mammoth was selected for the 2003-04 First Team All-Pro in his fourteenth National Lacrosse League season. Gait led the Mammoth to a league best 13-3 record this season and to a home game in the semifinals of the Champion's Cup playoffs. The six time League MVP has earned First Team All-Pro status in each of his fourteen seasons. Gait tied Buffalo's John Tavares for the points title this season totaling 93 points on 55 goals and 38 assists to earn his seventh career points title. The Mammoth forward also won the goal scoring title for the seventh time with 55 goals this season. The Victoria, British Columbia native also became the first ever player to eclipse the 1000 regular season career points mark on March 26 in a 18-6 victory over the San Jose Stealth. Gait again proved to be a clutch player for the Mammoth leading the league in game-winning goals with five this season. The Mammoth captain was also the Overall and Offensive Player of the Week in Week #1 this season. Gait has already earned the Co-Honors for the Sportsmanship Award with Peter Lough of the Arizona Sting this season. Gait was also selected to the West Division All-Star team where he served as captain.


5. Taylor Wray, Defenseman, Calgary Roughnecks
Taylor Wray of the Calgary Roughnecks has been selected to the First Team All-Pro in his rookie season after earning Co-Defensive Player of the Year honors. The Edmonton, Alberta native has established himself as a force in the NLL after earning a number of awards in just his rookie season. The Roughnecks Defenseman has already added Rookie of the Week honors in Week #7, Rookie of the Month honors in March, the 2003-04 Co-Defensive Player of the Year, and the 2003-04 Rookie of the Year honors to his merit in his first National Lacrosse League season. Wray collected 82 loose balls and scored 16 points (8G, 8A, 16pts), assisting a vastly improved Calgary defense. The Roughnecks finished the regular season with a 10-6 record and a berth in the Champion's Cup Playoffs. The Roughnecks rookie defenseman continues to lead, totaling 14 loose balls and 6 points (4G, 2A, 6pts) in the 2004 playoffs, and heads Calgary's defense in their quest to win their first ever Champion's Cup.



6. Jim Veltman, Forward, Toronto Rock
Jim Veltman of the Toronto Rock was selected to the 2003-04 First Team All-Pro in his twelfth National Lacrosse League season. Veltman lead the Rock to a 10-6 record and to a home semifinal game in the Champion's Cup Playoffs this season. The Toronto Rock forward earns First Team All-Pro honors for the seventh time in his career. Veltman has also earned Second Team All-Pro honors four times. The Brampton, Ontario native led the league with 179 loose balls this season and has proven his dominance in this category. Veltman has led the league in loose balls in twelve of the last thirteen years, including the last seven straight. The Rock captain earned the March Player of the Month Honors this season along with Overall Player of the Week Honors in Week #12 and Week #14. The Rock Forward also earned Offensive Player of the Week Honors in Week #12. Veltman scored 12 goals and added 53 assists for 65 points this season and was selected to the 2004 East Division All-Star Team.

7. John Tavares, Forward, Buffalo Bandits
Buffalo Bandits forward John Tavares was selected to the 2003-04 First Team All-Pro in his thirteenth National Lacrosse League season. The three-time league MVP shared the overall points title with Gary Gait this season with 93 points. The Toronto native scored 49 goals and tallied 44 assists for the season leading the Bandits to an 8-8 regular season record and into the playoffs. Tavares has now won the points title seven times. The Bandits captain was named First Team All-Pro for the eleventh time in his career. Tavares was also selected Second Team All-Pro once in his career in the 2001-02 season. This season the Bandits forward was elected the February Player of the Month and he also earned Player of the Week honors in Week #6. Tavares was also selected to the 2004 East Division All-Star team and served as captain. Tavares continues to lead the Bandits in the playoffs totaling four goals and 10 assists for 14 points in the Bandits run for the Champion's Cup.




Second Team All-Pro

1. Gavin Prout, Forward, Colorado Mammoth
Gavin Prout of the Colorado Mammoth earns Second Team All-Pro honors in his third National Lacrosse League season. This is Prout's second selection to the Second Team All-Pro as he also earned the honors in the 2001-02 season. Prout was also elected to the 2001-02 All-Rookie Team. The Mammoth forward lead the team to a 13-3 regular season record and to a home game in the Champion's Cup semifinals. The Whitby, Ontario native was the league's third leading scorer this season totaling 34 goals and adding 57 assists for 91 points. Prout also earned Player of the Month Honors for December/January.

2. Josh Sanderson, Forward, San Jose Stealth
Josh Sanderson of the San Jose Stealth earns Second Team All-pro honors in his seventh National Lacrosse League season. This is Sanderson's third selection to Second Team All-Pro. The Stealth forward also has First Team All-Pro honors from the 2001-02 season. Sanderson lead the Stealth to an 11-5 regular season record and to a first round home playoff game. The Orangeville, Ontario native lead the league in assists this season with 61. This is Sanderson's second time earning the assists title. The Stealth forward totaled 28 goals and added 61 assists for 89 points this season.

3. Blaine Manning, Forward, Toronto Rock
Blaine Manning of the Toronto Rock earns Second Team All-Pro honors in his third National Lacrosse League season. This is Manning's second time earning Second Team All-Pro Honors in his career. The Rock forward was also the 2001-02 Rookie of the Year. Manning lead the Toronto Rock to a 10-6 regular season record and to a home game in the Champion's Cup semifinals. The Calgary, Alberta native was Toronto's leading scorer with 36 goals, 54 assists, and 90 points this season. The Rock forward was also elected the Week #4 Offensive Player of the Week.

4. Colin Doyle, Forward, Toronto Rock
Colin Doyle of the Toronto Rock was voted Second Team All-Pro in his seventh National Lacrosse League season. The Rock Forward earns Second Team All-Pro for the fourth time in his career and was a First Team All-Pro last season. The Kitchener, Ontario native was also the 1998 Rookie of the Year. Doyle led the Rock to a 10-6 regular season record and to a home game in the Champion's Cup semifinals. This season, Doyle totaled 33 goals and added 55 assists for 88 points and was the Week #14 Offensive Player of the Week.

5. Tracey Kelusky, Forward, Calgary Roughnecks
Tracey Kelusky of the Calgary Roughnecks was voted Second Team All-Pro in his fourth National Lacrosse League season. The Roughnecks forward earns Second Team All-Pro for the second time in his career and is a two time First Team All-Pro. The Peterborough, Ontario native totaled 32 goals and added 37 assists for 69 points this season. Kelusky led the Roughnecks to a 10-6 regular season record and to the Champion's Cup playoffs. The Roughnecks forward continues to showcase his talent in the playoffs totaling six goals and three assists for nine points in the Roughnecks bid for the Champion's Cup.

6. Pat O'Toole, Goaltender, Rochester Knighthawks
Pat O'Toole of the Rochester Knighthawks earns Second Team All-Pro honors in his tenth National Lacrosse League season. This is O'Toole's first selection to the Second Team All-Pro in his career. The Knighthawks Goalie was also last season's Goaltender of the Year and First Team All-Pro. O'Toole totaled the leagues third best saves total with 515 saves this season. O'Toole led the Knighthawks to an 8-8 regular season record and to a first round home playoff game. O'Toole recorded an 11.54 Goals Against Average this season and a .746 saves percentage.

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