Toronto Rock's Ryan Benesch Named 2007 Rookie Of The Year
May 8, 2007 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Toronto Rock News Release
TORONTO -The National Lacrosse League continued their season award announcements today and named Ryan Benesch the 2007 Rookie of the Year, along with the additional players selected to the 2007 All-Rookie Team.
Benesch swept the Rookie goals, assists and point titles with 33 goals, 25 assists totalling 58 points. His 33 goals also place him just under the Rock's leading scorer Aaron Wilson, who finished the 2007 season with 37 goals. Ryan is the second Rock player in franchise history to receive this NLL honour. Blaine Manning was credited with the Rock first when he won NLL Rookie of the Year in 2002.
Named Rookie of the Week three times throughout the regular season and winning Rookie of the Month honours in March for his 23 points (14 goals, 9 assists) and 13 loose balls contribution, Benesch lived up to the expectations and pressure of his first year playing for the Toronto Rock. He was the first overall selection in the 2006 NLL Entry Draft and acquired in a late December 2006 trade with the San Jose Stealth along with team mates Chad Thompson and Kevin Fines as well as 2008 & 2009 entry draft selections for Colin Doyle, Darren Halls and a 2007 first round entry draft pick.
Ryan is joined by Philadelphia Wings teammates Geoff Snider and Athan Iannucci, Jamie Shewchuk and Nenad Gajic of the Colorado Mammoth and Chicago Shamrox forward Bill McGlone to make up the 2007 NLL All-Rookie Team.
The Toronto Rock finished the 2007 regular season with a 6-10 record, ending their playoff run prematurely upon losing to the Rochester Knighthawks (12-4) in the East Division semi-final on April 20th 2007.
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National Lacrosse League Stories from May 8, 2007
- Toronto Rock's Ryan Benesch Named 2007 Rookie Of The Year - Toronto Rock
- Wings' Iannucci and Snider Named To 2007 NLL All-Rookie Team - Philadelphia Wings
- Shewchuk, Gajic named to All-Rookie team - Colorado Mammoth
- Chicago Shamrox Makes NLL All-Rookie Team - Chicago Shamrox
- Benesch Named Rookie of the Year, All-Rookie Team revealed - NLL
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