Archive for July 9th, 2008

MAJOR LEAGUE LACROSSE AND NEW BALANCE TEAM UP TO SUPPORT SPECIAL OLYMPICS

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All Proceeds from Auction of Chinese Dragon-Themed Jerseys from
July 17 MLL All Star Game in Denver to Benefit Special Olympics

BOSTON, Mass. (July 7, 2008) – Major League Lacrosse (MLL), the premier professional outdoor lacrosse league, and New Balance today announced a partnership to raise funds and awareness for Special Olympics. In conjunction with the MLL All-Star Game on July 17th in Denver, New Balance will offer 40 limited-edition Chinese Dragon themed jerseys that will be worn by the MLL All-Stars then signed and auctioned online with 100% of the proceeds benefiting Special Olympics. China was home to the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games which were held in Shanghai last October.

“Major League Lacrosse is honored to partner with New Balance to benefit Special Olympics,” says MLL Commissioner David Gross. “From the hard-work and determination of their athletes, to the tireless efforts of their staff members and volunteers, Special Olympics is truly an inspirational organization.”

The 2008 Major League Lacrosse All-Star Game will take place on Thursday, July 17 at 8 PM MT at Denver’s INVESCO Field at Mile High and will be broadcast live on ESPN2. For the second consecutive year, players from the League’s Eastern Conference will square-off against their Western Conference counterparts.

Bidding for the limited-edition All-Star jerseys will begin at the game and will continue online at www.majorleaguelacrosse.com through August 15th. All proceeds will go towards the 2010 Special Olympics National Games, which will take place in July in Nebraska and will feature approximately 4,000 athletes and coaches competing over seven days. The New Balance Foundation has generously agreed to match the amount raised by the auction.

“This year the Special Olympics movement celebrates 40 years of changing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities through sports, building more inclusive and engaged communities where each person, regardless of ability, is accepted and welcomed and where every individual contributes,” says Bob Gobrecht, Managing Director, Special Olympics North America. “As we look toward the future, the 2010 Special Olympics USA National Games are excited to be the beneficiary of the generous support of Major League Lacrosse and New Balance.”

“Over its 40 year history, Special Olympics has positively impacted the lives of those living with intellectual disabilities through sports,” says Rob DeMartini, CEO, New Balance. “As a proud sponsor of the Massachusetts chapter of Special Olympics, we are excited to expand our support of their organization through this national program and help them continue to make a difference in the lives of thousands of dedicated athletes and their families.”

Tickets for the 2008 MLL All-Star Game are still available and may be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com or call 303-830-TIXS (8497) or for group tickets please call 303-OUTLAWS.

DENVER OUTLAWS HOST 2008 MLL ALL-STAR GAME JULY 17

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League-Most Eight Outlaws Highlight Western Conference Roster

DENVER—Wednesday, July 9, 2008—The best lacrosse players in the world will put their talent on display in Denver on Thursday, July 17 when the 2008 Major League Lacrosse All-Star Game comes to the Mile High City. The Western Conference-leading Denver Outlaws play host to the seventh annual all-star contest at 8 p.m. (MDT) at INVESCO Field at Mile High.

To kick off the two-day event media are invited to the All-Star Game Media Party Wednesday, July 16 from 6-8 p.m. at ESPN Zone Denver (16th & Lawrence). The media party will feature all-star players from around the league available for interviews, a short highlight video and a question-and-answer session with league founder Jake “Body by Jake” Steinfeld.

Local lacrosse fans will see many of their favorite players in action at this year’s All-Star game as the Outlaws—with a league-best 6-2 record—placed a league-most eight players on the Western Conference roster.

Midfielder Brian Langtry, tied for the league lead in scoring (35 pts.), is joined by attackmen Ryan Powell and Brendan Mundorf; fellow midfielders Matt Hanna, Jeff Sonke and Benson Erwin; defenseman Lee Zink and goaltender Jesse Schwartzman to represent the Outlaws on the 19-man Western Conference roster. Outlaws head coach Brian Reese and his coaching staff will coach the West team.

The game will be broadcast live on ESPN2 with Joe Beninati and Quint Kessenich calling the action, and will once again feature the popular Bud Light Skills Competition during halftime. Participants for the Skills Competition events will be announced at a later date.

Tickets to the event are available beginning at just $10 for general admission through Ticketmaster, by calling 303-830-TIXS (8497) or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Group tickets are available by phone by calling 303-OUTLAWS.

Prior to the game on July 17 the Denver Outlaws will team up with Esurance, the team’s official “green” sponsor, and The Park People to plant trees in a special ceremony at 6 p.m. at the Sports Legends Mall on the south side of INVESCO Field at Mile High. Local youth lacrosse teams and volunteers will also join the effort to beautify the stadium’s surroundings for future generations.

ECAC LACROSSE LEAGUE ADDS FIVE NEW MEMBERS FOR 2010

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CAPE COD, Mass. — ECAC Commissioner Rudy Keeling is pleased to announce the addition of five new members to the ECAC Lacrosse League. Air Force, Bellarmine, Denver, Ohio State and Quinnipiac will join existing members Fairfield, Hobart and Loyola to form one of the top lacrosse conferences in the country for the 2009-2010 season.

“The lacrosse world is going through a metamorphosis and the ECAC Lacrosse League has emerged stronger than ever,” said Keeling. “The combination of the teams from the ECAC and the Great Western Lacrosse League will make us one of the power lacrosse conferences in the country.”

Three of the eight teams in the newly constituted league qualified for the NCAA tournament last season: Denver, Loyola and Ohio State. Each of those teams had an RPI in the Top 25 in the final national rankings. Six of the eight teams in the new ECAC had .500 or better records last season.

“Overall, we feel it is going to continue to be a highly competitive league and we are excited for 2010,” said Keeling. “The game of lacrosse is growing rapidly across the nation, and we are excited to bring some of the western teams into the East and for those eastern teams to have a chance to play out West. It will only accelerate the growth of the sport across the country.”

In its nine-year history, the ECAC Lacrosse League has enjoyed tremendous success. League members have earned 19 NCAA Tournament bids, and more than two thirds (68%) of those berths have been at-large selections. An ECAC team has advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals in seven of the league’s nine years, and in six of the last seven seasons. In 2003, the ECAC had four teams qualify for the NCAA tournament, a quarter of the 16-team field.

DU Men’s Lacrosse to Join ECAC

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The Pioneers will begin play in the Eastern College Athletic Conference in 2009-10

DENVER – The University of Denver men’s lacrosse team will join the Eastern College Athletic Conference for the 2009-10 season, ECAC commissioner Rudy Keeling announced today.

Along with the Pioneers, Air Force, Bellarmine, Ohio State and Quinnipiac will join existing members Fairfield, Hobart and Loyola.

“The lacrosse world is going through a metamorphosis and the ECAC Lacrosse League has emerged stronger than ever,” Keeling said. “The combination of the teams from the ECAC and the Great Western Lacrosse League will make us one of the power lacrosse conferences in the country.”

Three of the eight teams in the newly constituted league qualified for the NCAA tournament last season: Denver, Loyola and Ohio State. Each of those teams had an RPI in the Top 25 in the final national rankings. Six of the eight teams in the new ECAC had .500 or better records last season.

“We are excited to join the ECAC men’s lacrosse league,” head coach Jamie Munro said. “This conference will provide tremendous competition that will help us prepare for the NCAA Tournament year-in and year-out.”

The Pioneers will remain in the Great Western Lacrosse League through next season. DU has been a member of the GWLL since 1998 and shared the league regular season title with Notre Dame and Ohio State in 2008, when Denver earned an at-large bid in the NCAA Tournament.

In its nine-year history, the ECAC Lacrosse League has enjoyed tremendous success. League members have earned 19 NCAA Tournament bids, and more than two-thirds (68%) of those berths have been at-large selections. An ECAC team has advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals in seven of the league’s nine years, and in six of the last seven seasons. In 2003, the ECAC had four teams qualify for the NCAA tournament, a quarter of the 16-team field.

ABOUT THE ECAC
The ECAC is the nation’s largest athletic conference with 321 Divisions I, II, and III colleges and universities from Maine to North Carolina. Established in 1938, the ECAC, a non-profit service organization, sponsors more than 100 championships in 37 men’s and women’s sports. The ECAC assigns more than 4,400 officials in 12 sports. The Conference, located on Cape Cod, administers eight affiliate sports organizations and six playing leagues, including the ECAC Lacrosse League. Established in 1999, the ECAC Lacrosse League is a Division I men’s lacrosse league. Hobart College and Loyola College (Md.) joined the league in 2005, and added Fairfield University in 2006.

For the latest news, information, and statistics about the ECAC Lacrosse League, go to the league’s new website: www.ecaclacrosse.com