2009 Season-What to Expect

By-Kevin M. Neibauer

With the 2009 National Lacrosse League just around the corner, I wanted to take a look at the upcoming season and what appears to be a drastic new look for your Philadelphia Wings.

Jake Bergey, Jamie Rooney, Peter Jacobs, and Jason Crosbie....none are returning. That is a lot of experience that the Silver (Red) and Black are losing.

Crosbie, Jacobs and Bergey all brought leadership and experience to the locker room.

Rooney, put points on the board, although he faded in the latter stages of the season, his contributions carried this team at times.

Bergey had one of his most productive seasons ever and was rewarded by being exposed (again) to the Expansion Draft.

Jacobs was seeing less and less time due to the emergence of Geoff Snider, but, Jacobs was one of the biggest leaders of the club. His presence, along with the presence of Crosbie certainly helped the younger players along.

Athan Iannucci....what else can be said. Without a doubt, the biggest question for this team. Will he return to his old form? Will the knee hold up?

Clearly 70 goals is asking a lot, but how about 50? It is tough to expect that kind of production again, especially with Iannucci coming off the injury and Philadelphia seriously lacking a second proven scorer.

Will Merrick Thomson play up to his billing? Thomson was superb at times last season, but was also nearly invisible on occasion.

So, where will the goals come from? Who steps up? Will Jim Borell or David Mitchell become the surprise break-out player of the season?

Pat Heim showed some skill at times, Drew Westervelt is another player who will be counted on to step it up.

AJ Shannon may turn out to be the key to the offense this season. Has Shannon gotten back into paying shape? Is he ready to emerge as a leader?

Geoff Snider....simply needs to play his game. Snider struggled early last season, taking a lot of penalties and simply making bad decisions. Snider is one of the most explosive players in the game and will do his part to win a few games with heart alone.

Snider needs to realize that he is a constant target of the opposition due to his heart. He needs to keep his emotions in check. It is time for Snider to step up and accept his role as a team leader.


Defensively, the Wings had a ton of talent, but have a problem with cohesion and the abiity to play a solid game.

Kyle Sweeney should only get better, the return of Kyle Wailes won't hurt either. Taylor Wray and Tom Hajek are solid. Rob van Beek needs to have a big season.

Goaltending...which Blazer do we see? The one who played lights out for most of the home schedule? or the Bazer that played like the lights were out on the road?

Brandon Miller should be able to fill in nicely, in fact, Miller could compete for the starting spot.

Dave Huntley did a nice job with the team last season. He will have his work cut out for him this season.

The Philadelphia squad made the playoffs last year, so logically, they need to do at least that much.

Minnesota is out of the Division, but New York has gotten even stronger and Rochester will always be a threat as long as Gary Gait is playing.

Buffalo of course is Buffalo, tough to play every year. Even if you beat them, they play a physical game that takes a toll on players. How will Sean Greenhalgh rebound? He improves the power play just by being on the foor.

Toronto went through a of of adversity last season, with questions about the coaching staff and the impending retirement of Jim Veltman. The Rock may be the weak link of the Division....or maybe not.

Boston is putting together a nice squad, Tom Ryan has added Dan Dawson, a legit goal scorer who will mesh nicely with Jake Bergey (If Bergey plays)

Chicago has been steadily improving the past two seasons. Are they ready contend for a playoff? Of course.

So, where will Philly finish?


Remember, you get what you pay for and these predictions were free....

Wings will lose their first two (road games in Buffalo and Minneota)
win their next three (Chicago and Boston twice)
lose to San Jose
defeat Buffalo
Boston
Chicago
lose to New York
defeat Minnesota (OT)
defeat Colorado
New York
lose to New York
defeat Toronto
Rochester

So, that makes them 11-5....or maybe 5-11.....


Discuss this article in the LAXPhilly Forums

Wings open Training Camp

By Tom Hoffman

The Philadelphia Wings will begin preparations for the 2009 NLL season when they open training camp on Friday, November 21 at United Sports Training Center in Downingtown, PA. All practices are free and open to the public.

As the season approaches, look for interviews and preview articles leading up to the season opener January 3 in Buffalo.

Wings 2009 Schedule released

By Tom Hoffman

The 2009 National Lacrosse League schedule was released today. The Philadelphia Wings will open the 2009 season watching the Buffalo Bandits raise their 2008 championship banner on January 3rd at HSBC Arena. After stops in Minnesota (January 10) and Chicago (January 16), the Wings will play their home opener on January 23 against the expansion Boston Blazers. The Wings home schedule includes three Friday nights, four Saturday night games and a Sunday afternoon tilt with New York on April 5. The full Wings schedule is below.

Wings 2009 Schedule
(home games in bold).

January 3 at Buffalo 7:30 PM
January 10 at Minnesota 8 PM
January 16 at Chicago 8 PM
January 23 Boston 8 PM
January 24 at Boston 7:30 PM
January 31 at San Jose 3:30 PM
February 6 Buffalo 8 PM
February 13 Boston 8 PM
February 21 Chicago 7:30 PM
February 28 at New York 12:30 PM
March 14 Minnesota 7:30 PM
March 28 Colorado 7:30 PM
April 4 at New York 7:30 PM
April 5 New York 2:30 PM
April 11 Toronto 7:30 PM
April 18 at Rochester 7:35 PM

Barrage fall in OT, no championship in 2008

By Tom Hoffman

For the third time in four semi-final games the Barrage found themselves in overtime. And for the first time in their playoff history, they find themselves not playing for the Major League Lacrosse title. Casey Powell's goal :45 into the extra session lifted the Rochester Rattlers to their first ever postseason victory, 16-15 over the defending champions at Boston's Harvard Stadium.

The Barrage forced overtime by outscoring the Rattlers 3-0 in the fourth quarter, tying the game on Roy Colsey's third goal of the game with 2:59 left in regulation. Colsey also had three assists for six points to lead the Barrage. Joe Walters scored four goals and three assists to lead Rochester. The Rattlers will face the Denver Outlaws, who defeated the Los Angeles Riptide 13-12, in Sunday's Championship tilt. The winner of this year's championship will be the first team other than the Barrage (3), Lizards (2) and Bayhawks (2) to raise the Steinfeld Cup.

And so for 2008, the Barrage's traveling road show has played its final date.

MLL Semi-Final - Barrage vs Rattlers - 8/23/08

By Tom Hoffman

The Barrage (7-5) are seeking their third consecutive Major League Lacrosse title in 2008. Their first step towards that feat will begin Saturday when they face the top seeded Rochester Rattlers (9-3) at Harvard Stadium. Faceoff is at Noon and the game will be shown live on ESPN2.

Playoff History

The Barrage are in the postseason for the fourth time, having won the MLL Championship all three previous times (2004, 2006, 2007). Their all time playoff record is 6-0. Rochester is 0-4 all time in the postseason. The two teams have met once in the playoffs, the Barrage needing overtime to defeat the Rattlers 18-17 in the 2004 semi-finals at Boston's Nickerson Field. Seven members of the Barrage (Roy Colsey, Matt Striebel, Kyle Sweeney, Mike Springer, Brian Spallina, Brian Kuczma, Ryan Boyle) have played in all six Barrage playoff games while Kevin Cassese was a member of the Rattlers in the 2004 meeting.

Regular Season

Rochester won both regular season meetings in 2008, winning 22-9 on May 31st at PAETEC Park and then taking a 20-17 victory on June 21st in Cary, NC. Joe Walters, John Grant Jr. and Casey Powell each had 13 points for the Rattlers in the two games, Walters leading the way with 11 goals while Matt Striebel had seven points (6G, 1A) for the Barrage with Seth Goldberg, Ryan Boyle and Justin Smith each adding six points. Rochester's Alex Smith outdueled Andy Corno at the faceoff "X" winning 45 of 67 draws. Mike Levin won both starts for the Rattlers while Brian Dougherty took the losses for the Barrage.

Barrage Playoff Leaders

Goals: Roy Colsey (22), Matt Striebel (16)

Assists: Ryan Boyle (12), Striebel (10)

Points: Colsey (30), Striebel (27)

Wins: Brian Dougherty (4), Greg Cattrano (2)

Faceoff Wins: Paul Cantabene (42), Andy Corno (34)

Notes

The Barrage won their first MLL title in Boston in 2004. That season the championship weekend was at Nickerson Field. At this year's venue, Harvard Stadium, the Barrage are 3-0 including a pair of wins in 2008.

Kyle Sweeney and Matt Striebel were named to the 2008 All-MLL team while Tony Resch was named MLL Coach of the Year.

Next Game

A win and the Barrage face the winner of the Denver-Los Angeles game on Sunday afternoon. A loss and we'll see you in 2009.