TSN's Teddy Jenner Wins Second Tom Borrelli Award; Las Vegas CEO Mark Fine Takes Home Executive of the Year in Inaugural Season
May 22, 2023 - 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 the first set of winners for its end of season awards with Teddy Jenner winning the Tom Borrelli Award for outstanding media member of the year and Las Vegas Desert Dogs CEO, Mark Fine, taking home the Executive of the Year Award. The remaining awards will be announced through the week leading into Game 1 of the NLL Finals between the reigning champion Colorado Mammoth and Buffalo Bandits beginning on Saturday, May 27 at 7:00pm ET.
Teddy Jenner wins his second Tom Borrelli Award, the other coming in 2016 as part of the IL Indoor team at Inside Lacrosse. Jenner, a former player and first round pick in the 2001 NLL Entry Draft, played in the NLL from 2002 to 2007 and quickly made the jump into broadcasting and analyst roles after his playing career. For the past two seasons, he has been the play-by-play call for the Game of the Week on TSN and co-hosts a podcast called Off the CrosseBar with Pat Gregoire, the 2022 winner of the Tom Borrelli Award.
Teddy Jenner - TSN play-by-play and Off the CrosseBar Podcast - 254 points
Adam Levi - Inside Lacrosse, NLLPA, and NLL.com contributing writer and Lacrosse Matrix Podcast - 249 points
Pat Gregoire - TSN/Halifax Thunderbirds color commentator and Off the CrosseBar Podcast - 186 points
Las Vegas Desert Dogs CEO, Mark Fine, wins his first Executive of the Year Award for his work to bring the newest NLL franchise to Sin City. In their inaugural season, the Desert Dogs may have gone 5-13 on the floor but introduced the game to a market generally unfamiliar with lacrosse, attracting more than 2,000 season ticket members for their first season. The team averaged 5,960 fans per game at Michelob ULTRA Arena in their inaugural campaign, with a season high 7,914 on March 11.
As submitted by the franchise, the Las Vegas Desert Dogs explain some of the work Fine has taken on since founding the franchise. "He has spearheaded several community programs and directed the donation of equipment, gear, and goals to organizations throughout the city. His efforts have not only helped grow the sport but have also made a positive impact on the community. Additionally, Mark's work to engage the AAPI and Native American communities have helped bring the game of lacrosse to a diverse group of individuals in Southern Nevada and beyond as the team held its first ever Lunar New Year Night and Indigenous Night at home games this season."
Mark Fine - CEO, Las Vegas Desert Dogs - 239 points*, 10 - 1st place votes
Melissa Blades - Director of Business Operations, Calgary Roughnecks - 239 points*, 7 - 1st place votes
Matt Hutchings - EVP, COO, Kroenke Sports and Entertainment, Colorado Mammoth - 237 points
*Tiebreaker is number of first place votes
Each NLL team had the opportunity to nominate and vote for each of the awards with the exception of Teammate of the Year, as each NLLPA Player Representative nominated a player from their team for this honor that was voted on by the NLLPA and its 15 Player Representatives.
Once nominations were finalized, each NLL team casted three ballots for each award by three members of its organization. Select media were eligible to vote for all awards except Teammate of the Year and Executive of the Year with the same voting system.
Each ballot allowed voting members to select their top five choices for each award among all nominated persons. Points were distributed for each first through fifth place vote as follows:
1st Place - 10 points
2nd Place - 7 points
3rd Place - 5 points
4th Place - 3 points
5th Place - 1 point
The person that accumulates the most points is announced as the winner while the top three were named finalists.
Below are the all-time winners of the Tom Borrelli Award
2023 - Teddy Jenner, TSN, Off the CrosseBar Podcast
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 are the all-time winners of the Executive of the Year Award
2023 - Mark Fine, Las Vegas Desert Dogs
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
National Lacrosse League Stories from May 22, 2023
- Desert Dogs CEO Mark Fine Named Executive of the Year - Las Vegas Desert Dogs
- TSN's Teddy Jenner Wins Second Tom Borrelli Award; Las Vegas CEO Mark Fine Takes Home Executive of the Year in Inaugural Season - NLL
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