Georgia Swarm’s Randy Staats earns second Rookie award
Oakville, ON – The National Lacrosse League has announced Toronto Rock forward Rob Hellyer as the Player of the Month and Georgia Swarm forward Randy Staats as Rookie of the Month for April of the 2016 NLL season.
Hellyer posted 38 points during the month with 16 goals and 22 assists in six games played. He finished fourth in NLL scoring this year with 113 points, which marked the second-highest total in Rock single-season history. Hellyer also ranked tied for second in the league in assists (68) and fifth in goals (45).
The 23-year-old, already in his sixth NLL season, recorded at least three points in all 18 of his games played including 13 games with five or more points. Hellyer scored at least a hat trick in nine games and had 14 multi-goal performances. His 88 loose ball recoveries were 12th-most among all forwards and he also led the league in power play assists (29).
From Lion’s Head, Ont., Hellyer was Toronto’s third-round selection (30th overall) in the 2010 NLL Draft. Last year, he registered 90 points (31+59) in just 14 games played after a 79-point campaign in 2014.
Staats, who made history by breaking the NLL single-season rookie record for both points (95) and assists (59), led all players in points (43) and assists (30) in April and ranked second among rookies in goals (13) in six games played.
Over the course of the month, Staats posted four games with at least seven points and posted a season-high nine points (2+7) in a 16-9 victory against New England on April 15. Georgia finished April with a 4-2 record to earn a postseason berth and a trip to New England to face the Black Wolves in the East Division Semifinal.
The 23-year-old from Six Nations, Ont. played collegiately at Syracuse University, was Georgia’s first-round (6th overall) selection in the 2015 NLL Draft. Staats was a Tewaaraton Trophy finalist in 2014 and two-time NJCAA Player of the Year at Onondaga C.C. in 2012 and 2013. He won his second Rookie of the Month award after previously earning the honor in January.
The NLL Monthly Player Awards are determined by a vote of the league’s general managers and head coaches.
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