The 1999 National Lacrosse League season is the 13th season in the NLL that began on December 26, 1998, and concluded with the championship game on April 23, 1999. The Toronto Rock celebrated their first season in Toronto by winning the championship, defeating the Rochester Knighthawks 13–10 at Maple Leaf Gardens.

1999 NLL season
LeagueNational Lacrosse League
SportIndoor lacrosse
DurationDecember 26, 1998 – April 23, 1999
Number of games12
Number of teams7
Regular season
League championsToronto Rock
  Runners-upBaltimore Thunder
Season MVPGary Gait (Baltimore Thunder)
Top scorerGary Gait (Baltimore Thunder)
Champion's Cup
ChampionsToronto Rock
  Runners-upRochester Knighthawks
Finals MVPColin Doyle (Toronto)
NLL seasons

The playoffs featured the lowest score by a team in NLL history, when goaltender Bob Watson and the Toronto Rock defeated the Philadelphia Wings 13–2.

Team movement

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The only change of teams from the 1998 NLL season to 1999 was the movement of the Ontario Raiders from Hamilton down the QEW to Toronto to become the Toronto Rock.

Teams

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  National Lacrosse League Teams
1999 National Lacrosse League
Team City Arena Capacity
Baltimore Thunder Baltimore, Maryland Baltimore Arena 10,582
Buffalo Bandits Buffalo, New York Marine Midland Arena 18,595
New York Saints Uniondale, New York Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum 16,297
Philadelphia Wings Philadelphia, Pennsylvania First Union Center 19,519
Rochester Knighthawks Rochester, New York Blue Cross Arena 10,662
Syracuse Smash Syracuse, New York Onondaga County War Memorial 5,800
Toronto Rock Toronto, Ontario Maple Leaf Gardens 15,726

Regular season

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Reference: [1]

PTeamGPWLPCTGBHomeRoadGFGADiffGF/GPGA/GP

1Toronto Rockxyz1293.7500.06–03–3157139+1813.0811.58
2Baltimore Thunderx1284.6671.05–13–3211175+3617.5814.58
3Rochester Knighthawksx1284.6671.04–24–2169160+914.0813.33
4Philadelphia Wingsx1257.4174.04–21–5153153−-012.7512.75
5New York Saints1257.4174.02–43–3149156−712.4213.00
6Buffalo Bandits1248.3335.01–53–3158177−1913.1714.75
7Syracuse Smash1239.2506.03–30–6161198−3713.4216.50

x: Clinched playoff berth; c: Clinched playoff berth by crossing over to another division; y: Clinched division; z: Clinched best regular season record; GP: Games Played
W: Wins; L: Losses; GBGames back; PCT: Win percentage; Home: Record at Home; Road: Record on the Road; GF: Goals scored; GA: Goals allowed
Differential: Difference between goals scored and allowed; GF/GP: Average number of goals scored per game; GA/GP: Average number of goals allowed per game

All Star Game

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The 1999 All-Star Game took place at the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, where Team Canada defeated Team USA by a score of 25–24.

Playoffs

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Semifinals Championship
      
4 Philadelphia 2
1 Toronto 13
3 Rochester 10
1 Toronto 13
3 Rochester 14
2 Baltimore 12

Awards

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Award Winner Team
MVP Award Gary Gait Baltimore
Rookie of the Year Award Jesse Hubbard Baltimore
Championship Game MVP Colin Doyle Toronto

Weekly awards

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Each week, a player is awarded "Player of the Week" honours.

Week Player of the Week
1 Sal LoCascio
2 Matt Shearer
3 Gary Gait (tie)
Paul Gait
4 Joe Hiltz
5 Derek General
6 John Tavares
7 Jake Bergey
8 Gary Gait
9 Bob Watson
10 Jake Bergey
11 Dallas Eliuk
12 Jake Bergey
13 Pat O'Toole
14 Jim Veltman
15 Gary Gait
16 Paul Gait

Monthly awards

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Awards are also given out monthly for the best overall player and best rookie.

Month Overall Rookie
Jan Gary Gait Chris Sanderson
Feb Bob Watson Matt Disher
Mar Jake Bergey Casey Powell

Statistics leaders

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Bold numbers indicate new single-season records. Italics indicate tied single-season records.

Stat Player Team Number
Goals Gary Gait Baltimore 50
Assists Joe Hiltz Baltimore 46
Points Gary Gait Baltimore 82
Penalty Minutes Tony Millon Syracuse 59
Shots on Goal Gary Gait Baltimore 157
  Tom Marechek Philadelphia 157
Loose Balls Jim Veltman Toronto 166
Save Pct Dallas Eliuk Philadelphia 76.4

Attendance

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Regular Season

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Home Team Home Games Average Attendance Total Attendance[2]
Philadelphia Wings 6 16,040 96,237
Toronto Rock 6 11,075 66,451
Buffalo Bandits 6 9,638 57,829
Rochester Knighthawks 6 9,067 54,400
Baltimore Thunder 6 7,057 42,340
New York Saints 6 6,704 40,223
Syracuse Smash 6 4,546 27,277
League 42 9,161 384,757

Playoffs

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Home Team Home Games Average Attendance Total Attendance[2]
Toronto Rock 2 13,859 27,717
Baltimore Thunder 1 6,325 6,325
League 3 11,347 34,042

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "National Lacrosse League - 1999 Regular Season - Standings". NLL.com. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
  2. ^ a b "1999Season". nllstats.com. Retrieved 16 June 2023.