2005 NLL season

2005 NLL season
LeagueNational Lacrosse League
SportIndoor lacrosse
DurationJanuary 1, 2005 – May 14, 2005
Number of games16
Number of teams10
TV partner(s)NBC and America One (United States)
The Score (Canada)
Regular season
Season MVPColin Doyle (Toronto Rock)
Top scorerColin Doyle (Toronto Rock)
Playoffs
Eastern championsToronto Rock
  Eastern runners-upBuffalo Bandits
Western championsCalgary Roughnecks
  Western runners-upArizona Sting
Champion's Cup
ChampionsToronto Rock
  Runners-upArizona Sting
Finals MVPColin Doyle (Toronto)
NLL seasons

The 2005 National Lacrosse League season is the 19th season of the NLL that began on January 1, 2005 and concluded with the championship game on May 14. The Toronto Rock won their fifth NLL championship, defeating the Arizona Sting 19–13 in Toronto.

Colin Doyle of the Toronto Rock won the scoring title, marking the first time since 1990 that someone other than Gary Gait, Paul Gait, or John Tavares has led the league in scoring. For his efforts in leading the Rock to the championship, Doyle was named both league MVP and Championship Game MVP.

Just hours after the Rock's championship victory, another lacrosse legend, former Toronto head coach and general manager Les Bartley died from colon cancer at age 51.[1] Bartley had coached the Buffalo Bandits to three MILL/NLL championships before moving to the expansion Ontario Raiders in 1998. Bartley moved with the Raiders to Toronto the next year, and went on to win titles in four of the next five seasons. Bartley also won the NLL Executive of the Year award in 2005, in part due to his involvement in the negotiation of the new CBA.[1]

The 2005 season featured the NLL retirement of two lacrosse legends: Gary Gait and Tom Marechek. Marechek played his entire 12-year career with the Philadelphia Wings, winning Rookie of the Year in 1994, as well as four championships with the Wings. He was named to the All-Pro team eight times, and is third all-time in the NLL in points, after only Gary Gait and John Tavares . Marechek announced his retirement shortly before the end of the season.[2]

Gait, at the time the league's all-time leading scorer, announced his retirement shortly before the season began. He was named League MVP six times, won seven scoring titles, and was named an All-Pro an astonishing 14 times in 14 seasons.[3] With four games left in the regular season, Gait managed to coax his twin brother Paul out of retirement to play with him. However, Colorado was eliminated in the division semi-finals by Arizona, so Gait's dream of winning the championship in his final season did not come to fruition. He did win the championship in his first year as head coach of the Mammoth the next year.

  1. ^ a b Philly, R.A. (May 15, 2005). "Les Bartley, 51, loses battle with cancer". Outsider's Guide to the NLL. Archived from the original on June 22, 2007. Retrieved February 4, 2007.
  2. ^ Philly, R.A. (April 1, 2005). "Tom Marechek to retire at end of season". Outsider's Guide to the NLL. Archived from the original on August 18, 2007. Retrieved February 4, 2007.
  3. ^ Philly, R.A. (October 27, 2004). "Gary Gait to retire after 2005 season". Outsider's Guide to the NLL. Archived from the original on August 18, 2007. Retrieved February 4, 2007.