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Minnesota Swarm Sign Eric Perkins

January 11, 2007

Every Wednesday during the season, NLL Vice President of Communications, Doug Fritts , holds a conference call amongst the coaches of teams playing in the upcoming weekend.

The top link leads to the conference and the bottom link leads to more content. Each game is covered and the Swarm v. Shamrox game is last starting about 55:30 into the call and lasting eight or nine minutes. The top link sends you to quicktime but you can copy and paste the url into Windows Media and listen if you want. It may take a few minutes until you can advance to the Swarm v. Shamrox talk.

Both head coaches, Duane Jacobs of the Swarm and Jamie Batley of the Shamrox are interviewed by Fritts and various members of the media. Howard Green, the Swarm's broadcaster for B2 games represented the Minnesota media.

To summarize, but listen to their conversation and why not listen to the whole thing:

  • Jacobs was asked about the lack of practice time the Swarm have had. He said it may leave the Swarm at a bit of a disadvantage but they have to immediately be ready to play and shake off any rust on Saturday. He also mentions that the Shamrox have been running together weekly and with last week's game under the belt, it can do nothing but help the Shamrox.
  • There will be a full-team practice on Friday night. Everyone will be there; however, he didn't mention where it would be. I sure hope it is at Corner Kick. My hunch it will be since the X has the World Championship I.C.E. Racing that night. Now, we just have to find a time.
  • Both coaches commented on each other's team youth with Batley giving the nod in experience to the Swarm.
  • Both believe the Swarm will run more offensive schemes and be much better on the power play this year with Duane coaching in comparison with Adam Mueller. However, both note that much shouldn't change.
  • Duane was asked if he was related to the Shamrox' s Cody Jacobs. Duane says Cody is a distant relative who he doesn't know personally; however, he is familar with Cody's parents and grandparents.
  • Finally, Duane Jacobs mentioned a new player for the Swarm. His name is Ashton McLean, 24, a lefhtanded forward. Jacobs didn't elaborate any more on McLean and McLean is not yet listed on the NLL transaction page as being signed. With McLean being mentioned, Shawn Summerfield may not be returning after the Shamrox game on Saturday. That is speculation on my part. McLean attended Elmira College where he played lacrosse and hockey. In his senior season in 2006 in lacrosse, McLean scored 19 goals in 9 games. McLean has played the last three summers in the OLA Major Series with the Brooklin Redmen. He played junior lacrosse with the Toronto Beaches as a teammate of Ryan Cousins. He was drafted in the 2nd Round, 22nd overall, by the Rochester Knighthawks in the 2006 Entry Draft. He signed with the Knighthawks on November 27th, 2006 but was subsequently released on December 14th, 2006. If indeed McLean is signed by the Swarm, that would give us seven lefthanded forward. Possibly, Jacobs is trying to gain more speed and more players to play transition even though I don't know if McLean fits that bill. He has size at 6'2" 215 and according to his stats, he knows his way to the penalty box. With Brooklin, McLean probably didn't get many opportunities on offense with teammates like Shawn Williams, Gavin Prout, Mike Accursi and Mike Hominuck scoring goals.

    From Bible of Lacrosse 

     ASHTON McLEAN

       BORN: JUNE 28, 1982, TORONTO, ONTARIO 
                                   
       HT. 6'2"         WT. 215 LB.          SHOOTS - LEFT
                                                               
                         REGULAR SEASON                        PLAYOFFS
                         --------------                        --------
    YEAR     TEAM     LEAGUE     GP  G    A  PTS  PIM  -    GP G   A  PTS PIM
    ---- ------------ ------     --  --  ---  ---  ---  -  -- -- --- --- ---
    1998 TOR.BEACHES  JUNIOR A    1   0    0    0    0  -     DID NOT PLAY 
    1999 TOR.BEACHES  JUNIOR A   17   6   15   21   40  -     DID NOT PLAY
    2000 TOR.BEACHES  JUNIOR A   19  10   24   34   21  -     DID NOT PLAY
    2001 TOR.BEACHES  JUNIOR A   18   1   12   13   37  -   4  1   1   2   8
    2002 TOR.BEACHES  JUNIOR A   20   7    5   12   83  -  18  1   3   4  61
    2003 TOR.BEACHES  JUNIOR A   16   4    4    8   58  -  11  3   3   6  40
    2004 BROOKLIN     MAJOR      15   7    9   16   13  -   4  1   1   2  17
    2005 BROOKLIN     MAJOR      18   6    5   11    6  -     DID NOT PLAY
    2006 BROOKLIN     MAJOR      11   3    4    7    6  -   8  3   3   6  20
    ---- ------------ ---------- -- ---  ---  ---  ---  -  -- -- --- --- ---
      PRO/MAJOR/SENIOR TOTALS    44  16   18   34   25  -  12  4   4   8  37
              JUNIOR A TOTALS    91  28   60   88  249  -  33  5   7  12 109