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NLL National Lacrosse League

Tracey Kelusky, Steve Dietrich, Jamie Dawick, Pat Gregoire, Lyle & Jeremy Thompson Nab Honors

June 28, 2022 - National Lacrosse League (NLL) News Release


PHILADELPHIA - The National Lacrosse League (@NLL), the largest and most successful professional lacrosse property in the world, today announced its first six season awards. Tracey Kelusky of Panther City Lacrosse Club is the winner of the Les Bartley Award, as the Head Coach of the Year; Steve Dietrich of the Buffalo Bandits takes the General Manager of the Year Award; Toronto Rock Owner, General Manager, and President Jamie Dawick is selected as the Executive of the Year; Pat Gregoire broadcast analyst for TSN's Game of the Week broadcasts and the Halifax Thunderbirds claims the Tom Borrelli Award for Media; Lyle Thompson of the Georgia Swarm nabs the Sportsmanship Award; and his brother, Jeremy earns Teammate of the Year.

Kelusky, inducted into the NLL Hall of Fame in 2016, in his first season as a head coach in the NLL, led the expansion Panther City Lacrosse Club to a 7-11 record. At 1-8, the season looked lost for Panther City, but PCLC went on a five-game winning streak and won six of seven games to fight for a playoff spot late into the season. Kelusky is the third coach to win the award as a first-year coach and the first to win the award as a rookie coach for an expansion team.

Dietrich, who also serves as assistant coach for Buffalo, earned his third General Manager of the Year Award which now ties him with Saskatchewan Rush General Manager, Derek Keenan, for the most all-time. Dietrich's other two wins came in 2016 and 2019 after starting with the Bandits as General Manager in 2012, the same year he was inducted into the NLL Hall of Fame. Under Dietrich, the Bandits tied a franchise record for the most wins in a regular season, finishing at 14-4 after starting the season 13-1.

For Dawick, this is his second Executive of the Year award, the other coming in 2013. Coming out of the global pandemic, Dawick made the difficult decision to relocate his team's home games from Scotiabank Arena in downtown Toronto to FirstOntario Centre in nearby Hamilton. This bold move has certainly seen success at all levels.

In year one in Hamilton, the Rock rebuilt their season membership base, exceeding the number of season members from their last season in 2019.

Midway through the season, Ontario provincial guidelines put restrictions in place that did not allow fans to attend indoor professional sporting events. Instead of postponing games, Dawick chose to forge ahead and play games without fans and without revenue in the best interests of all league partners. The decision allowed both the television and regular season game schedule to continue without interruption.

The atmosphere in Rock City was electric from start to finish and through Dawick's leadership, the team has laid a foundation for long-term success in the Hamilton market.

This is Gregoire's first Tom Borrelli award for outstanding media coverage of the NLL. Gregoire was instrumental to the success of the NLL's first season on TSN and its' Game of the Week broadcasts. He is also the analyst for the Halifax Thunderbirds on TSN.ca and ESPN+, his second year with the team. Gregoire is also the co-host of the popular, "Off the Crosse Bar" podcast alongside former Tom Borrelli award winner, Teddy Jenner. Through his work, he has introduced the game and the NLL to millions of fans across North America.

Lyle Thompson, 29, won his fourth consecutive Sportsmanship Award. Lyle finished with 102 points on the season on 47 goals which was tied for a league high and is a career high. The 2017 MVP has continued to represent the game of lacrosse and the NLL to the highest degree and is the only player to win the award four times since its inception in 2002.

Jeremy Thompson, 35, won the Teammate of the Year Award, a particularly high honor as it is voted on by the players of the NLL from among one nominee per team. Jeremy helped lead the expansion Panther City Lacrosse Club to a 7-11 record and at one point, a five-game winning streak. The veteran helped lead the team that played 10 rookies throughout the season. The 10-year veteran totaled 17 points on the season, 146 loose ball recoveries, 13 caused turnovers and won 52.0% of his faceoffs.

All awards were voted on prior to the start of the 2022 playoffs and were based on regular season statistics.

Below is the all-time list of winners for the Les Bartley Award

2022 - Tracey Kelusky, Panther City Lacrosse Club

2020 - Paul Day, Philadelphia Wings

2019 - John Tavares & Rich Kilgour, Buffalo Bandits

2018 - Derek Keenan, Saskatchewan Rush

2017 - Ed Comeau, Georgia Swarm

2016 - Glenn Clark, New England Black Wolves

2015 - John Lovell, Toronto Rock

2014 - Derek Keenan, Edmonton Rush

2013 - Troy Cordingley, Toronto Rock

2012 - Joe Sullivan, Minnesota Swarm

2011 - Mike Hasen, Rochester Knighthawks

2010 - Derek Keenan, Edmonton Rush & Chris Hall, Washington Stealth

2009 - Troy Cordingley, Calgary Roughnecks

2008 - Adam Mueller, New York Titans

2007 - Ed Comeau, Rochester Knighthawks

2006 - Derek Keenan, Portland Lumberjax

2005 - Bob Hamley, Arizona Sting

2004 - Paul Day, Rochester Knighthawks

2003 - Darris Kilgour, Buffalo Bandits

2002 - Bob McMahon, Albany Attack

2001 - Tony Resch, Philadelphia Wings

Below is the all-time list of winners for the NLL General Manager of the Year Award

2022 - Steve Dietrich, Buffalo Bandits

2020 - Paul Day, Philadelphia Wings

2019 - Steve Dietrich, Buffalo Bandits

2018 - Curt Styres, Rochester Knighthawks

2017 - John Arlotta, Georgia Swarm

2016 - Steve Dietrich, Buffalo Bandits

2015 - Terry Sanderson, Toronto Rock

2014 - Derek Keenan, Edmonton Rush

2013 - Doug Locker, Washington Stealth

2012 - John Arlotta, Minnesota Swarm

2011 - Curt Styres, Rochester Knighthawks,

2010 - Derek Keenan, Portland Lumberjax

2009 - Ed Comeau, New York Titans

2008 - Marty O'Neil, Minnesota Swarm

2007 - Marty O'Neil, Minnesota Swarm

2006 - Derek Keenan, Portland Lumberjax

2005 - Bob Hamley, Arizona Sting

2004 - Johnny Mouradian, San Jose Stealth

2003 - Kurt Silcott, Buffalo Bandits

2002 - Dave Evans, Vancouver Ravens

Below is the all-time list of winners for the Executive of the Year award

2022 - Jamie Dawick, Toronto Rock

2020 - John Catalano, Halifax Thunderbirds

2019 - Terri Giberson, Toronto Rock

2018 - Matt Hutchings, Colorado Mammoth

2017 - Amber Cox, New England Black Wolves

2016 - Lee Genier, Saskatchewan Rush

2015 - Bruce Urban, Edmonton Rush

2014 - John Bean, Calgary Roughnecks

2013 - Jamie Dawick, Toronto Rock

2012 - Andy Arlotta, Minnesota Swarm

2011 - Curt Styres, Rochester Knighthawks

2010 - David Takata, Washington Stealth

2009 - John Arlotta, Minnesota Swarm

2008 - Tom Garrity, Minnesota Swarm

2007 - Dave Zygaj, Buffalo Bandits

2006 - Angela Batinovich, Portland Lumberjax

2005 - Les Bartley, Toronto Rock

2004 - Steve Govett, Colorado Mammoth

2003 - Brad Banister, Calgary Roughnecks

2002 - Tom Mayenknecht, Vancouver Ravens

2001 - Russ Cline, Philadelphia Wings

Below is the all-time list of winners for the Tom Borrelli award

2022 - Pat Gregoire, Halifax Thunderbirds/TSN

2020 - Craig Rybczynski - Rochester Knighthawks

2019 - Tyson Geick, Lacrosse Flash

2018 - Stephen Stamp, Inside Lacrosse

2017 - Jake Elliott, TSN 1410, NLLTV, Stealth Classified

2016 - Teddy Jenner, Inside Lacrosse (IL Indoor)

2015 - Steve Ewen, The Province

2014 - Bob Chavez, Inside Lacrosse

2013 - Stephen Stamp, Inside Lacrosse

2012 - Jake Elliott, Minnesota Swarm

2011 - Budd Bailey, The Buffalo News

2010 - Paul Tutka, NLLInsider.com/Inside Lacrosse

2009 - Paul Tutka, NLLInsider.com/Inside Lacrosse

2008 - Paul Tutka, NLLInsider.com/Inside Lacrosse

2007 - Ty Pilson, Calgary Sun

2006 - Sal Maiorana, Rochester D&C

2005 - Mike Koreen, Toronto Sun

Below is the all-time list of winners of the Sportsmanship Award

2022 - Lyle Thompson, Georgia Swarm

2020 - Lyle Thompson, Georgia Swarm

2019 - Lyle Thompson, Georgia Swarm

2018 - Lyle Thompson, Georgia Swarm

2017 - Jordan Hall, Georgia Swarm

2016 - Ben McIntosh, Saskatchewan Rush

2015 - Kyle Buchanan, New England Black Wolves

2014 - Garrett Billings, Toronto Rock

2013 - Garrett Billings, Toronto Rock

2012 - Johnny Powless, Rochester Knighthawks

2011 - Jordan Hall, Rochester Knighthawks

2010 - Shawn Williams, Rochester Knighthawks,

2009 - Dan Dawson, Boston Blazers

2008 - Dan Carey, Colorado Mammoth

2007 - Tracey Kelusky, Calgary Roughnecks

2006 - Sean Greenhalgh, Philadelphia Wings

2005 - Gary Gait, Colorado Mammoth

2004 - Gary Gait, Colorado Mammoth & Peter Lough, Arizona Sting

2003 - Chris Driscoll, New York Saints/Toronto Rock

2002 - Jim Veltman, Toronto Rock

Below is the all-time list of winners of the Teammate of the Year

2022 - Jeremy Thompson, Panther City Lacrosse Club

2020 - Dan Dawson, Toronto Rock & Mike Poulin, Georgia Swarm

2019 - John Ranagan, Georgia Swarm

2018 - Craig England, Buffalo Bandits

2017 - Mike Poulin, Georgia Swarm

2016 - Mike Poulin, Calgary Roughnecks

2015 - Joel McCready, Vancouver Stealth

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


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