2006 NLL season

The 2006 National Lacrosse League season was the 20th season in the history of the league, which began as the Eagle Pro Box Lacrosse League in 1987. The season began on December 30, 2005 and concluded with the championship game on May 13, 2006.

The defending champion Toronto Rock were once again the favourite to win the Champions' Cup [cite web|url=http://www.lacrosse-network.com/outsidersguide/poll060104.htm|title=Toronto opens 2006 as Experts' top pick|date=January 4, 2006|accessdate=2006-11-07|work=Outsider's Guide to the NLL] , but a slow start plus a dismal performance in the semifinal game against Rochester removed the Rock from contention. The Colorado Mammoth, under first-year head coach Gary Gait, won their first title since winning the first ever title in 1987, as the Baltimore Thunder.

Highly-touted Portland rookie Brodie Merrill lived up to his hype, winning both the Defensive Player of the Year and the Rookie of the Year awards. Portland continued its domination of the post-season awards with Derek Keenan, himself a former Rookie of the Year Award winner (1992 with Buffalo), winning both the Les Bartley Award for coach of the year and the GM of the Year Award, and owner Angela Batinovich winning the Executive of the Year Award.

Team Movement

The season featured the debut of two expansion teams; the Edmonton Rush and the Portland LumberJax, both in the Western Division. Portland beat the expansion team odds and won its division, finishing with an 11-5 record, while Edmonton did not fare so well. The Rush finished the season 1-15, their only win coming at the hands of their provincial rivals, the Calgary Roughnecks.

The 2006 season also saw the demise of the Anaheim Storm, who simply couldn't attract fans in their two years in Southern California, after not being able to attract fans in two years in New Jersey.

Milestones

*February 18: John Tavares tied Gary Gait for the all-time record in points, with 1091, as the Buffalo Bandits defeated the Minnesota Swarm 14-9. [cite web|url=http://www.lacrosse-network.com/outsidersguide/news060222.htm|title=Record-tying Tavares named Player of Week|date=February 22, 2006|author=Philly, R.A.|work=Outsider's Guide to the NLL|accessdate=2007-02-04]
*March 4: Tavares sets a new NLL record for career points, scoring his 1092nd point in an 11-8 loss to the Swarm. [cite web|url=http://www.lacrosse-network.com/outsidersguide/game0610ru.htm|title=NLL Week Ten Roundup|date=March 4, 2006|work=Outsider's Guide to the NLL|author=Philly, R.A.|accessdate=2007-02-04]

Final standings

Regular Season

"W = Wins, L = Losses, GB = Games Behind Division Leader, PCT = Winning Percentage, Home = Home record, Road = Road record, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against"