Wednesday, February 27, 2008

2/20/2008 - Merrill earns player of the week honors

PORTLAND, February 20, 2007 - Portland LumberJax defenseman Brodie Merrill has been named the National Lacrosse League's Transition Player of the Week for week eight, the league announced today. Merrill, the NLL's loose ball leader with 89, scored three goals, added one assist and collected 10 loose balls in a 14-8 obliteration of the Edmonton Rush on Sunday.

The two-time All-Star tied a career-high with the three goals he sent past Edmonton in the team's first home win of the season. This year, Merrill has scored 13 points (7 goals, 6 assists).

"Brodie played last week like he plays every game," said Head Coach/General Manager Derek Keenan. "He's consistently the best defensive player on the floor, an absolute beast when the ball hits the carpet and the most dangerous transition player in the game today."

Overall, Merrill is Portland's all-time loose balls leader (499). He's also fourth all-time in goals scored (28), third in assists (57) and third in points scored (85).

In 2007, Merrill led the Jax and the NLL in loose balls collected with 196. Merrill is one of only three players to lead the NLL in loose balls collected (Jim Veltman and John Tavares) since the statistic became official in 1992.

This is the first player of the week award for Portland since last season, when Merrill was named Transition Player of the Week for week three.

The weekly player awards are determined by a vote of the General Managers and Head Coaches of the league's 12 member clubs.

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