Ontario Raiders(NLL) /97
Ontario Raiders Named as Seventh NLL Team
September 18, 1997 HAMILTON -- The National Lacrosse Leagues first Canadian entry, the Ontario Raiders were announced today at a press conference luncheon at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario, where the team will be playing beginning on January 3rd, 1998. Team owner Chris Fritz, who was on hand for the announcement, said We felt very strongly about bringing the first Canadian team into the National Lacrosse League and felt that Ontario was the best place with the best indoor lacrosse talent available. We are proud to have been chosen as the site for Ontarios team and look forward to playing at Copps Coliseum. Name/Colours: The Raiders, whose team colours will be black, red, gold, and white will play a seven home-seven away schedule, with games scheduled against the Baltimore Thunder,Boston Blazers, Buffalo Bandits, New York Saints, Philadelphia Wings, Rochester Knighthawks and Syracuse Smash. General Manager/Coach: St.Catharines native John Mouradian, who was the Major Indoor Lacrosse Leagues former Director of Lacrosse Operations, was named as the teams General Manager. Mouradian was also the General Manager for the Buffalo Bandits from 1992 to 1994 and brings over 20 years of indoor lacrosse experience to the new team. He is also the coach for the Canadian National (Field) Lacrosse Team. The Raiders have hired the services of Les Bartley to serve as Head Coach. Bartley was the former Head Coach of the Buffalo Bandits, posting an overall record of 37-16 and leading the team to four World Championship appearances and three MILL titles. Bartley has the distinction of having the second longest tenuer of any MILL coach (five years). Ed Comeau of Hamilton will serve as Assistant Coach. A graduate of McMaster, he will assist Bartley and Mouradian with coaching and administrative duties.
Ontario Raiders Named as Seventh NLL Team
NLL Announces Expansion Stocking Plan The National Lacrosse League recently announced its plans to assist the Leagues two expansion teams in Syracuse and Ontario roster-building process. The Raiders will initially be allowed to protect eight local players for their 1998 roster. These local players are categorized as players who were not part of a 1997 MILL team roster. Mouradian and Bartley named their eight players that they will submit to the NLL office tomorrow. They are: Name Ht Wt. Hometown Mike Accursi 5'11 175 St.Catharines Brian Beis 6'5" 190 Brampton Rob Blasde 6'0" 200 Huntsville Colin Doyle NA NA Kitchener Dean Harrison 6'2" 205 Elora Jim Veltman 6'3" 180 Brampton Bob Watson 6'0" 190 Guelph Shawn Williams 5'11" 195 Scarborough Fans will recognize Veltman as a MILL All Pro for the Buffalo Bandits. Veltman will be returning after an eighteen month assignment stint in Uganda doing missionary work. Because he was not listed on a MILL roster in 1997, the Bandits were not eligible to protect him. Second, the Raiders will participate in a three-round western based Canadian player draft with Syracuse. The Raiders won a coin toss recently conducted at the League's headquarters and have chosen to draft first. Third, the Raiders will be allowed to draft up to four non-protected players from last seasons MILL rosters. Former MILL teams were allowed to protect 14 players from last seasons rosters leaving a pool of 8-9 per team that the Smash and the Raiders may choose from. If the Raiders elect not to select any unprotected players, they will receive extra suplemental draft picks prior to the leagues Entry Draft. Finally, the Raiders will receive the fourth pick in each round of the NLLs Nine Round Entry Draft to be held September 23rd.
Team Try-out Site & Schedule Per NLL guidelines, the Raiders will conduct a two day tryout camp at the end of October. Participation in tryouts will be determinded by the Raiders Coach and General Manager. The camp will take place at Soccer City located in Etobicoke, Ont on Saturday, October 25th and Sunday October 26th from 10am-Noon and 2-4pm both days. Tryout camps will be open to the public. Directions to the facility are available by calling the Raiders office or Soccer City directly at (416) 626-5100. The Raiders will open their pre-season pactice schedule in mid-November. Exact locations and times will be announced at a later date, but the team plans to conduct practices at different locations with the province including Kitchener, Whitby and Mississauga. The teams primary practice facility will be the Lake Mount Sports World located in Grimsby, Ontario. The team will practice once per week during the regular season. Exact days and times will be announced at a later date.
Raiders Schedule & Ticket Information 1998 Raiders Regular Season Schedule Sat Jan/3 Rochester at Ont. Raiders Copps Coliseum Sat Jan/17 Raiders at Baltimore Baltimore Arena Sat Jan/18 Raiders at Boston Fleet Center Sat Jan/24 New York at Ont. Raiders Copps Coliseum Fri Jan/30 Raiders at Philadelphia CoreStates Center Sat Feb/7 Raiders at Rochester War Memorial Fri Feb/13 Raiders at New York Nassau Coliseum Sat Feb/21 Buffalo at Ont. Raiders Copps Coliseum Sat Feb/29 Philadelphia at Ont. Raiders Copps Coliseum Sat Mar/7 Syracuse at Ont. Raiders Copps Coliseum Fri Mar/13 Baltimore at Ont. Raiders Copps Coliseum Fri Mar/27 Raiders at Syracuse On Center Sat Apr/4 Boston at Ont. Raiders Copps Coliseum Sat Apr/11 Raiders at Buffalo Marine Midland Season Tickets Fans may begin to make season ticket deposits Monday, September 22nd by stopping by the Copps Colisuem box office during the normal business hours of 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM. An initial deposit of $50 per seat will be required to hold Raiders season tickets. Raiders Season Ticket Package will include the following benefits: Priority Seating for 7 home games. Discount over single game ticket prices. First right to your seat for post season playoff games hosted by the Raiders. First right to renew your seat or upgrade opportunities for the 1999 season. 1998 Raiders Ticket Prices Level Season Single Game Group VIP $189 $28 $25 2nd $161 $24 $21 3rd $133 $20 $17 4th $105 $16 $13 The following ticket price includes admission to games, Capital Improvement, Fund fees and all taxes.
Ontario Raiders Front Office Operation The Raiders will operate a front office operation located at Copps Coliseum. The office will officially open on October 1st, 1997 and will operate Monday through Friday between the hours of 9am and 5pm. Fans may visit the office by entering Copps Coliseum from the Bay Street side of the building (next the the Box Office). Additional details including the teams phone and fax numbers will be announced at a later date. Don Edwards joins the Raiders as Vice-President, Marketing from the CFLs Hamilton TiCats where he was Director of Corporate Sales. A native of Hamilton, Edwards brings over 5 years of sports marketing and sales experience to the Raiders where he will oversee daily operations of the teams front office in addition to developing corporate sponsors, local promotions and season/group ticket sales campaigns. Edwards career was spectacular with the Tiger Cats as he was able to secure marketing arrangements with major companies such as Fuji Photo and Films, Michelin Tires, McDonalds in addition to local companies as Kelseys Restaurants, Pioneer Petroleum and Royal Mattress. Edwards is 38 years old and resides in Ancaster with his wife Debra.