PHILADELPHIA — The National Lacrosse League, the largest and most successful professional lacrosse property in the world, today announced that Buffalo Bandits forward Dhane Smith has won the Most Valuable Player award for the 2021-22 season. With the selection, Smith is now one of five players in NLL history to win at least two MVPs. The league also announced Jeff Teat of the New York Riptide as Rookie of the Year, as well as members of the First Team All-League, Second Team All-League and All-Rookie teams.
Smith, 29, shattered the single-season assists record with 94, previously held by Mark Matthews (84 in 2018-19). He also led the league in points (135) and was only three points away from breaking his own single-season points record, which he set in his 2016 MVP season. He led an explosive Bandits club, which had five players surpass the 30-goal mark, and led the league with 13.7 goals scored per game to a league-best 14-4 regular season record.
Teat, 25, was the first overall selection in the 2020 NLL Entry Draft and made his debut during the 2021-22 season. Despite missing two games, Teat finished fourth in the league in scoring with 108 points on 37 goals and 71 assists. As impressive, he recorded 111 loose balls, second on the team and second among rookies. The highly touted rookie had three games with 10 or more points with a season high of 12 on January 9 against Buffalo. Teat shattered the NLL record for points and assists in a season by a rookie, helping lead the Riptide to a much improved 6-12 record compared to 1-12 in the shortened 2019-20 campaign.
The All-League teams are made up of six players each: two forwards, one transition player, two defensemen and one goaltender. The All-Rookie Team is made up of six rookies, regardless of position. The teams are comprised of the top vote getters for the season awards. All awards are based on regular-season performance and were voted on prior to the 2022 NLL Playoffs.
FIRST TEAM ALL-LEAGUE
Joe Resetarits, Albany FireWolves, Forward. Resetarits set a career high with 111 points (3rd in the NLL) and was tied for the league lead in goals at 47. He led the FireWolves in goals, assists and points, helping the team to a 9-9 record and a playoff berth. He is the first American player to be named to the First Team All-League since Casey Powell in 2010. This is the first First Team All-League selection for the first round pick in the 2012 NLL Entry Draft.
Dhane Smith, Buffalo Bandits, Forward. As noted above, NLL MVP Smith shattered the single season assist record with 94, led the league in points at 135 and was only three points away from breaking his own single season points record which he set in his 2016 MVP season. This is Smith’s second First Team All-League selection, the other being in 2016 where Smith won the MVP award.
Zach Currier, Calgary Roughnecks, Transition. Currier set a new NLL record with 62 caused turnovers in a season. He was one of three players to record more than 200 loose ball recoveries in a season, helping to earn the Transition Player of the Year Award. Currier helped lead Calgary to a 10-8 record and a playoff berth. This is Currier’s first First Team All-League selection.
Steve Priolo, Buffalo Bandits, Defenseman. Priolo led the Bandits in both loose ball recoveries (116) and caused turnovers (21, tied with Kevin Brownell) and was second on the team with 16 blocked shots. He also contributed three goals and 15 assists to a league best 14-4 record. This is Priolo’s first First Team All-League selection.
Mitch de Snoo, Toronto Rock, Defenseman. In his first season with the Rock, de Snoo led the team in caused turnovers, ranking second in the NLL (39, tied with Brad Kri), loose ball recoveries (185) and blocked shots (18) which were all career highs, earning him the NLL Defensive Player of the Year award. He was a cornerstone of the defense that allowed the lowest goals per game at 9.22. This is de Snoo’s first First Team All-League selection.
Matt Vinc, Buffalo Bandits, Goaltender. Vinc was one of four goalies to surpass the 1,000+ minutes played mark during the season and led the league in wins (14), saves (747), and save percentage (.807). He set career highs in wins, saves and minutes played in a season. He contributed nine assists from net and led the Bandits to a league best 14-4 record. He also earned his eighth NLL Goaltender of the Year award. This is Vinc’s eighth First Team All-League selection.
SECOND TEAM ALL-LEAGUE
Ryan Lee, Colorado Mammoth, Forward. Lee set a career and franchise high in assists (85) and points (119). His 34 goals were also a career high. His 85 assists now rank second all-time in a season and his 119 points is fourth all-time in a single season. Lee’s 13 points and 12 assists on March 18, 2022, marked league highs for a game. Lee helped lead Colorado to a 10-8 record and a playoff berth. This is Lee’s first Second Team-All League selection.
Jeff Teat, New York Riptide, Forward. As noted above, Teat was the first overall selection in the 2020 NLL Entry Draft and made his debut during the 2021-22 season. Despite missing two games, Teat finished fourth in the league in scoring with 108 points on 37 goals and 71 assists. The last rookie to make an All-League team was Zach Currier in 2018 and the last forward was Gavin Prout in 2002.
Challen Rogers, Toronto Rock, Transition. Rogers sent a career high in goals (21), assists (28), and points (49). Rogers also finished the season with 79 loose ball recoveries, 12 caused turnovers, and eight blocked shots, helping lead the Rock to a 13-5 record. This is Rogers first Second Team All-League selection.
Latrell Harris, Toronto Rock, Defenseman. Harris finished the season with a career high in goals (8), assists (10), and points (18). He was second on the Rock with 114 loose ball recoveries and third with 28 caused turnovers. He also added 11 blocked shots for the team that allowed the lowest number of goals per game. This is Harris’ first Second Team All-League selection.
Kyle Rubisch, Saskatchewan Rush, Defenseman. The four-time NLL Defensive Player of the Year recorded a team high and fourth in the NLL 36 caused turnovers and placed second on the team with 168 loose ball recoveries. He added two goals and three assists. This is Rubisch’s second Second Team All-League selection.
Nick Rose, Toronto Rock, Goaltender. Rose was one of four goalies to surpass 1,000 minutes played this season and one of four to have a save percentage better than .800. His 9.05 goals against average was a league best and his 13 wins is a career high. He also contributed eight assists. The Rock allowed the league low in goals per game and the only team to average less than 10 goals allowed per game. This is Rose’s first Second Team All-League selection.
ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
Reid Bowering, Vancouver Warriors, Transition. Bowering is the lone defenseman or transition player to make the All-Rookie team this season and was the second overall selection in the 2020 Entry Draft. He set the record for caused turnovers for a rookie (34) and tied the record for loose ball recoveries by a rookie in a season (214). He was one of three players to eclipse 200 loose ball recoveries in a season and set a single game high with 23 on April 30. He led the NLL in blocked shots at 26 and contributed 13 goals and 12 assists.
Patrick Dodds, Panther City Lacrosse Club, Forward. Dodds finished tied for 15th in the NLL in points at 84 on the season with a team high 58 assists. He scored the game winning goal in overtime on January 15, giving Panther City its first win as a franchise. Dodds was the 21st overall selection in the 2020 Entry Draft and had a season high 11 points on March 11 with five goals and six assists.
Tehoka Nanticoke, Buffalo Bandits, Forward. Nanticoke finished fourth in rookie scoring at 51 points and was third in goals scored at 32. The third overall selection from the 2021 NLL Entry Draft was one of five Bandits to record 30+ goals on the highest scoring offense in the league. Nanticoke also led the league with six game winning goals.
Steven Orleman, New York Riptide, Goaltender. Orleman is the lone goalie on the All-Rookie team and the first since Alex Buque in 2015 to make the team. Orleman played a rookie single season high of 986 minutes and a record 656 saves while also sporting a 12.10 goals against average and .767 save percentage. He was credited with a win all six of the Riptide’s victories on the season. The former 19th overall selection from the 2018 NLL Entry Draft signed with the Riptide as a free agent in 2020.
Ryan Smith, Rochester Knighthawks, Forward. Smith finished second in goals scored by a rookie at 35 and led the Knighthawks in goals scored. The third overall selection from the 2020 NLL Entry Draft also added 24 assists and was third in rookie points for the 2021-22 season. Smith led all rookies in power play goals (8) and scored two game winning goals for the Knighthawks.
Jeff Teat, New York Riptide, Forward. As noted above, Teat was the first overall selection in the 2020 NLL Entry Draft and made his debut during the 2021-22 season. Teat finished first among rookies in goals (37), assists (71), and points (108) while setting single season rookie records for both assists and points.