Grand Rapids Alumni 2020 NILL Champs!

It was a good Championship weekend which saw two good games for the Championship and for 3rd place.

In the 3rd Place game, Hermantown came out on top of Duluth Maroon 15-14.  Hermantown was led by Cody Urie with 9 goals and Jackson Sleen with 2 goals and 3 assists in the 3rd place game.  Tommy Smyth and Brennan Larson worked to keep things close, chipping in 7 goals and 5 goals each respectively. 

In the Championship game Grand Rapids Alumni took a big lead while Duluth Gray chipped away at it in the second half.  It wasn't enough though, as Grand Rapids took the championship 16-12.  Grand Rapids was led by Jacob Ahcan with 5 goals, Noah How with 4 goals and Austin Grover with 3 goals.  Duluth Gray was led by John Butler and Josiah Thomas with 3 goals apiece. 

Thanks to everyone for participating.  We hope to run another winter league next winter so stay tuned.  The season stats have been updated.  Please see the Stats Page.

Please note that the season is now over.  The girls have clinics this weekend and next on the turf.

2020 League Standings, Scores and Stats have been Updated

League standings, scores and stats have been updated for the 2020 season.  Duluth Maroon and Duluth Gray are tied at the top of the standings at 2-0-1 after the teams battled to a 15-15 tie last week, with a buzzer beater goal by Tyler Smith to tie the game at the end.  Grand Rapids comes in at 1-2 while Hermantown sits at 0-3 after Grand Rapids topped Hermantown last week.  Games this coming week will be held on Super Bowl Sunday.  Come to the games and watch the Super Bowl in between games.  We'll have a TV set up for Super Bowl viewing on Sunday.  Games for this weekend are:

Sunday February 2:

5 pm - Duluth Boys Practice

6 pm - Grand Rapids Alum vs. Duluth Maroon

7 pm - Hermantown and Area vs. Duluth Gray

Final Regular Season Stats Updated

Final stats here:  Stats Page

Middle School Playoffs Set for the Weekend

Middle school playoffs are set for the weekend.  Here is the Middle School playoff schedule:

Saturday March 7 MIDDLE SCHOOL PLAYOFFS at Washington Center Gym

4:00 p.m. - #1 Polar Bears vs. #4 Hyenas
5:00 p.m. - #2 Rhinos vs. #3 Honey Badgers
6:00 p.m. - NILL Championship Game

Please note that the High School+ playoffs have been moved back to Saturday March 14.

You can see the full Schedule HERE

Stats and Standings Updated after February 7 Games

Stats and Standings have been updated!

February 7 Game Schedule

The pinnies for winter league are FINALLY done!  They will be distributed to all players who have

paid today before your game.

Here's the February 7 game schedule at Washington Center gym:

Middle School Division:

4:00 p.m. - Hyenas vs. Honey Badgers
5:00 p.m. - Polar Bears vs.Rhinos

High School+ Division:

6:00 p.m. - Grizzlies vs. Warriors
7:00 p.m. - Jaxx vs. Guardians of the Galaxy
8:00 p.m. - Dekes of Hazard vs. Team Ram-Rod

Games at UW-Superior Fieldhouse Saturday

Games will be played at UW-Superior Fieldhouse today.


Here is the schedule:

 Games 2 &3 Saturday January 17 at UW-Superior Fieldhouse (DOUBLEHEADER WEEKEND)

 Middle School Division:
1:00 p.m. - Honey Badgers vs. Hyenas
2:00 p.m. - Rhinos vs. Polar Bears
 3:00 p.m. - Polar Bears vs. Honey Badgers
4:00 p.m. - Hyenas vs. Rhinos

High School+ Division:
5:00 p.m. - Guardians of the Galaxy vs. Warriors
6:00 p.m. - Dekes of Hazard vs. Jaxx
7:00 p.m. - Team Ram-Rod vs. Guardians of the Galaxy
8:00 p.m. - Warriors vs. Jaxx

Stats and Standings Updated

Stats and Scores and Standings have been updated.  Also note the new team names.

First Week of Winter League in the Books

Action from Middle School Division play

The first week of the 2015 NILL Winter Lacrosse League started off with a bang Saturday night.  The first game of the 2015 season saw the Rhinos defeat the Honey Badgers 11-10 in sudden victory overtime.  After a furious comeback which saw the Honey Badgers score the final 4 goals in regulation, the Rhinos Hunter Wisocki put one in the back of the net to end the game 1 minute into overtime.  In the second Middle School Division game, the Polar Bears from Grand Rapids defeated the Hyenas 8-5.

In the High School+ Division, the first game of the night saw the Jaxx team, featuring some impressive ball movement and goals, defeat the Grizzlies (Grand Rapids 1) team 20-11.  The Jaxx took advantage of the modified box format, spreading themselves well around the court and moving the ball effectively.  In the other High School games, Team Ram-Rod defeated the Warriors (Grand Rapids 2) 18-9 and the Dekes of Hazard beat the Guardians of the Galaxy 14-10.

Action from Middle School Division play

While the playing venue isn't ideal, I think everyone had fun (I know I did when we played) and I could see as the games progressed, the players improved skills and game strategy.  Lacrosse is lacrosse no matter where or how it's played.  Fun, challenge, and competition can exist anywhere the game is played and being open about improving skills, developing new strategies for a different format of the game and working on weak points in your game can keep the game fun and interesting.

Look forward to seeing you next week at UW-Superior Fieldhouse.  Long poles may be used next week and the format will be modified field lacrosse with 6x6 goals and 7 v 7 - two attack, two middies and tow defense.

Stats and Standings will be updated soon!

2015 NILL Season Set to Begin!

The 2015 NILL season is set to begin Saturday January 10!  The league this year will have a new modified box lacrosse format.  It should be a fun and fast paced game with the ball in play at all times.  NILL 2015 should place a premium on stick skills, quick ball movement, soft hands and accurate shooting.

Games will be played at the Washington Center in downtown Duluth - 310 N 1st Avenue West, Duluth, MN 55806.

Please go to the Teams page to see the team you are on.  This weekends schedule is set:

Game 1:  Saturday January 10 at Washington Center:

Middle School Division:

4:00 p.m. - Honey Badgers vs. Rhinos
5:00 p.m. - Hyenas vs. Polar Bears

High School+ Division:

6:00 p.m. - Team 4 Grand Rapids vs. Jaxx
7:00 p.m. - Team 5 Grand Rapids vs. Duluth
8:00 p.m. - Proctor vs. Old Guys
9:00 p.m. - Duluth vs. Lake Superior College

See you Saturday!

Final Weekend Determines Seeds

The final weekend of NILL games proved pivotal.  With wins or losses, seeds would be determined for next weeks playoffs.  The Good, the Bad and the Ugly pulled out a close one goal win over Brainerd giving them the #1 seed in the playoffs.  With a win, Brainerd would have been the #3 seed since the Jaxx later dropped a close game to eventual #5 seed Flying Dutchmen.  The Jaxx pick up the #3 seed (and could have been #2 with a win) while Brainerd gets the #4 seed based on wins against common opponents with the highest seed (the Jaxx defeated #1 seed Uglies while Brainerd did not).  The Grizzlies picked up the #2 seed with a close one goal win over #6 seeded Illuminati.  In the season finale, The Saints picked up their first win over ReLaxin.  The Saints remain the #8 seed while ReLaxin remains the #7 seed.

NILL Playoff Seedings:

#1 The Good the Bad and the Ugly
#2 The Grizzlies
#3 Jaxx
#4 Brainerd
#5 Flying Dutchmen
#6 The Illuminati
#7 ReLaxin
#8 The Saints

In the Middle School Division, MS3 picked up two wins and take the #1 seed into the playoffs and a first round bye.  MS2 keeps the #2 seed while the young MS1 squad gets the #3 seed.

All Playoff games this weekend will be on the turf at the DECC.  The playoff schedule is as follows:

Sunday March 17 Playoffs at Pioneer Hall, DECC:

12:00  #2 MS2  vs.  #3 MS1
1:00   NILL Middle School Championship  #1 MS3  vs. winner
2:00  #8 Saints vs.  #1 The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
3:00  #7 ReLaxin vs.  #2 Grizzlies
4:00  #6 The Illuminati  vs.  #3 Jaxx
5:00  #5 Flying Dutchmen  vs.  #4  Brainerd
6:00  Highest remaining seed  vs.  Lowest remaining seed
7:00  2nd highest remaining seed  vs.  2nd lowest remaining seed
8:00  NILL Championship Game

Remember that you will not be allowed fill-in players from other teams for the playoffs.  IF you have an injury on your team, you may be allowed a fill-in player for your game.  Please address this before the game with the commissioner at the scorers table.  This also means that if your team does not have a goalie, you will have to suit up one of your players to play goalie

Also, I lost a LOT of orange game balls last week.  If you happen to find one somewhere, in your bag, on the floor of your car, whereever, please just drop it off on the scorers table at this weekends games.  Thank you!

Scores and standings are updated and stats will be updated soon.

Final Week Coming Up; Stats and Standings Updated

Stats and Standings have been updated from last weeks games.  Grizzlies and Flying Dutchmen pick up big wins over Jaxx and The Illuminati to tighten the standing in the High School Division.  MS3 picks up two wins to extend their lead in the Middle School Division.

The final week of the season is coming up this Sunday.  All teams play this weekend.  This is also the last weekend at UW-Superior Fieldhouse before moving back to the DECC turf for the playoffs.  Final week schedule:

Game 12:  Sunday March 10 at UW-Superior Fieldhouse:

3:00 p.m.  MS3 vs. MS2
4:00 p.m.  MS3 vs. MS1
5:00 p.m.  The Grizzlies vs. The Illuminati
6:00 p.m.  Brainerd vs.  The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
7:00 p.m.  Flying Dutchmen vs. Jaxx
8:00 p.m.  ReLaxin vs. The Saints