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Philadelphia Names Tony Resch Head Coach; Other Recent News from the MLL and NLL Philadelphia Barrage Name Tony Resch Head Coach Philadelphia, PA (December 1, 2004) – The Philadelphia Barrage of Major League Lacrosse (MLL), the premier professional outdoor lacrosse league, introduced new Head Coach Tony Resch at a press conference at Villanova Stadium today. The Barrage also introduced new Local Operator Gary M. Holloway Sr. and General Manager Keith Mecca at the press conference and unveiled a new logo and color scheme. Resch brings to the Barrage a resume unparalleled in Philadelphia lacrosse. A member of the indoor Philadelphia Wings for 15 seasons as a player, assistant coach, and head coach, he was a part of all six league championships won by the Wings. As a head coach for eight seasons, Resch compiled a 59-27 regular season record and reached the playoffs eight straight years. He was even more impressive in the postseason, notching a 10-4 playoff record and winning four league titles. “I am ecstatic about being selected as the Head Coach of the Philadelphia Barrage," said Resch, whose .686 career winning percentage is the best mark in the history of the Philadelphia Wings. “I will draw on all of my experience coaching at the professional level to continue the winning tradition that has been established in Philadelphia.” Resch retired as head coach following the 2001 season, during which he won his fourth championship as bench boss and earned National Lacrosse League Coach of the Year honors. Though he took a position as Athletic Director at La Salle College High School, he was back behind the bench again soon. Resch joined the Colorado Mammoth midway through the 2003 season as associate coach and helped lead that squad to a division title. He earned his first MLL experience as an assistant coach with the Baltimore Bayhawks during the 2003 campaign, helping them to within an overtime loss of a second straight MLL title. Resch returned to Philadelphia and the Wings this past season as assistant coach and defensive coordinator. “We are very lucky to have such a proven coach as we do in Tony,” said Holloway. “He has the best credentials possible to guide the team to another MLL championship.” Before becoming the Wings’ head coach in 1994, Resch starred as a defensive specialist for six seasons in Philadelphia. He earned All-Star honors in 1991 and reach the championship four times, winning a pair of titles. Resch graduated from Yale University, where he was a two-time All-American and three-time All-Ivy League player. He also won a gold medal at the World Championships in Perth, Australia in 1990 as a member of Team USA. “He possesses a great combination of experience and character that will enable him to coach the Barrage to another championship,” added Mecca. “Considering his background, there was no reason to look at anyone else but Tony.” Resch takes over for Sal LoCascio, who retired and now serves as the director of sales for Warrior Lacrosse. LoCascio guided the Barrage to their most successful season in 2004, the team’s first campaign in Philadelphia after struggling on the field during three seasons in Bridgeport, Conn. The Barrage won the final five games of the regular season to finish 7-5 and secure the first playoff berth in team history. They then swept a pair of games at the 2004 New Balance Major League Lacrosse Championship Weekend, including a 13-11 victory over the Boston Cannons in the title game, to win the 2004 MLL Championship. The Barrage’s success didn’t go unnoticed when it came time for postseason awards. The team captured five of the eight honors handed out: Blake Miller was named Warrior Offensive Player of the Year; Nicky Polanco, Warrior Defensive Player of the Year; Greg Cattrano, Warrior Goalie of the Year (in addition to having already earned Bud Light Championship Weekend MVP); Ryan Boyle, Cascade Rookie of the Year; and LoCascio earned Warrior Coach of the Year. #### Mammoth Tickets on Sale This Saturday DENVER – Single-game tickets for the Colorado Mammoth’s 2005 season will go on sale this Saturday at 10 a.m., the club announced today. The Mammoth opens its season at home on New Year’s Day against the defending National Lacrosse League champion Calgary Roughnecks. A banner-raising ceremony to commemorate the Mammoth’s 2004 West Division title will precede the 7 p.m. game. Other highlights of the Mammoth’s home schedule include a second date with its bitter rival from Calgary on March 13, and one game each against West Division foes San Jose and Vancouver. The Mammoth’s lone East Division guest this season is Buffalo, led by three-time NLL most valuable player John Tavares. The Bandits, who lost to Calgary in the 2004 Champion’s Cup final, come to Pepsi Center on Jan. 22. The Mammoth will also host Anaheim and two games against Arizona. “The season is just a month away and we can’t wait to get back out on our home floor, in front of the best fans in lacrosse,” Mammoth general manager Steve Govett said. Colorado led the league in attendance last season, averaging 17,618 fans per home game with six sellouts. The Mammoth was 7-1 at Pepsi Center in 2004 and is 13-3 all time at home. Tickets will be available at the Pepsi Center box office, online at Ticketmaster.com, over the phone at 303.830.TIXS and at all Ticketmaster locations, including Foley’s, Christy Sports, Angelo’s CDs & More and Tower Records. Party Packs include four tickets, four hot dogs and four Coors for $39. Family Night includes four tickets, four hot dogs and four Pepsis for $39. Visit ColoradoMammoth.com for information and team updates. 2005 Colorado Mammoth Home Schedule Day Date Opponent Time Promotion Sat. Jan. 1 Calgary 7 p.m. Opening Night – Banner Raising Sat. Jan. 8 Arizona 7 p.m. Party Pack No. 1 Sat. Jan. 22 Buffalo 7 p.m. Party Pack No. 2 Sun. Feb. 13 Arizona 7 p.m. Family Night Thu. Feb. 24 San Jose 7 pm. Party Pack No. 3 Sun. Mar. 13 Calgary 1 p.m. Youth Day Sun. Mar. 20 Anaheim 10 a.m. Sun. April 3 Vancouver 7 p.m. Fan Appreciation Night #### Philadelphia Barrage Announce New Local Operator, GM, and Logo Philadelphia, PA (December 1, 2004) – The Philadelphia Barrage of Major League Lacrosse (MLL), the premier outdoor lacrosse league, introduced local businessman Gary M. Holloway Sr. as the new Local Operator of the MLL Champions at a press conference at Villanova Stadium today. The Barrage also introduced Keith Mecca, the team’s new General Manager, and unveiled a new logo and color scheme. Holloway, an alumnus of Malvern Prep and Villanova University, has roots in the area as both a successful businessman and benefactor to its thriving lacrosse community. He is a long-time supprter of the Villanova and Malvern lacrosse programs, and he has been a contributor to US Lacrosse. Holloway also sponsors a local summer league team that has won three straight championships and traveled to the annual Vail Shootout in Colorado. “I am very excited about this opportunity,” said Holloway. “The Philadelphia market has great potential and can become one of the strongest markets in Major League Lacrosse. The MLL has already proven to be a success, yet it shows a tremendous amount of room to grow. A national television contract with ESPN2, partnerships with well-known brands like New Balance and Tommy Hilfiger, and a plan for West Coast expansion in less than two years all point to the MLL’s incredible potential. “My vision is to help the league continue in that direction by making the Philadelphia Barrage a model organization.” Holloway purchased the local operating rights from Bridgeport Barrage Management Co., L.L.C., which brought the Barrage to Philadelphia prior to the 2004 season. In its first season in Philadelphia, the Barrage erased an 0-3 start and rattled off seven straight victories to capture the 2004 Major League Lacrosse Championship. Mecca, a graduate of Drexel University and Villanova Law School, also boasts ties to the local community. A former lacrosse player at Drexel and assistant lacrosse coach at Villanova, he has operated the summer league team sponsored by Holloway. Prior to joining the Barrage, Mecca represented professional athletes as an agent and financial advisor. “This is a great opportunity to continue the development of a winning organization, both on the field and off it,” said Mecca. “We look forward to delivering a championship effort by improving the fan experience and family atmosphere at games, while also making the Barrage the most effective marketing tool for our sponsors. “Additionally, defending the MLL title is paramount. Repeating a championship at the professional level in any sport has always been described as being harder than winning it the first time. However, I readily accept the challenge to become the MLL’s first ever back-to-back champs!” The press conference, which also featured the introduction of new Head Coach Tony Resch, concluded with the unveiling of the Barrage’s new logo and color scheme. Philadelphia’s new primary color is orange, complemented by a familiar navy blue. The orange, according to the organization, was inspired by successful collegiate lacrosse programs like Princeton, Virginia, and the defending champion Syracuse Orangemen. The new logo and colors will be featured on Barrage souvenirs, marketing materials, and uniforms. #### December 1, 2004 The following is a statement made today by NLL Commissioner Jim Jennings with respect to the status of the Vancouver Ravens franchise: "We are in the process of reviewing financials and other paperwork as part of the due diligence for the viability of the Vancouver Ravens to continue operations for the upcoming 2005 season. We are planning to conclude our due diligence on the Ravens no later than Tuesday, December 7th. This is the only comment we will make on the situation until our due diligence is completed." |
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