Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. Shayne Jackson was named NLL MVP on Tuesday, as the league announced its annual awards despite the fact that the 2019-20 campaign ended prematurely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Jackson, a forward for the Georgia Swarm, had 31 goals and 42 assists in 12 games. Graeme Hossack (Halifax Thunderbirds) earned NLL Defensive Player of the Year honors for the third straight season, while Paul Day (Philadelphia Wings) took home two awards as NLL Coach of the Year and NLL Executive of the Year.
2. Transgender lacrosse player Gabriel Kris punctuated Pride Month with a powerful piece about his journey through autism, depression and gender dysphoria. Kris, 16, had previously tagged US Lacrosse on Instagram noting the lack of transgender representation in the sport. “There has to be some others like me,” he wrote. “But if I am the first, so be it. I am ready to make waves in the lax world.”
3. Regy Thorpe is back in the women’s game. Surprisingly dismissed by the NLL’s New York Riptide after one shortened season as the expansion team’s coach and general manager, Thorpe, who had a successful 10-year run as Gary Gait’s assistant at Syracuse, will be part of another startup at the University of Pittsburgh. Panthers women’s lacrosse coach Emily Boissonneault announced Tuesday that she had hired Thorpe, whose box lacrosse experience “will bring a creative and tactical system to our offense that we will need to compete in the ACC,” she said. Pitt will make its debut in 2021.
WHAT WE’RE READING
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A few good reads over at Inside Lacrosse: Liz Hogan ends Pride Month with a call for coaches to carry the message and create an inclusive locker room culture, Stephen Stamp mocks up the NLL draft and Quint Kessenich asks several college lacrosse players how they’re coping with being cooped up by the pandemic.
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Alonso High School in Tampa has built an impressive boys’ lacrosse program in a short time after floundering for several years, writes Joey Johnston.
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Hofstra held a private ceremony presenting lacrosse alum and noted benefactor James Metzger with the retired No. 56 jersey that will adorn the facade of Margiotta Hall and also the bronze bust that will be added to the newly-landscaped area outside the men's lacrosse locker room at Shuart Stadium.
WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
Highlights of the most prolific scorer in NCAA lacrosse history, courtesy of Powell Lacrosse. (And no, it’s not one of the Powell brothers.)
Jason Coffman is the greatest scorer in NCAA history. His 451 points are an NCAA record across all divisions
— Powell Lacrosse (@powelllacrosse) June 30, 2020
“Jason Coffman deserves a nod to the Hall of Fame! He is one of the best players out sport has ever seen!” - Ryan Powell
Powell Lacrosse salutes Jason Coffman! pic.twitter.com/3IYgQ6CZQk
WHAT’S ON TAP
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US Lacrosse CEO Steve Stenersen calls for moral courage in light of the sport’s racial awakening.
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Highlights from the 2019 US Lacrosse Annual Report.
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The Premier Lacrosse League’s 22-man travel rosters were due Tuesday. Will the lists surface today?