Ward, Thorimbert, Rubisch, Matthews Honored
March 6, 2013 - National Lacrosse League (NLL) News Release
The National Lacrosse League has announced Player of the Week awards for Week #9 of the 2013 NLL regular season which featured five games over four nights last weekend.
The Edmonton Rush had three players win awards in their respective categories after their 18-13 road win over the Calgary Roughnecks, which snapped a 12-game regular season losing streak to their provincial rival and got Edmonton (5-5) back to a .500 record.
Rush forward Ryan Ward, who ranks third and fourth in the NLL in assists (35) and points (51) respectively, won Offensive Player of the Week after recording a franchise-record 10 points in the win. Defenseman Kyle Rubisch, the 2012 NLL Defensive Player of the Year who leads the league with 29 forced turnovers in 2013, won Defensive Player of the Week.
Edmonton forward Mark Matthews, who leads the NLL with 28 goals and is tied for seventh in points (46), won the Rookie of the Week award for the second time this season. Matthews was also named NLL Rookie of the Month for both January and February and won Offensive Player of the Week in Week #7.
Buffalo Bandits transition player Jay Thorimbert, who ranks third and fourth in the league in faceoff wins (144) and loose balls (89) respectively, won the award at his position by helping Buffalo earn a weekend split.
Offensive Player of the Week
Ryan Ward, Edmonton Rush (2G, 8A, 1 LB): Ward recorded 10 points (2+8) and one loose ball in Edmonton's 18-13 win at Calgary on Saturday.
Transition Player of the Week
Jay Thorimbert, Buffalo Bandits (2 GP, 2G, 31 LB): Thorimbert recorded two goals, 17 loose balls and went 25-for-31 (81%) on faceoffs in Buffalo's 15-13 win at Toronto on Thursday, and recovered 14 loose balls and went 16-for-25 (64%) on faceoffs in Buffalo's 11-10 overtime loss vs. Philadelphia on Friday.
Defensive Player of the Week
Kyle Rubisch, Edmonton Rush (1G, 1A, 11 LB, 4 FT): Rubisch recorded two points (1+1), 11 loose balls and four forced turnovers in Edmonton's 18-13 win at Calgary on Saturday.
Rookie of the Week
Mark Matthews, Edmonton Rush (3G, 1A, 2 LB): Matthews recorded four points (3+1) and two loose balls in Edmonton's 18-13 win at Calgary on Saturday .
The NLL Player Awards are determined by a weekly vote of the league's general managers and head coaches.
National Lacrosse League Stories from March 6, 2013
- Philadelphia Wings Put Three-Game Winning Streak on Line - Philadelphia Wings
- Thorimbert Named NLL 'Transition Player of the Week' - Buffalo Bandits
- Edmonton Rush Make History With Awards Trifecta - Edmonton Rush
- Ward, Thorimbert, Rubisch, Matthews Honored - NLL
- Upstate Indoor Lacrosse Sweeps Championships - Rochester Knighthawks
- Bandits to Host 'Scout Night' on March 9 - Buffalo Bandits
- Minnesota Swarm Looking to Get Back on Track in Calgary - Minnesota Swarm
- Roger Vyse Signed to Active Roster - Toronto Rock
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