PHILADELPHIA, May 25, 2023 – The National Lacrosse League (@NLL), the largest and most successful professional lacrosse property in the world, today announced the winners of the Transition Player of the Year, Goaltender of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year.
Zach Currier, 28, (Peterborough, ON) becomes the fourth player to win back-to-back Transition Player of the Year awards, joining Challen Rogers, Jordan MacIntosh, and Brodie Merrill, and the fifth player to win twice (Joey Cupido in 2015 and 2018). This season, Currier finished with 15 goals, 18 assists, 228 loose ball recoveries (second in the NLL), 43 caused turnovers (second in NLL) and 18 blocked shots. Currier, one of the most consistent players in the NLL on any given night, finished the 2021-22 campaign with similar numbers with 10 goals, nine assists, 237 loose ball recoveries, 62 caused turnovers and 11 blocked shots.
Christian Del Bianco, 25 (Coquitlam, BC) is taking home his first Goaltender of the Year trophy. He is the first Calgary goaltender to win the award since Mike Poulin in 2012. Del Bianco finished the season with the best save percentage among goalies with at least 120 minutes played and finished fourth in total saves. His 9.28 goals against average was second to Nick Rose, the only two players with a sub-10 goals against average. With Del Bianco in net, he helped lead Calgary to a franchise best 13-5 record, playing a league record 1080:19 minutes between the pipes. He is also a finalist for the Most Valuable Player award with the winner announced shortly.
Latrell Harris, 25, (St. Catharines, ON) makes it back-to-back seasons for the Rock taking this award, with teammate Mitch de Snoo winning last season. Among defenseman, he led the league in points with 30 on 10 goals and 20 assists. He is the fourth member of the Rock to win the award, joining de Snoo, Sandy Chapman and Pat Coyle. Harris finished the season with 108 loose ball recoveries, 24 caused turnovers, 10 blocked shots and only committing four penalty minutes on the team that allowed a league low, 9.11 goals per game.
Below are the all-time winners of the Transition Player of the Year Award
Below are the all-time winners of the Goaltender of the Year Award
Below are the all-time winners of the Defensive Player of the Year Award
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About the National Lacrosse League
The National Lacrosse League (NLL) is North America’s premier professional lacrosse league. Founded in 1986, the NLL is comprised of 15 franchises across the United States and Canada: Albany FireWolves, Buffalo Bandits, Calgary Roughnecks, Colorado Mammoth, Georgia Swarm, Halifax Thunderbirds, Las Vegas Desert Dogs, New York Riptide, Panther City Lacrosse Club (TX), Philadelphia Wings, Rochester Knighthawks, San Diego Seals, Saskatchewan Rush, Toronto Rock, and Vancouver Warriors.
For more information, visit NLL.com and find the NLL on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.
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Media inquiries contact:
Ryan Ireland, NLL, rireland@nll.com, 303-902-3373