The National Lacrosse League weekly player awards swing east in Week Three as the Buffalo Bandits and Rochester Knighthawks took home all the awards. Bandits forward Mark Steenhuis was named the Overall and Offensive Player of the Week while Buffalo goaltender Steve Dietrich was named the Defensive Player of the Week. Both Bandits posted strong performances in Buffalo's 13-11 win over the Toronto Rock. Rochester Knighthawks rookie forward Shawn Evans earned rookie of the Week honors after netting three goals in a 14-9 Knighthawks win over Toronto.

Buffalo Bandits forward Mark Steenhuis took home both Offensive and Overall Player of the Week awards for Week Three. The fifth-year veteran constructed a nine point (5g, 4a) performance for the Bandits in 13-11 road win over the Toronto Rock. Steenhuis also collected nine loose balls in the contest and scored the final two goals for Buffalo, icing the win.

Buffalo Bandits goaltender Steve Dietrich has been named the Week Three Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in a 13-11 road win over the Toronto Rock. Dietrich amassed 56 saves for Buffalo and allowed 11 goals to secure the win for the Bandits. The fourteenth-year veteran also notched an assist and collected three loose balls in the contest.

Rochester Knighthawks forward Shawn Evans rounds out the Week Three awards earning Rookie of the Week honors. In his second NLL game, Evans scored three goals and collected two loose balls in Rochester's 14-9 home win over Toronto.

Week Three Award Winners

OVERALL & OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Mark Steenhuis (Buffalo) – (5G, 4A, 9Pts, 9 LB, GWG) scored five goals and added four assists for a total of nine points in a 13-11 win over Toronto. Steenhuis also collected nine loose balls and scored the game-winning goal.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Steve Dietrich (Buffalo) – (56 saves, 11GA, 1A, 3 LB) allowed eleven goals and recorded 56 saves in a 13-11 win at Toronto; also added one assist and picked up three loose balls.

ROOKIE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Shawn Evans (Rochester) – (3G, 3Pts, 2LB) scored three goals for three points and collected two loose balls in a 14-9 win over Toronto.

The Weekly Player Awards are determined by a vote of the General Managers & Head Coaches of the league's eleven member clubs.

* * * * * * * * * *

Bandits Steenhuis and Dietrich Named NLL Players of the Week

Buffalo, N.Y. (January 18, 2005) — The Buffalo Bandits announced today that Mark Steenhuis has been named the National Lacrosse League's Offensive and Overall Player of the Week and goaltender Steve Dietrich has been named Defensive Player of the Week for their performances against the Toronto Rock in Week 3.

Steenhuis notched a game high nine points (5G, 4A), scored the game-winning goal and collected nine loose balls in the season -opener last Friday in Toronto. In 16 games with the Bandits during the 2005 season, Steenhuis ranked third on the team in s coring with 62 points (34G, 28A).

Dietrich made 56 saves and earned an assist en route to Buffalo's 13-11 victory last Friday. The winner of the 2005 Goaltender of the Year Award, Dietrich was 9-4 with a 10.95 goals-against average in 14 games for Buffalo.

2006-01-19