Del Bianco MVP, Donville Fourth Straight Number One Overall Selection to Win Rookie of the Year

The National Lacrosse League (@NLL), the largest and most successful professional lacrosse property in the world, today announced that Calgary Roughnecks goaltender, Christian Del Bianco has won the 2022-23 Most Valuable Player award while Panther City Lacrosse Club’s standout rookie, Jonathan Donville has taken Rookie of the Year honors.

Christian Del Bianco, 25, (Coquitlam, BC) was awarded the Most Valuable Player title today after winning Goaltender of the Year yesterday. He becomes just the second goaltender to ever win the MVP award (Steve Dietrich, 2006) and third non-forward to win the award since its inception in 1994, (Jeff Shattler, transition, 2011).

Del Bianco set a record with 1,080:19 minutes played this season and finished the season with a 13-5 record, leading the Roughnecks to a franchise high 13 wins. He is the fourth Roughneck to win the MVP, the first since Dane Dobbie in 2019. The Roughneck goaltender recorded 19 assists on the season, 10 more than second place (Warren Hill, HFX) to help spur the dangerous transition game from the Roughnecks. He edges out other finalists, Dhane Smith, who won the MVP award last season and sophomore standout and NLL leading scorer, Jeff Teat.

• Christian Del Bianco – 415 points
• Dhane Smith – 358 points
• Jeff Teat – 323 points

Panther City Lacrosse Club forward, Jonathan Donville, 25, (Oakville, ON), the number one overall selection from the 2021 NLL Entry Draft, received Rookie of the Year honors, making him the fourth straight number one overall pick from the NLL Entry Draft to win the award (Jeff Teat – 2022, Tyson Gibson – 2020, Austin Staats – 2019).

Donville finished the season with 90 points, second on the team, and with 67 assists, four shy of Jeff Teat’s single season rookie record set last season. On the way to a franchise best 10-8 record and first playoff appearance, Donville led the NLL with 29 powerplay assists. Donville is a product of Cornell and Maryland men’s lacrosse programs at the university level and played for the Mimico Mountaineers and Orangeville Northmen in junior lacrosse.

• Jonathan Donville – 543 points
• Brett Dobson – 356 points
• Jack Hannah – 356 points

1^st Team All-League

Dhane Smith, Buffalo Bandits, Forward. The 2021-22 NLL MVP had another memorable season, breaking his single season assist record he set last year, with 96 helpers. His 132 points were second in the NLL. He also contributed 99 loose ball recoveries and 14 caused turnovers to help lead the Bandits to a league best 14-4 record. This is Smith’s third 1^st Team All-League honors (2016, 2022).

Jeff Teat, New York Riptide, Forward. The 2021-22 Rookie of the Year took another huge step in his development, leading the NLL with 136 points, one shy of tying Dhane Smith’s single season record from 2016. Teat led the league with 56 goals, which is now sixth in league history. While scoring was on Teat’s resume, he also finished third in the NLL with 80 assists. Teat scored or assisted on 67.7% of all Riptide goals this season. He also had two games with seven goals (1/21/23 and 2/11/23). This is Teat’s first 1^st Team All-League honors.

Zach Currier, Calgary Roughnecks, Transition. Zach Currier took home his second Transition Player of the Year in a row after another phenomenal season on both ends of the floor. He finishes the season with 15 goals, 18 assists, 228 loose ball recoveries (second in the NLL), 43 caused turnovers (second in the NLL), and 18 blocked shots. This is Currier’s second 1^st Team All-League honors (2022).

Latrell Harris, Toronto Rock, Defenseman. Latrell Harris won his first Defensive Player of the Year award on a team that allowed the least number of goals on the season with 164 (9.11 per game). Harris was one of the stalwarts on the backend taking on the toughest matchups, finishing the season with 10 goals, 20 assists, 108 loose ball recoveries, 24 caused turnovers and 10 blocked shots with just four penalty minutes. This is Harris’ first 1^st Team All-League honors after finishing on the second team last season.

Graeme Hossack, Halifax Thunderbirds, Defenseman. The three time Defensive Player of the Year is one of the fiercest competitors in the NLL. He finished the season with two goals, seven assists, 139 loose ball recoveries, a league high 49 caused turnovers and 16 blocked shots, committing just eight penalty minutes in the process. This is Hossack’s fourth 1^st Team All-League honors (2018, 2019, 2020).

Christian Del Bianco, Calgary Roughnecks, Goaltender. As noted above, NLL MVP Del Bianco helped lead the Roughnecks to a franchise high 13 wins this season, playing a pivotal role in net. He finished with 19 assists, tied for 83^rd in all the NLL and 10 more than the next goaltender. The Roughnecks allowed the second fewest goals all season. Del Bianco had a 13-5 record, a 9.28 goals against average, and an 81% save percentage. His 712 total saves were fourth in the NLL. This is Del Bianco’s first 1^st Team All-League honors.

2^nd Team All-League

Connor Fields, Rochester Knighthawks, Forward. Fields in his first year with the Knighthawks, helped lead the team to its first ever postseason appearance and a franchise best 10-8 record. He finished the season fifth in the NLL with 112 points, and second in goals at 52, a new high for an American born player. Among forwards, he also led the league with 142 loose ball recoveries, one of six players to finished with 100+ points and 100+ loose balls. This is Fields first All-League honors after being All-Rookie in 2020.

Tom Schreiber, Toronto Rock, Forward. Tom Schreiber set a new high for an American with 116 points, fourth in the NLL this season. His 48 goals were also fourth in the NLL. Schreiber had the most points in a single game this season with 15 on February 4, two away from tying Mark Steenhuis’ record of 17. He is also one of six players to hit the 100+ points and 100+ loose ball mark. This is Schreiber’s first All-League honors after being All-Rookie in 2017.

Challen Rogers, Toronto Rock, Transition. The two-time Transition Player of the Year finished the 2022-23 campaign with 20 goals, 29 assists, 85 loose balls, 13 caused turnovers and 11 blocked shots. One of the most versatile players in the NLL, Rogers frequently played out of both doors. He took four penalty shots, converting on three. This is Rogers’ second 2^nd team All-League honors (2022), after being 1^st Team in 2019 and 2020.

Brad Kri, Toronto Rock, Defenseman. Brad Kri is among the many talented defensive players for the Rock. In 18 games, Kri buried three goals, added 12 assists, 144 loose ball recoveries, 35 caused turnovers (fourth in the NLL) and a team high 13 blocked shots. The Rock had the second best penalty kill at 61% this season. This is Kri’s first All-League honors.

Steve Priolo, Buffalo Bandits. Defenseman. One of the toughest and most consistent players in the NLL, the Bandits captain had 19 points, 143 loose ball recoveries, 19 caused turnovers and 19 blocked shots to help lead the Bandits to a league best 14-4 record. His 67 penalty minutes were fourth highest in the NLL and his 16 assists were second among defensemen. This is Priolo’s third 2^nd Team All-League honors (2015, 2019) and fourth overall after being on the 1^st Team in the 2021-22 season.

Nick Rose, Toronto Rock, Goaltender. Nick Rose was one of the most complete goalies all season. His 9.03 goals against average was lowest in the NLL. He finished with a 13-5 record, 1056:46 minutes, 655 total saves and an 80% save percentage. This is Rose’s second straight 2^nd Team All-League honors.

All-Rookie Team

Jake Boudreau, Saskatchewan Rush, Defenseman. The seventh overall selection from the 2021 NLL Entry Draft finished with 13 points which was good for 12^th among all rookies, 94 loose ball recoveries, second among all rookies and 12 forced turnovers, fifth among rookies. The Brampton, Ontario product played collegiately at Robert Morris University.  

Brett Dobson, Georgia Swarm, Goaltender. The 11^th overall selection from the 2022 NLL Entry Draft played 881 minutes, with an 8-7 record, 10.69 goals against average (fifth among goalies with 500+ minutes) and a 78% save percentage. He is the eighth goaltender named to the All-Rookie team since debuting in 2001. Dobson played collegiately at St. Bonaventure University and also won the gold medal with Team Canada at the World Games in Birmingham, Alabama in 2022.

Jonathan Donville, Panther City Lacrosse Club, Forward. The number one overall selection from the 2021 NLL Entry Draft took the NLL by storm this season. His 90 points were 16^th in the NLL (first among rookies). He tallied 67 assists, four shy of tying Jeff Teat’s single season record among rookies. He also led the NLL with 29 powerplay assists. He became the fourth straight number one overall selection to win Rookie of the Year honors. Donville played at both Maryland and Cornell collegiately.

Jack Hannah, Las Vegas Desert Dogs. Forward. Jack Hannah was the 31^st overall selectin from the 2021 NLL Entry Draft to Panther City. Las Vegas acquired Hannah in the expansion draft where he played his first games. He finished with 64 points, second among rookies and with 33 goals, good for best among rookies and tied for the team lead in their inaugural season. The Milford, Ohio native attended the University of Denver and competed with the Ohio Rivermen of the National Collegiate Box Series.

Danny Logan, San Diego Seals. Defenseman. Danny Logan was the 50^th overall selection in the 2020 NLL Entry Draft but would see his first game action this season. In 17 games, Logan recorded seven points, 98 loose balls (most among rookies), 24 caused turnovers (most among rookies) and went 156/362 at the faceoff dot. Logan is also a product of the University of Denver, originally from Upper Arlington, Ohio.

John Piatelli, Albany FireWolves, Forward. John Piatelli was selected 53^rd overall in the 2022 NLL Entry Draft to the Albany FireWolves. In 16 games, he scored 18 goals and 21 assists, both ranked fourth among rookies. His 39 points were fifth on the FireWolves this season. He scooped up 68 loose balls which was fifth among rookies. The Wrentham, Massachusetts native attended Cornell for his university lacrosse.

The All-League and All-Rookie teams are determined by the top vote getters in each correlating award. The All-Rookie team is made up of six rookies, regardless of position. The All-League First Team and All-League Second Team are made up of six individuals per team. Each Team will consist of two forwards, one transition player, two defenseman, and one goaltender.

Below are the all-time winners of the NLL Most Valuable Player Award

• 2023 – Christian Del Bianco, Calgary Roughnecks
• 2022 – Dhane Smith, Buffalo Bandits
• 2020 – Shayne Jackson, Georgia Swarm
• 2019 – Dane Dobbie, Calgary Roughnecks
• 2018 – Mark Matthews, Saskatchewan Rush
• 2017 – Lyle Thompson, Georgia Swarm
• 2016 – Dhane Smith, Buffalo Bandits
• 2015 – Shawn Evans, Calgary Roughnecks
• 2014 – Cody Jamieson, Rochester Knighthawks
• 2013 – Shawn Evans, Calgary Roughnecks
• 2012 – John Grant Jr., Colorado Mammoth
• 2011 – Jeff Shattler, Calgary Roughnecks
• 2010 – Casey Powell, Orlando Titans
• 2009 – Dan Dawson, Boston Blazers
• 2008 – Athan Iannucci, Philadelphia Wings
• 2007 – John Grant Jr., Rochester Knighthawks
• 2006 – Steve Dietrich, Buffalo Bandits
• 2005 – Colin Doyle, Toronto Rock
• 2004 – Jim Veltman, Toronto Rock
• 2003 – Gary Gait, Colorado Mammoth
• 2002 – Paul Gait, Washington Power
• 2001 – John Tavares, Buffalo Bandits
• 2000 – John Tavares, Buffalo Bandits
• 1999 – Gary Gait, Baltimore Thunder
• 1998 – Gary Gait, Baltimore Thunder
• 1997 – Gary Gait, Philadelphia Wings
• 1996 – Gary Gait, Philadelphia Wings
• 1995 – Gary Gait, Philadelphia Wings
• 1994 – John Tavares, Buffalo Bandits

Below are the all-time winners of the NLL Rookie of the Year Award

• 2023 – Jonathan Donville, Panther City Lacrosse Club
• 2022 – Jeff Teat, New York Riptide
• 2020 – Tyson Gibson, New York Riptide
• 2019 – Austin Staats, San Diego Seals
• 2018 – Jake Withers, Rochester Knighthawks
• 2017 – Tom Schreiber, Toronto Rock
• 2016 – Randy Staats, Georgia Swarm
• 2015 – Ben McIntosh, Edmonton Rush
• 2014 – Logan Schuss, Minnesota Swarm
• 2013 – Mark Matthews, Edmonton Rush
• 2012 – Adam Jones, Colorado Mammoth
• 2011 – Curtis Dickson, Calgary Roughnecks
• 2010 – Stephan Leblanc, Toronto Rock
• 2009 – Rhys Duch, San Jose Stealth
• 2008 – Craig Point, Minnesota Swarm
• 2007 – Ryan Benesch, Toronto Rock
• 2006 – Brodie Merrill, Portland Lumberjax
• 2005 – Ryan Boyle, San Jose Stealth
• 2004 – Taylor Wray, Calgary Roughnecks
• 2003 – Brian Langtry, Colorado Mammoth
• 2002 – Blaine Manning, Toronto Rock
• 2001 – Tracey Kelusky, Columbus Landsharks
• 2000 – John Grant Jr., Rochester Knighthawks
• 1999 – Jesse Hubbard, Baltimore Thunder
• 1998 – Colin Doyle, Ontario Raiders
• 1997 – Jeff Wilfong, Boston Blazers
• 1996 – Darren Fridge, Boston Blazers
• 1995 – Charlie Lockwood, New York Saints
• 1994 – Tom Marachek – Philadelphia Wings
• 1993 – no award given
• 1992 – Derek Keenan, Buffalo Bandits
• 1991 – Gary Gait, Detroit Turbos

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