Hamilton Nationals - 2 pointers

Kevin Crowley Highlights 2013

Know Your Nationals - Mike Poppleton

Mike Poppleton has established himself as the top faceoff man on the Hamilton Nationals this season. The former 34th overall pick out of Johns Hopkins University has played in nine games for the Nationals this season. He made his debut on June 1st against the Chesapeake Bayhawks, and scored his first MLL goal the following week against the New York Lizards. On Saturday, August 10^th, he broke the team record for faceoff wins in a game, after winning 24 against the Denver Outlaws. Nationals Digital Media Coordinator had the chance to sit down with Mike to talk about his lacrosse career.

Becca Luden: So how did you get into lacrosse?

Mike Poppleton: I first got into lacrosse in sixth grade. It was probably around fifth grade when my dad just bought a lacrosse stick. I think he just went to Dicks Sporting Goods and I think it was actually a woman’s lacrosse stick. He bought one or two, and at that time, my brother and I we were playing baseball. We went in the backyard and messed around with these sticks. It wasn’t until seventh grade when I was tired of staying out in the outfield that I decided to make the switch from baseball to lacrosse.

BL: What is your greatest accomplishment in Lacrosse?

MP: Probably playing for a program like Johns Hopkins. I was fortunate enough to have a really good high school career and I was able to commit and play lacrosse at Hopkins after my junior year. It was an awesome feeling. I loved the campus, I loved the school and I loved Coach “Petro” (Dave Pietramala). Just to play at a school, with so much tradition and so many great players, was definitely my greatest accomplishment and that’s what I love about it.

BL: Awesome. So who is your athletic motivation?

MP: I would probably just say my dad. He’s always motivated me in terms of work ethic and to do well in school, and to always put in your best effort. He instilled in me the competitiveness. It always helps growing up with an older brother to play games with and try and beat one another. So it’s between my family, my dad and my brother. They are definitely the two that made me who I am today.

BL: So are you guys still really close then?

MP: Yeah, my brother is three years older than me. He never played lacrosse. He played baseball and hockey growing up. I played hockey also. Everything from ping pong to shooting basketballs outside to you name it. We were competitive and it definitely helped out. You can see it translate over to the lacrosse field.

BL: That’s always a good thing to have …So do you have any weird superstitions?

MP: I don’t do anything weird. I do something like if I tape my stick a certain way or if I eat something before a game. I usually have a good game or if I have a good game I’ll always do it the next time too. So I’m superstitious that way, but I’m not tying my right shoe first before my left shoe or anything like that I’m not that superstitious.

BL: Haha. Alright, so then how do you prepare for a game?

MP: Usually just try to relax, try to get mentally prepared. For faceoffs you have to be calm and relaxed because if you’re too amped up before a draw, I’ve come to realize, that it never ends very well. So obviously stay away from all the energy drinks and stuff that makes you real nervous. You know that gets you real fidgety. You just have to be relaxed. Usually it’s just getting your mind right. Getting stretched out properly and then going out there and doing it. So, it’s not too much preparation.

BL: What is a song on your iPod that you wouldn’t want people to know about?

MP: Let me think about that. I would have to say just faceoff whistles. If you asked me like four years ago, I could give you a song. Ever since my laptop got stolen in my sophomore year, I don’t have any music on my iPod. I only have Pandora. So Pandora is my go to. Which station would I be embarrassed about? I have Michael Buble station. When I get lonely, I’ll listen to that. But that’s probably the most embarrassing station I would have on my Pandora.  I’m proud of it though.

BL:  Haha. As long as you’re proud of it! What’s your favorite movie?

MP: You know any movie that Denzel Washington is in? “Man on Fire”, “American Gangster”. You know I’m just a big fan of Denzel Washington. I just love and enjoy any movie that he’s in, so any movie that he’s in it’s got my attention.

BL: Alright, good choices. So what Ninja Turtle are you most like?

MP: That’s tough, which one is the one that eats a lot.

BL: Michelangelo

MP: He’s the orange one. Alright, so I need to go back and watch the “Ninja Turtle” episodes. I’d definitely say Michelangelo then. I’m always hungry and in the mood to eat. So, you know he’s my guy.

BL: Good choice. What social media network do you use the most?

MP: I would say Instagram. I just got an account probably half a year ago and I’ve always been a picture guy. I go on Facebook for pictures. I’ll go on Twitter for pictures for the most part. A picture’s worth a thousand words. I think that’s how the saying goes. I like pictures, so Instagram is right up my alley. I try and follow as many people as I know to get as many pictures as I can.

Nationals Notes - Playoff Edition

The Hamilton Nationals finished the regular season in a tie for second place in Major League Lacrosse (9-5), and will now meet the defending champion Chesapeake Bayhawks (9-5) in the MLL Semifinals. The Nationals will take on the Bayhawks on August 24th at 4:00 p.m.

The winner will advance to the Championship Game that will play Sunday at 3:00 p.m. The other semifinal features the Denver Outlaws (14-0) and the Charlotte Hounds (7-7). Championship Weekend, presented by Smartlink, will take place at PPL Park in the Philadelphia Area Saturday, August 24th through Sunday, August 25th. Tickets for the two day event are available at www.majorLeagueLacrosse.com/championship-weekend or by calling ComcastTix at 1-800-298-4200.

 

On Saturday, the Nats concluded the regular season with an 18-12 loss to the Denver Outlaws. Kevin Crowley led the Nationals with a six-point performance, including his third two-pointer of the season. Crowley finished with the season 55 points, which tied him for the league lead with Denver’s Chris Bocklet, who had a five-point performance on Saturday.

 

Crowley’s first goal of the game came at 8:13 in the first quarter, which would tie not only the game at 2, but also the team record for points in a regular season. The record was set in 2009, but Merrick Thompson. Joe Walters had a four-point game, putting in two goals and adding two helpers to move his point streak to 26 games. Walters led the MLL this season with 26 assists.

 

Although Kevin Cunningham had a three-point performance, his team record assist streak came to an end. The streak ended at nine games, which broke the previous record (8) set by Joe Walters. Rookie Mike Poppleton won 24 face offs Saturday, which also set a new team record, breaking Matt Dolente’s mark of 23 set in 2012.

 

This season, the Nationals have put in a total of 10 two-point goals, doubling last year’s total.

 

Two-point goals in 2013:         

• Kevin Crowley: 3
• Garrett Thul: 3 
• Martin Cahill: 2 
• MJ Kiekebelt: 1
• John Austin: 1

HALFTIME - Nationals vs Denver

Denver’s leading scorer Chris Bocklet found the back of the net to start off the scoring and give the outlaws the 1-point lead. Bocklet’s goal was his 39^th this season, to set a new team record for Denver. Hamilton’s Jordan Hall put the Nationals on the board at 4:59 in the first. Kevin Crowley answered Eric Law’s goal, but the Outlaws went on a 2-goal streak for 3 points to end the first quarter up by 3.

Denver opened up the second with a goal from Chris Bocklet to bring the goal streak into the second. The Nationals had over a 15 minute long drought before Joe Walters found the back of the net. At the end of the first half the Outlaws are up 11 to 4.

Within the first half Mike Poppleton won 10 of 15 face offs for the Nationals.

NHL pre season schedule released

The National Hockey League has released the pre season schedule for the 2013-2014 season.  The 16 days of pre-season will begin on September 14^th in Belleville when Washington will face off against Winnipeg in Belleville Ontario. NHL’s pre-season games will end on the 29^th of September as the regular season begins on October first.

The first night of the regular season will feature the Toronto Maple leafs in Montreal to take on their rival. The Capitals will take on the defending Stanley Cup Champions in Chicago, while the oilers host the jets.

For the Full season click here.

Know Your Nationals - Garrett Thul

Garrett Thul, the West Point product, was drafted in the third round by the Hamilton National. Thul had a career high night against the Boston Cannons on July 27^th, collecting six points from his five goals. This season, he has 13 points (10+3+0) in just five games. He made his MLL debut in Denver on June 8th, putting in three goals against the Outlaws. Hamilton Nationals Digital Media Coordinator Becca Luden had a chance to sit down with Garrett and talk about his lacrosse career.

How did you get started in lacrosse?

Actually I had a mentor. He’s 10 years older than I and is my dad’s brother’s son. He ended up going to West Point and was captain of the lacrosse team. He got me into lacrosse and I started playing when I was in second grade in a program for third and fourth graders. So, I started pretty early I guess. It was mostly because of the guy that I like idolized.

Did you play any sports other than lacrosse?

I played football for a little bit.

What has been your greatest accomplishment in your lacrosse career?

I’d say from a team perspective, beating Navy five times in my career. I never lost to Navy when I was at Army. My class, my senior class, is the only class in West Point lacrosse history to go undefeated against Navy.

How do you prepare for a game, do you have any weird superstitions at all?

I always do the same eye black on my face. It’s really the only thing that I can think of. I used to have a bunch of superstitions when I was younger, but they take too much energy so I just kind of do whatever.

What is your favorite part about coming to Canada?

It’s gotta be the postgame poutine.

So is there like no poutine in the States?

I’ve heard of poutine before, but I don’t know a single place in the States that sells poutine. I think I’m just going to open up a poutine stand in New Jersey or New York.

If you had a super power which one would it be and why?

That’s a good question. I don’t know if I really ever thought about that before. I’m probably going to go with the typical meat head response and go super strength. You could lift anything and knock anything down that’d be pretty badass.

Haha. That would definitely be pretty awesome. So what song is on your I-pod that you wouldn’t want people to know about?

I love all sorts of like really corny 90’s pop music. Like, it’s the best. I have SirusXM and I always have it on 99.9 and jamming to Hanson and I don’t even remember the names of half the bands, but they’re boy band songs.

So NSYNC or Backstreet Boys?

I’m going to have to go with NSYNC on that one.

What celebrity do people tell you that you look like the most?

I don’t know the actors name, but Cameron from "Ferris Bueller's Day Off".

Oh yah, I can see that for sure.

Yeah, I just don’t have a Detroit Red Wings jersey to make it perfect.

What is your favorite Disney movie?

I was just looking through my video cabinet and I saw a ton of them. But you can’t really go wrong with “Aladdin” or “Lion King”.

So how many Disney movies do you have?

Well, I have the standard collection; I have a sister so we’ve got like all of them

So you just blame your sister?

I’ll fess up to about half of them. I don’t know the exact number of how many though.

If you were to go on the show the “Amazing Race”, who from the team would you want to be your partner, and why?

That’s tough. Everybody’s got some good qualities for that. I’d probably have to go with Durkin.

Why?

He’s just an animal. I think we would tear it up. Two big meat sticks destroying everyone else.

Yah, I think you guys could probably win.

I think we would definitely win.

Hamilton Nationals - News and Notes

The Hamilton Nationals fell just short of clinching the No. 2 seed, losing 14-11 this past weekend to the Charlotte Hounds. The Nationals recently clinched their third playoff berth in team history and will be on their way to Major League Lacrosse’s Championship Weekend in Philadelphia onAugust 24th.

Kevin Crowley led the team with five points (3+1+1), moving him just one away from the team record of 50 that was set in 2009 by Merrick Thompson. Crowley is tied for second in the MLL in points with Boston’s Paul Rabil at 49.

Crowley opened up the scoring Saturday night with his second two-pointer of the season, which would be the first of three for the Nationals. Other two-pointers came from Martin Cahill and Rookie Garrett Thul. Thul currently has three two pointers this season, which is just one away from the Nationals all- time leaders John Grant Jr. and Joe Walters. The Nationals have put in a total of eight two-pointers this season compared to 2012 when they had a total of five.

Stephen Keogh was back on the active roster for Saturday’s night contest. Keogh, who’s last game was on June 29^th, scored one goal for the Nationals. This season he has played a total of eight games, collecting 20 points (16+4). 

Rookie Kevin Cunningham set a new team record for consecutive games with an assist at nine games. Joe Walters held the previous record with eight, which he set in 2009. Cunningham is currently ranked second in the league with assists just behind Joe Walters. Cunningham will be one the eight Nationals to head to the US National Team tryouts later this month.

The Nationals (9-4) will be back at home Saturday for a 3:00 p.m. game against the undefeated Denver Outlaws (13-0). For tickets call 905-525-NATS (6287).

Nationals vs Hounds Game Recap

The Hamilton Nationals and Charlotte Hounds had quite the dogfight tonight, falling 14-11. Although the Nationals were unable to clinch the No. 2 seed, Charlotte did, however, clinch its first ever playoff berth.

Kevin Crowley’s five-point performance wasn’t enough to keep the Hounds at bay, as Charlotte’s Matt Danowski notched six goals and seven points. Crowley put in four points in the first half, three of which came in the first quarter. He started off the Nationals with a two-point goal, which was the second of his career. Crowley extended his team record point streak to 28 games.

Rookie Garrett Thul followed Crowley with another two-point goal for the Nationals. Thul was coming off a career best five-goal, six-point effort on July 27th. Also in the first, Kevin Cunningham and Joe Walters would score for the Nationals. Walters extended his point streak to 25 games.

Martin Cahill would score the lone goal for the Nationals in the second, which would be the fourth two-point goal of the contest and the third for Hamilton. Danowski would keep the Hounds and Nationals tied at the end of the first half with two goals in the second quarter.

Stephen Keogh and Cunningham connected for a Nationals’ goal to give Hamilton a 10-9 lead to start the third quarter. Cunningham’s assist set a new team record for consecutive games with an assist, as he reached nine games. The record was originally set by current teammate Joe Walters. Although the Nationals opened the scoring, the Hounds responded with three straight goals to give them a 12-10 lead heading into the fourth and final quarter. 

Jake Tripucka (three goals) continued the Hounds’ goal-scoring streak in the fourth with his second goal of the game before Crowley would break the streak and cut the Hounds lead to two points. Ryan Young put in his third of the game to end the fourth and give the Hounds a 14-11 win over Hamilton. 

The Nationals (9-4) will conclude the regular season on Saturday, August 10th when they face off against the No. 1 seeded Denver Outlaws at 3:00 p.m. For tickets, call the Nationals ticket office at 905-525-NATS (6287).

Nationals vs Hounds - Halftime

Kevin Crowley opened up the scoring with a two pointer, which would be his second of the season as well as the second of his career in order to take his game point streak to 28 games.Also in the first, Rookie Garrett Thul connected with Joe Walters for his third two-pointer of his career. Out of the eight two-point goals for the Nationals this season, Thul has put in three of them. Walters would also find the back of the net as well as Kevin Cunningham. Crowley would put one more in to finish the Nationals scoring throughout the first. As for Charlotte, Matt Danowski put in three for a hat trick early on in the game to keep the Nationals within reach of the Nationals, as Jake Tripucka would tie the score at 7 to end the first quarter.

Danowski gave the Hounds their first lead of the game with his fourth goal of the game, which came almost 7 minutes into the second. A long drought for both teams, until National's Martin Cahill ripped one from behind the arc for two. Cahill's goal would be answered shortly after by Danowski who would put in his fifth of the game to bring the game to a tie once again. 

Ending the first half Kevin Crowley is just three points away from the team record for points in a season that was set in 2009 by Merrick Thompson. The standard currently sits at 50 points. Both Crowley and Walters have extended their game point streaks. After Boston's loss earlier today, Charlotte could clinch their first ever playoff spot with a win over Hamilton. Goalie Brett Queener stopped a total of 8 shots within the first half to hit the 500 mark.