NLL Hall of Fame Prediction System

Remember the National Lacrosse League Hall of Fame?

It used to be a big deal when it was introduced in 2006. There was an annual ceremony up through 2016, with the number of inductees varying by year (from one to five). Then the process stopped until 2021, when eight players and two officials were picked. 

Was the HoF back in business? Not really. We didn't hear about it for five years. Then one nice June day in 2026, finalists in various categories were announced. Well, the league really needed to do a better job of saluting its past, and this is a vehicle that was sitting there waiting to be used. Let's hope the idea sticks this time.   

One time I tried to figure out who should be in the Hockey Hall of Fame. I gave two points for a first-team All-League selection, and one point for a second-team pick.The results were at least worthy of discussion. 
So how does the same formula do in indoor lacrosse? Let's find out.

Here's the all-time leaders with at least 10 points. An asterisk means that person is in the Hall of Fame, with the all-league teams going through 2026:

* John Tavares - 30
* Gary Gait - 29
* Jim Veltman - 21
* Paul Gait - 19
Matt Vinc - 19
* Dallas Eliuk - 16
Kyle Rubisch - 15
* Colin Doyle - 14
* John Grant Jr. - 14
Dan Dawson - 13
* Tom Marechek - 13
* Josh Sanderson - 12
Brodie Merrill - 12
Dhane Smith -11

All of these players are in the Hall or will be, it's safe to say.  So let's try the 6 to 9 range:

Shawn Evans - 9
* Bob Watson - 9
Mark Matthews - 8
Ryan Dilks - 8
* Tracey Kelusky - 7
* Casey Powell - 7
* John Tucker - 7
Graeme Hossack - 7
Mitch de Snoo - 7
Garrett Billings - 6
* Steve Dietrich - 6
* Sal LoCascio - 6
Mark Millon - 6
Rick Sowell - 6
Jeff Teat - 6

Most of these players will be strong candidates for induction. Millon left the NLL for the outdoor game, where he played five more years. That might hurt him here. Sowell made the all-pro team from 1990 to 1992, but was done playing in the indoor league after 1993.

Now for the rest:

5 – Tom Carmean, Anthony Cosmo, Callem Crawford, Zach Currier, Curtis Dickson, Rhys Duch, Connor Fields, Cody Jamieson, Jordan MacIntosh, Dave Pietramala, Gavin Prout, Challen Rogers, Lyle Thompson, Dillon Ward. 

4 – Ryan Benesch, Josh Byrne, Ryan Cousins, Joey Cupido, Ted Dowling, *Kevin Finneran, Owen Grant, Matt Hossack, Duane Jacobs,*Darris Kilgour, Steve Prioto, Lewis Ratcliff, Ted Sawicki, Frank Sigliano. 

3 – Jake Bergey, Aaron Bold, Roy Colsey, Kevin Crowley, Dane Dobbie, Jeff Jackson, Shayne Jackson, Doug Jamieson, Brad Kri, Blaine Manning, Gee Nash, Brian Nikula, *Pat O’Toole, Joe Resetarits, Nick Rose, Mark Steenhuis, *Shawn Williams

2 – Keegan Ball, Rob Blasdell, Sandy Chapman, John Conley, Chris Corbeil, *Pat Coyle, ChristianDel Bianco, Brett Dobson, John Fay, Jordan Hall, Rob Hellyer, Athan Iannucci, Adam Jones, Derek Keenan, Evan Kirk, Brad Kotz, Rob Martino, *Pat McCready, Ken Montour, Jim Moss, John Nastrant, Jason Noble, Ryan Painter, Nick Patterson,  Mike Poulin, Brad Self, Jeff Shattler, Corey Small, Billy Dee Smith, Tim Soudan, Andrew Suitor, Ryan Terefenko, *Steve Toll, Jake Withers, Cam Woods, Taylor Wray,

1 – Mike Accursi, Stu Aird, Mac Allen, Chris Bates, Don Borges, Toby Boucher, Mike Carnegie, Scott Carnegie, Craig Conn, Mike Cummings, Ryan Dilks, Matt Disher, Lindsay Dixon, Chris Driscoll, Jesse Gamble, Jeff Gilbert, Mike Grimes, Letrell Harris, Joe Hiltz, Evan Hope, Tim Hormes, Jay Jalbert, Callum Jones, Andrew Kew, Jeff Klodzen, Stephen Leblanc, Ryan Lee, Ian MacKay, Butch Marino, Ron Martinello, Dan MacRae, Kiel Matisz, Brandon Miller, Dan O’Neill, John Orsen, Matt Panetta, Mike Poulin, Steve Priolo, Joe Resetarits, Scott Self, Rob Shek, Geoff Snider, Kim Squire, Jeremy Thompson, Jay Thorimbert, Andrew Turner, Tim Welsh, Jeff Zywicki

0 - *Rich Kilgour, *Dan Stroup, *Regy Thorpe.

 

The five finalists for offensive players are: Dan Dawson (13), Shawn Evans (9), Jordan Hall (2), Jeff Shattler (2), and Mark Steenhuis (3). Three will make it, and the system picks Dawson, Evans and Steenhuis. Sounds about right. 

 

The three defensive nominees are Sandy Chapman (2); Billy Dee Smith (2), and Geoff Snider (1). Only one will make it. Looks like a close vote to me.

 

Finally, there are seven veterans up for selection; three will be inducted. In terms of all-league points, we have Mike Accursi (1), Jake Bergey (3), Glenn Clark (0), Duane Jacobs (4), Gavin Prout (5), Brian Voelker (0), and Cam Woods (2). Clark and Accursi get extra credit for coaching in the NLL, but I still think Bergey, Jacobs and Prout are the favorites. 

 

Meanwhile, Brodie Merrill probably is the biggest snub for this year's finalists. Maybe next time.