Aaron Lommers’ NLL predictions

  • By Aaron Lommers Herald Writer
  • Thursday, January 3, 2013 3:03pm
  • SportsSports

Last season I picked the Washington Stealth to win the National Lacrosse League’s Champion’s Cup and we all saw how well that turned out. The Stealth finished with the worst record in the league at 4-12 and missed the postseason.

Rest easy Stealth fans, I’m not putting that curse on the team again.

This year, the defending champion Rochester Knighthawks are going to be tough to beat. They came on late last season and swept through the playoffs, proving you don’t necessarily have to have the best regular-season record, you just need to get hot at the right time. And since hoisting the Cup, they’ve added forwards Casey Powell and Dan Dawson, and defenseman Paul Dawson.

That said, I also like what the Philadelphia Wings did this offseason — acquiring former Stealth transition player Paul Rabil as well as forward Jordan Hall. Those two, along with a talented young group led by second-year star Kevin Crowley, should lead the Wings to the East Division title and ultimately to the NLL championship.

As for the West, there are five teams that figure to beat up on each other all season. Calgary is widely considered one of the top two teams in the league, Edmonton made a run to the championship game a year ago and Colorado had the league’s best record for much of the 2012 season. Minnesota was no slouch either, coming on late in the season to qualify for the playoffs and advance to the West Division final.

The only team in the West that didn’t enjoy success last season was Washington, but look for that to change.

Head coach Chris Hall is back and healthy and the “Big Three” of Lewis Ratcliff, Rhys Duch and Athan Iannucci have had a full training camp to get used to each other and should click early in the season. The Stealth will be much improved, but I don’t know that they can go from worst to first.

My pick to come out of the very competitive West Division is the Edmonton Rush. The Rush, like the Knighthawks, struggled early in the 2012 season, but came on late to advance to the championship game. They held a commanding lead at halftime of the title contest, but a second-half collapse gave Rochester the title. With the core of that team returning — and the addition of the No. 1 overall draft pick, forward Mark Matthews — I think the Rush will find their way back to the championship game.

Aaron Lommers covers the Washington Stealth for The Herald.

AARON’S PICKS

West Division

1. Calgary Roughnecks

2. Edmonton Rush

3. Washington Stealth

4. Colorado Mammoth

5. Minnesota Swarm

East Division

1. Rochester Knighthawks

2. Philadelphia Wings

3. Toronto Rock

x-4. Buffalo Bandits

x-will not make postseason

Note: Since the league consists of nine teams, the final playoff spot can go to the fifth-place team from the West if it finishes with a better record than the fourth-place team from the East. If the fifth-place team from the West qualifies, it takes the No. 4 seed from the East and competes in the East Division playoffs.

Playoffs

West, first round

Calgary over Colorado

Edmonton over Washington

East, first round

Rochester over Minnesota

Philadelphia over Toronto

Western Conference Final

Edmonton over Calgary

Eastern Conference Final

Philadelphia over Rochester

NLL Champion’s Cup

Philadelphia over Edmonton

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

X
Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for March 8-17

The Athlete of the Week nominees for March 8-17. Voting closes at… Continue reading

X
Silvertips’ playoff picture coming together as season hits final week

Everett is officially the Western Conference’s No. 3 seed and is likely heading into a matchup with Kelowna or Vancouver.

Los Angeles Rams offensive guard Tremayne Anchrum (72) against the Denver Broncos during the second half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Seahawks add to position of need, sign guard Tremayne Anchrum Jr.

The 25-year-old has played in 31 games, starting once, since being drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in 2020.

Everett Community College head coach Chet Hovde watches as the women's team practices on Tuesday, March 7, 2017 in Everett, Wa. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
EvCC coach Chet Hovde, who ‘lived for’ basketball, dies at 77

Coach Hovde graduated from Everett High School in 1965. He spent 33 years as the women’s basketball coach at the community college.

Jackson’s Ian Friedrichsen celebrates his goal with his teammates during the game against Bothell on Thursday, May 11, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep boys soccer: 5 things to watch for the 2024 season in Snohomish County

A look at the top local storylines for this high school boys soccer season

Jackson’s Rachel Sysum is hugged by Leneyah Mitchell after hitting a home run during the game against Bothell on Friday, May 19, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep softball: 5 things to watch for the 2024 season in Snohomish County

A look at the top local storylines to keep an eye on this high school softball season.

X
Prep roundup for Friday, March 15

Prep roundup for Friday, March 15: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Glacier Peak’s Samantha Christensen runs to home plate to celebrate her home run with her teammates during the game against Snohomish on Friday, March 15, 2024 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
GALLERY: Glacier Peak softball tops rival Snohomish

The Grizzlies prevail 9-5 in a clash of area powers.

X
Prep roundup for Thursday, March 14

Prep roundup for Thursday, March 14: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

The Washington Wolfpack logo is revealed during the Everett AFL team unveiling at Tony V's Garage in Everett, Washington onThursday, Oct. 26, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Everett’s new arena football team to have 4 televised games

The NFL Network will broadcast 30 AFL games this season, including two Wolfpack home games.

Washington coach Mike Hopkins yells to the team during the second half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against California, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, in Seattle. California won 82-80. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Looking back at Mike Hopkins’ turbulent tenure as UW men’s basketball coach

The departing Huskies coach had highs early, but the good times didn’t last long.

X
Prep roundup for Saturday, March 16

Prep roundup for Saturday, March 16: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.