Sting resign Dawson
November 23, 2005 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Arizona Sting News Release
GLENDALE, ARIZONA --- Arizona Sting Head Coach and General Manager Bob Hamley announced Tuesday the signing of star forward Dan Dawson to a one-year contract pending league approval.
Last season, Dawson became the Sting's all-time scoring leader after amassing 84 points (48G-36A) in 16 games. The 6'5", 218 lb. forward's totals placed him second in the league in goals and seventh in total points for the year. He now has a total of 216 points (105G-111A) in 59 career games for the Columbus/Arizona franchise. In recognition of his outstanding play, Dawson was named a starter at the 2005 NLL All-Star Game in Calgary in which he scored a hat trick. He also became the first player in Landsharks/Sting history to earn a First-Team All-Pro selection at the end of the season. The 23-year old Dawson was named NLL Player of the Week in both Week #2 and Week #6 of the '05 campaign.
"We're really happy to be bringing Dan back," said Hamley. "He's coming off an outstanding season and we're going to be looking for him to put up some big numbers again offensively."
In the â05 playoffs, Dawson contributed 15 points (10G-5A) in 3 games as the Sting battled their way to the Champion's Cup Final. In the West Division Championship game against Calgary, Dawson had 4 goals and an assist to lead his team to victory and a showdown with Toronto for the league title. While the Sting weren't quite able to pull out a victory in the Champion's Cup Final, Dawson is confident that the Sting will be a strong contender for the title again in 2006.
"I'm a proud member of the Sting and I'm thrilled to be coming back next season," said Dawson "My heart is in the desert and there's no where else I'd rather be playing at this point in my career. I'm very focused on winning a Champion's Cup for our fans in Arizona. With the team we've got right now, I think we'll be tough to beat in the West (Division) this year."
Dawson strives to be a role model both on and off the turf. The Arizona Children's Association presented the Circle of Champions Award to him last month in recognition of his charity work with the children of Arizona. A frequent visitor at Phoenix Children's Hospital, the native of Oakville, Ontario, was also a leader in the 2005 Maricopa County Office of Nutrition Services program to increase calcium consumption in local high schools.
Originally drafted by Columbus in the 6th round (68th overall) of the 2001 NLL Entry Draft, Dawson registered 108 points in 80 games during his junior career with the Brampton Excelsiors of the Ontario Junior Lacrosse Association.
The Arizona Sting is a professional indoor lacrosse team playing in the National Lacrosse League (NLL). In only their second season in Arizona (after re-locating from Columbus, Ohio), the Sting finished the 2005 season with a 9-7 regular-season record prior to going on to win the West Division Championship before losing to the Toronto Rock in the Champion's Cup Final (NLL title game). For more information, please call (480) 563-7825 or visit ArizonaSting.com.
National Lacrosse League Stories from November 23, 2005
- Rexall Place's floor turns green - Edmonton Rush
- Sting resign Dawson - Arizona Sting
- Minnesota Swarm signs five players - Minnesota Swarm
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