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BATINOVICH NAMED EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR

05/08/2006

The naming of the 2006 National Lacrosse League season award winners continues with the Executive of the Year Award. Portland Lumberjax Managing Partner Angela Batinovich wins the award for her efforts in successfully introducing the sport of professional lacrosse to Portland and the Pacific Northwest. The Lumberjax were not only winners on the floor, but in the stands, in the media and in the community.

Batinovich met the challenge of introducing professional indoor lacrosse to Portland with a sound business plan and lots of determination. Through an aggressive marketing campaign and consistent media coverage, the team drew an average of 8,322 fans per game to the Rose Garden for the regular season and playoffs. Batinovich also put an emphasis on local television and radio game broadcasts. The combined effects gave the Portland club a high level of visibility and local recognition in their first season. The on-floor product was just as good, as the expansion club surprised many in the league by posting an 11-5 record and winning the West Division regular season title. The team has created a buzz for professional indoor lacrosse in just its first season.

“Angela Batinovich and her staff were tremendous in their marketing, public relations, ticket sales and all aspects of the franchise”, said Commissioner Jim Jennings. “The results for the first season far exceeded everyone’s expectations. I’m pleased to announce Angela as the National Lacrosse League’s Executive of the Year for the 2006 season.”

In addition to her duties with the Lumberjax, Batinovich serves as a member of the league's expansion committee.

The Executive of the Year Award is voted on by the Governors and General Managers of the league’s eleven member clubs.

LEAGUE ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL TEAM EXECUTIVE AWARDS

The league has also announced the winners of the 2006 Team Executive Awards, which were created to honor those who work behind the scenes.

2006 Team Executive Awards:

Ticket Sales Executive of the Year - Donna Posner, Portland Lumberjax

Marketing Executive of the Year - Kim Uniat, Edmonton Rush

Operations Executive of the Year - Mitch Redshaw, Calgary Roughnecks

Sponsorships Executive of the Year - Lyn Maisonneuve, Calgary Roughnecks

Public Relations Executive of the Year - Craig Rybczynski, Rochester Knighthawks

Equipment Manager of the Year - Rick Ferguson, Arizona Sting

Athletic Trainer of the Year – Dr. Sherri Lashomb, Buffalo Bandits

The team executive awards are voted on by the Governors and General Managers of the league’s eleven member clubs. Members of the league media also vote on the Public Relations Executive of the Year Award.

SAL MAIORANA WINS ‘TOM BORRELLI AWARD’ AS WRITER OF THE YEAR

Rochester beat writer honored for coverage of Knighthawks and NLL

The winner of the Tom Borrelli Award presented to the Writer of the Year is Sal Maiorana of the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. Maiorana has served as the team’s beat writer for the Rochester daily newspaper since the Knighthawks began play in 1995 and is one of the leading journalists covering the National Lacrosse League.

“This is a great honor and comes from a league that I truly enjoy covering”, said Maiorana. “The players in this league are great guys to deal with from a media standpoint and the teams have treated us well.”

Maiorana covers lacrosse at all levels for the newspaper. He also covers the National Football League’s Buffalo Bills and golf for the Democrat and Chronicle.

The award is voted on by the Governors and General Managers of the league’s eleven member clubs, as well as by members of the league media. The award is named after Tom Borrelli, who covers the Buffalo Bandits and the NLL for the Buffalo News. Borrelli has covered the Bandits since the start of the franchise in 1992, and is the league’s most experienced journalist.

The award announcements continue tomorrow with the naming of the Edge Active Care Rookie of the Year and Edge Active Care All-Rookie Team.


2006 NLL Season Awards

Monday 5/1
Bowflex Sportsmanship Award
Sean Greenhalgh, Philadelphia Wings

Tuesday 5/2

Belmont.com Defensive Player of the Year (for a defenseman, non-goaltender)
Brodie Merrill, Portland Lumberjax

Wednesday 5/3

RBK Goaltender of the Year
Steve Dietrich, Buffalo Bandits

Thursday 5/4

"Les Bartley Award" for Head Coach of the Year
Derek Keenan, Portland Lumberjax

Friday 5/5

Vonage General Manager of the Year
Derek Keenan, Portland Lumberjax

Monday 5/8

Executive of the Year – Angela Batinovich, Portland Lumberjax

"The Tom Borrelli Award" for Writer of the Year - Sal Maiorana, Rochester Democrat & Chronicle

Ticket Sales Executive of the Year - Donna Posner, Portland Lumberjax

Marketing Executive of the Year - Kim Uniat, Edmonton Rush

Operations Executive of the Year - Mitch Redshaw, Calgary Roughnecks

Sponsorships Executive of the Year - Lyn Maisonneuve, Calgary Roughnecks

Public Relations Executive of the Year - Craig Rybczynski, Rochester Knighthawks

Equipment Manager of the Year - Rick Ferguson, Arizona Sting

Athletic Trainer of the Year – Dr. Sherri Lashomb, Buffalo Bandits

Tuesday 5/9

Edge Active Care Rookie of the Year
Edge Active Care All-Rookie Team

Wednesday 5/10

Dodge First and Second All-Pro Teams
Dodge First Team All-Pro
Dodge Second Team All-Pro

Thursday 5/11

Most Valuable Player Award
(End of award announcements)

Saturday 5/13

RBK NLL Championship Game presented by Edge Active Care, 6PM Eastern, live on ESPN2 and Fox Sports World Canada