1998 NLL season Information & 1998 NLL season Links at HealthHaven.com

1998 NLL season
League	National Lacrosse League
Sport	Indoor lacrosse
Duration	January 3, 1998 - April 28, 1998
Number of teams	7
	Regular season
League champions	Philadelphia Wings
Runners-up	Baltimore Thunder
Season MVP	Gary Gait (Baltimore Thunder)
Top scorer	Gary Gait (Baltimore Thunder)
	Champion's Cup
Champion's Cup champions	Philadelphia Wings
Runners-up	Baltimore Thunder
Champion's Cup MVP	Dallas Eliuk (Philadelphia)
	MILL/NLL seasons
← 1997 season	1999 season →

Before the 1998 season, the Major Indoor Lacrosse League was renamed to be the National Lacrosse League. The first season as the NLL began on January 3, 1998 and concluded with the second championship game on April 28. The championship was decided by a best-two-of-three series, with the Philadelphia Wings defeating the Baltimore Thunder 16-12 in the first game and 17-12 in the second.

[edit] Team Movement

The 1998 season featured the debut of two new teams, and the removal of one. The Boston Blazers folded after nine seasons in Boston and New England, while the Ontario Raiders and Syracuse Smash began play.

[edit] Regular Season

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

Qualified for playoffs

Team	W	L	GB	PCT	Home	Road	GF	GA
Philadelphia Wings	9	3	-	.750	3-3	6-0	166	148
Baltimore Thunder	8	4	1	.667	4-2	4-2	184	160
Rochester Knighthawks	6	6	3	.500	3-3	3-3	168	159
Buffalo Bandits	6	6	3	.500	4-2	2-4	166	171
Ontario Raiders	6	6	3	.500	4-2	2-4	165	157
New York Saints	5	7	4	.416	3-3	2-4	167	165
Syracuse Smash	2	10	7	.167	2-4	0-6	163	219

[edit] All Star Game

No All-Star Game was played in 1998.

[edit] Playoffs

Semifinals			Championship (best-of-3)

4	Buffalo	12
1	Philadelphia	17
			2	Baltimore	0
			1	Philadelphia	2
3	Rochester	14
2	Baltimore	15

Game 1: Baltimore 12 @ Philadelphia 16
Game 2: Philadelphia 17 @ Baltimore 12

[edit] Awards

Award	Winner	Team
MVP Award	Gary Gait	Baltimore
Rookie of the Year Award	Colin Doyle	Ontario
Championship Game MVP (Series)	Dallas Eliuk	Philadelphia
Championship Game MVP (Game 1)	Dallas Eliuk	Philadelphia
Championship Game MVP (Game 2)	Bill Miller	Philadelphia

[edit] Weekly Awards

Each week, a player is awarded "Player of the Week" honours.

Week	Player of the Week
1	Gary Gait
2	Andy Piazza
3	Derek Collins
4	Chris Gill
5	Eric Seremet
6	Tom Marechek
7	Gary Gait
8	Darris Kilgour
9	Derek General
10	Russ Heard
11	Colin Doyle
12	Steve Sombrotto
13	Mark Millon
14	John Tavares
15	Bob Watson

[edit] Monthly Awards

Awards are also given out monthly for the best overall player and best rookie. The 1998 season was the first season that the Rookie of the Month award was given out.

Month	Overall	Rookie
Jan	Gary Gait	Curt Malawsky
Feb	Darris Kilgour	Jake Bergey
Mar	Mark Millon	Colin Doyle

[edit] Statistics Leaders

Bold numbers indicate new single-season records. Italics indicate tied single-season records.

Stat	Player	Team	Number
Goals	Gail Gait	Baltimore	57
Assists	Jim Veltman	Ontario	40
Points	Gary Gait	Baltimore	85
Penalty Minutes	Pat Coyle	Ontario	48
Shots on Goal	Gary Gait	Baltimore	156
Loose Balls	Jim Veltman	Ontario	194
Save Pct	Steve Dietrich	Rochester	77.9

[edit] See also

1998 in sports

[edit] References

1998 Archive at the Outsider's Guide to the NLL

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