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1998 NLL season
League National Lacrosse League
Sport Indoor lacrosse
DurationJanuary 3, 1998 - April 28, 1998
Number of games12
Number of teams7
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
Champions Philadelphia Wings
  Runners-up Baltimore Thunder
Finals MVP Dallas Eliuk (Philadelphia)
MILL/NLL seasons

Before the 1998 season, the Major Indoor Lacrosse League was renamed to be the National Lacrosse League, in the process increasing the length of the regular season from ten to twelve games. The first season as the NLL and the 12th season overall, 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.

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.

Regular season

Reference: [1]

PTeamGPWLPCTGBHomeRoadGFGA DiffGF/GPGA/GP

1 Philadelphia Wings – xyz1293.7500.03–36–0166148+1813.8312.33
2 Baltimore Thunder – x1284.6671.04–24–2184160+2415.3313.33
3 Rochester Knighthawks – x1266.5003.03–33–3168159+914.0013.25
4 Buffalo Bandits – x1266.5003.04–22–4166171−513.8314.25
5 Ontario Raiders1266.5003.04–22–4165157+813.7513.08
6 New York Saints1257.4174.03–32–4167165+213.9213.75
7 Syracuse Smash12210.1677.02–40–6163219−5613.5818.25

x: Clinched playoff berth; c: Clinched playoff berth by crossing over to another division; y: Clinched division; z: Clinched best regular season record; GP: Games Played
W: Wins; L: Losses; GB:  Games back; PCT: Win percentage; Home: Record at Home; Road: Record on the Road; GF: Goals scored; GA: Goals allowed
Differential: Difference between goals scored and allowed; GF/GP: Average number of goals scored per game; GA/GP: Average number of goals allowed per game

All Star Game

No All-Star Game was played in 1998.

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

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

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

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

Statistics leaders

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

Stat Player Team Number
Goals Gary 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

Attendance

Regular Season

Home Team Home Games Average Attendance Total Attendance [2]
Philadelphia Wings 6 14,197 85,182
Buffalo Bandits 6 12,256 73,534
New York Saints 6 6,725 40,349
Rochester Knighthawks 6 6,706 40,234
Baltimore Thunder 6 5,378 32,269
Ontario Thunder 6 4,810 28,862
Syracuse Smash 6 4,230 25,378
League 42 7,757 325,808

Playoffs

Home Team Home Games Average Attendance Total Attendance [2]
Philadelphia Wings 2 9,288 19,655
Baltimore Thunder 2 3,282 6,564
League 4 6,555 26,219

See also

References

  1. ^ "National Lacrosse League - 1998 Regular Season - Standings". NLL.com. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
  2. ^ a b "1998 Season". nllstats.com. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
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