Here are some notes for those fans who will be watching the New York Lizards (3-6) take on the Denver Outlaws (9-0) in Major League Lacrosse action on the Fourth of July.
Tommy Palasek. Photo by: Stacy Podelski/ 1495 Sports
Palasek named to the All-Star Roster:
Lizards’ attackman Tommy Palasek was added to the All-Star Roster last weekend. Palasek will take the place of Chesapeake attackman Drew Westervelt, who will be unable to attend the game.
Movers and Shakers:
New York was extremely busy at the trade deadline making three interesting moves for the present and future of the team.
Recently acquired face-off specialist Matt Dolente has been traded to the Chesapeake Bayhawks for a 2014 4th round collegiate draft pick, which will turn into a 3rd round pick if Dolente plays in two more games.
The Lizards also traded the Charlotte Hounds a 2015 4th round supplemental draft pick in exchange for two collegiate inactive players. Cornell attackman Max Van Bourgondien and Duke defensemen Daniel DiMaria.
Probably the biggest move for New York came when Lizards traded attackman Stephen Berger and a 2nd and 6th round 2015 Collegiate Draft pick to the Boston Cannons in exchange for Steve Mock and a 2014 1st round Draft pick.
Should Mock play in 10 or more games through the 2013/2014 regular seasons, the 6th round 2015 pick will be a 4th round pick.
“Trading Stephen Berger is one of the tougher things I have had to do,” said Lizards head coach Joe Spallina. “He is the consummate professional, a great player as well as a great role model. We received a player we feel is going to flourish in our lineup. A player that does not have to have the ball in his stick to be successful; a great off ball player and finisher. In addition, we acquired an additional first round college pick. We now have two first round college picks as well as two first round supplemental picks, which are tremendous assets to our organization which insures this is built to last.”
Mock scored 70 points during his senior season on 60 goals and 10 assists. Mock will join a Lizards roster that features fellow Cornell graduate Rob Pannell. The duo helped to create many great scoring moments while in college and will look to do the same on the big stage.
Welcome to New York:
In their first game with the team attackman Steve Mock and defenseman Mark Mullen will wear jersey numbers 57 and 58 respectively.
New York set to play in front of expected 31,000 fans:
In what is scheduled to be history in the making, a projected 31,000 fans are expected to attend Thursday’s game at Mile High Stadium. If this number is reached it would be the largest crowd to ever attend a Major League Lacrosse game.
Pannell takes over as leading scorer:
In five games in his first season with the franchise, Rob Pannell has now eclipsed Tommy Palasek as the Lizards Leading scorer. Pannell, who has 11 goals and 10 assists, also leads the team in helpers.
Gurenlian faces toughest face-off test yet:
Greg Gurenlian will face his toughest test in the face-off x this season as he will go against Denver’s Anthony Kelly on Thursday. Kelly who has gone 146-251 in the face-offs’ so far in 2013, while also holding the MLL record for career face-off victories with 1191.
Gurenlian has been a beast in the x thus far for New York going 144-233 at the X, while sitting atop the MLL in face-off standings.
The Lizards and the Outlaw game is set to air on the CBS Sports Network on Thursday, with face-off scheduled for 9:00 p.m.