Storm Deals For Scoring Ace Mike Benedict
September 11, 2002 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
New Jersey Storm News Release
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ â The New Jersey Storm today traded their First and Second Round picks in the 2002 Dispersal Draft to the Ottawa Rebel for the rights to one of the National Lacrosse League's top scorers, Mike Benedict. Benedict, 31, was Ottawa's leading scorer last season and ranked in the NLL's Top 20 in goals (35), assists (47), and total points (82). The eight-year veteran is a restricted free agent, meaning that another team may sign him to an offer sheet, but the Storm has the right to match any offer. The Storm would be his seventh NLL stop in nine seasons. Since becoming a regular with Syracuse in 1998, Benedict has averaged 20 goals per season.
The 2002 Dispersal Draft is being held to distribute the players of the Montreal Express, who will not operate during the 2002-2003 season. The draft will be held on Saturday, September 21 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, just prior to the 2002 Entry Draft. By trading their two Dispersal Draft selections, the New Jersey Storm will take part only in the annual Entry Draft, in which they have seven picks. New Jersey's first selection in the Entry Draft is currently the third pick of the Second Round (15th overall). The Storm swapped their First Round pick for Buffalo's Second Rounder as part of the recent blockbuster trade in which New Jersey received perennial All-Star Roy Colsey. The combination of top scorers Colsey and Benedict should be the needed antidote to a Storm offense that struggled at times last season.
The Entry Draft pool consists largely of top American collegiate players and Canadian junior stars. www.njstorm.com will provide the results both drafts on September 21.
The New Jersey Storm recently completed a successful inaugural season at the Continental Airlines Arena in which the team won four of its last six games and averaged nearly 6,000 fans per contest. The 2002-2003 National Lacrosse League season will begin in late December. Storm season ticket plans are on sale now. For more information regarding the New Jersey Storm log on to www.njstorm.com or call 1-866-NJ STORM.
National Lacrosse League Stories from September 11, 2002
- Storm Deals For Scoring Ace Mike Benedict - New Jersey Storm
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