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Quest For The Cup Begins Saturday

December 31, 2008 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Portland Lumberjax News Release


PORTLAND, December 31, 2008 - 2006 saw the expansion Portland LumberJax finish the regular season 11-5 and host the only playoff game in team history. In 2007, the franchise hosted the All-Star Game. Last season the Jax won the West Division Title. Now, with a revamped roster that once again features the likes of National Lacrosse League scoring machine, Ryan Powell, and the human vacuum, Brodie Merrill, the Jax are poised to win the Champion's Cup for the Rose City.

On Saturday, January 3rd the quest for the cup begins as the Jax begin defense of their West Division Title and host the Minnesota Swarm at 7:30 p.m. at the Rose Garden Arena. Portland is 2-1 all-time in home openers and 1-3 all-time against the Swarm.

Last year the Jax and Swarm met only once. At the time, both teams were on opposite ends of the spectrum. The Jax came into the game at 1-4 and were looking up at the rest of the West Division. The Swarm were undefeated and had the league's highest powered offense.

The Jax would fall 14-13 in overtime, but the game represented Portland's most complete effort at the time and would inspire a run that would see Portland win five of its final 10 regular season games. In the loss, the offense scored a then season-high 13 goals. The defense was led by goalie Dallas Eliuk, who stopped 40 of the 53 shots he faced.

Eliuk has since joined the coaching staff as an assistant, leaving as the league's all-time saves leader with 6,356 career saves. The nine-time All-Pro and four-time Champion's Cup winner will coach Portland's defense this season.

Also added as an assistant was Kevin Alexander, who won two championships with the Buffalo Bandits in 1992 and 1993. A teammate of Head Coach/General Manager Derek Keenan's with the Bandits, Alexander is also in the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame.

On the floor, forwards Tim Campeau, Dan Stroup and Matt Brown join Portland's attack. Campeau graduated from Notre Dame de Namur University as the school's career leader in goals, assists and points scored. Stroup joins the club after scoring 42 points (21 goals, 21 assists) last season with the Edmonton Rush. Brown is another left-handed scoring threat that will compliment Derek Malawsky and Peter Morgan.

The Jax also acquired defenseman Luke Forget, who was with the team in 2006. Forget has won two Champion's Cups and will provide additional support on the back line.

Overall, 14 players return from last season's active roster. As an added bonus, Portland's roster will feature seven players who are 6'3" or taller.

With one of the league's most balanced teams, Portland has returned in 2009 with one goal one its mind: win the Champion's Cup. After all, it's Portland's time in '09.

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