The National Lacrosse League has announced four new members to be inducted into its Hall of Fame in 2007. The new inductees are former Philadelphia Wings player Tom Marechek; Darris Kilgour, head coach of the Buffalo Bandits; Mike French, Executive Vice President and Co-owner of the Wings; and Tom Borrelli, sports reporter for the Buffalo News.

"I'd like to congratulate our four newest Hall of Famers on this outstanding accomplishment", said NLL Commissioner Jim Jennings. "We have a great offensive player and champion in Tom Marechek; a championship caliber player and coach in Darris Kilgour; an individual in Mike French who has served the league throughout its existence and at every possible level, and a journalist who set the standard for covering our sport in Tom Borrelli. The Class of 2007 has a little bit of everything, and we look forward to inducting them into the Hall of Fame during the season."

Tom Marechek, Philadelphia Wings

Tom Marechek played twelve seasons (1994-2005) in the league, all with the Wings. Marechek retired at the end of the 2005 season as the league's third all-time leading scorer with 773 points on 399 goals and 374 assists. Marechek added 69 post season points on 23 goals and 46 assists and led the Wings to four championships during his career. The Wings retired Marechek's #42 on February 18, 2006, making him only the third NLL player in history to have his jersey number retired. Marechek earned eight All-Pro selections in his twelve seasons. He was named First Team All-Pro five times (1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001) and Second Team All-Pro three times (1995, 1998, 2003). Marechek was the sixth overall pick of the 1992 Entry Draft.

Darris Kilgour, Buffalo Bandits

Darris Kilgour was the first player ever drafted by the Buffalo Bandits, selected in 1991. He played nine seasons (1992-2000) in the league, eight of which he played for the Bandits. Kilgour scored 312 points on 144 goals and 168 assists. He added 61 post season points on 26 goals and 35 assists, and played on all three of Buffalo's championship teams (1992, 1993, 1996), including the only team to go undefeated in league history (1993 Bandits, 10-0). Kilgour was named First Team All-Pro in 1998 and Second Team All-Pro twice during his career (1992, 1997). Following retirement from his playing career after the 2000 season, Kilgour has made the transition from winning player to winning head coach. From 2001 to the present, Kilgour has coached his teams in to the playoffs in all six of his seasons behind the bench. Afer a pair of seasons in Washington, Kilgour returned home to coach the Bandits in 2003. In those four seasons, the Bandits have a 42-22 regular season record and two appearances in the championship game. Kilgour has quickly risen to fourth on the league's all-time coaching wins list with 66.

Mike French, Philadelphia Wings

Mike French started with Philadelphia Wings as a player in 1987. He has been with the organization through each of its 20 seasons, serving as a player, coach, general manager and his current position as Executive Vice President and Co-Owner. As a player, French led the league in goals during the league's inaugural season, scoring 14 goals in 1987 (six-game regular season). French went from player to General Manager in 1988, and presided over the start of the Wings dynasty. In his seven seasons as GM, Philadelphia went 33-17 in the regular season and 7-2 in the postseason, winning three championships (1989, 1990 & 1994). His duties with the team included a brief coaching stint in 1994, and a role as team advisor. Equally successful as a businessman, French ascended to the position of Co-Owner and Executive VP of the team in 1998, the first and only player in league history to own a significant piece of a league franchise.

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2006-09-06