2009 NLL season

The 2009 National Lacrosse League season, the 23rd in the history of the NLL, will begin on December 27, 2008 in Chicago, and will conclude with the championship game in May 2009.

Team movement

After the 2008 season was cancelled and then reinstated, the Boston Blazers and Arizona Sting both announced that they would not participate in the 2008 season, and would return in 2009.cite web|url=http://nll.com/article.php?id=3141|work=NLL.com|title=League Releases New 2008 Schedule|date=November 2, 2007|accessdate=2007-11-02] However, in the summer of 2008 the Arizona Sting ceased operations and its players were put in a dispersal draft. [cite web|url=http://www.nll.com/article.php?id=3530|title=Dawson & Conn among available players|publisher=NLL.com|accessdate=2008-06-30] The Blazers drafted former Sting and LumberJax forward Dan Dawson first overall. [cite web|url=http://nll.com/article.php?id=3533|title=Dawson Selected by Boston Blazers|work=NLL.com|date=June 30, 2008|accessdate=2008-08-29]

tandings

Milestones and events

Pre-season

* August 19, 2008: The NLL announced that the Minnesota Swarm would be moving from the East division to the West division, giving the West six teams to the East's seven. [cite web|url=http://nll.com/article.php?id=3572|title=Division Alignment For 2009 Announced|work=NLL.com|date=August 19, 2008|accessdate=2008-08-29]
* August 22, 2008: Chicago Shamrox goalie Matt Roik was traded to the San Jose Stealth with two first round draft picks in exchange for veteran goalie Anthony Cosmo. [cite web|url=http://nll.com/article.php?id=3580|title=San Jose Deals Cosmo to Chicago|work=NLL.com|date=August 29, 2008|accessdate=2008-08-29]
* September 2, 2008: The Rochester Knighthawks announce that Paul Suggate will be the new head coach. Freeman Bucktooth and former team captain Mike Hasen were also named assistant coaches. [cite web|url=http://www.nll.com/article.php?id=3584|title=Knighthawks Name Suggate New Head Coach|work=NLL.com|date=September 2, 2008|accessdate=2008-09-02]
* September 7, 2008: Just hours before the entry draft, the Toronto Rock, San Jose Stealth, and Rochester Knighthawks made a blockbuster trade. Toronto sent Aaron Wilson and a 2009 first round draft pick to Rochester, who sent Stephen Hoar back to Toronto. Toronto also received Luke Wiles from San Jose, while San Jose gets Rochester's first round pick in the 2008 entry draft. [cite web|url=http://www.nll.com/article.php?id=3586|title=Draft Day Blockbuster: Wilson, Wiles Traded|work=NLL.com|date=September 7, 2008|accessdate=2008-09-07]
* September 25th The NLL announced that a regular season game will be played between the New York Titans and the Toronto Rock at BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida, a suburb of Fort Lauderdale. The game will be known as the Florida Lacrosse Cup. This will be the first pro lacrosse game ever played in the state. The event was spearheaded by former Rock and Philadelphia Wings forward Kevin Finneran. [cite web|url=http://nll.com/article.php?id=3600|title=NLL To Play First-Ever Pro Game In Florida|work=NLL.com|date=September 25, 2008|accessdate=2008-09-25]

All-Star game

The 2009 All-Star Game will be held at the Pepsi Center in Denver on March 7, 2009. [cite web|url=http://www.nll.com/article.php?id=3589|work=NLL.com|title=Colorado To Host 2009 All-Star Game|date=September 9, 2008|accessdate=2008-09-09]

See also

* 2009 in sports

References

External links

* [http://www.nll.com/article.php?id=3584 2009 schedule]