Rob Blasdell
Encyclopedia
Rob "Blazer" Blasdell is a lacrosse goaltender who plays for the Edmonton Rush
in the National Lacrosse League
.
in 1998
, moving with them to Toronto
the next year. After being left unprotected by the Rock, Blasdell was selected by the expansion Albany Attack
in the 1999 expansion draft
. Blasdell played four seasons in Albany, and was named NLL Goaltender of the Year
in 2002
when he led the Attack to the NLL finals.
The Attack moved to San Jose before the 2004 season
and Blasdell played in all 16 games that season, but after a blockbuster trade brought goaltender Anthony Cosmo to San Jose in the summer of 2004, Blasdell served as a backup for Cosmo for the 2005 season
. He was then dealt to the Arizona Sting
, where he earned the starting role and returned to the championship game in 2007
.
After the cancellation and subsequent reinstatement of the 2008 season
, the Arizona Sting
and Boston Blazers
announced that they would not be playing in 2008. A dispersal draft
was held, and Blasdell was selected third overall by the Philadelphia Wings
. When the Arizona Sting ceased operations prior to the 2009 NLL season
, another dispersal draft was held, and Blasdell was again selected by the Philadelphia Wings.
Edmonton Rush
The Edmonton Rush is a professional lacrosse team in the National Lacrosse League that started playing in the 2006 NLL season.The NLL announced that Edmonton, Alberta, Canada would receive an NLL franchise on May 5, 2005. They play their home games at Rexall Place...
in the National Lacrosse League
National Lacrosse League
The National Lacrosse League is a men's professional indoor lacrosse league in North America. It currently has nine teams; three in Canada and six in the United States. Unlike other lacrosse leagues which play in the summer, the NLL plays its games in the winter and spring. Each year, the playoff...
.
Professional career
Blasdell began his career with the Ontario RaidersOntario Raiders
The Ontario Raiders were a member of the National Lacrosse League during the 1998 NLL season. The Raiders played at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario. After only one season in Hamilton, the franchise was moved to Toronto, becoming the Toronto Rock....
in 1998
1998 NLL season
Before the 1998 season, the Major Indoor Lacrosse League was renamed to be the National Lacrosse League, in the process increasing the length of the regular season from ten to twelve games. The first season as the NLL began on January 3, 1998 and concluded with the second championship game on April...
, moving with them to Toronto
Toronto Rock
The Toronto Rock is a lacrosse team in the National Lacrosse League . They play at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario. The Rock of the late 1990s / early 2000s has been called a dynasty, having won five NLL championships in seven years. From 1999 to 2003, the Rock appeared in an NLL-record...
the next year. After being left unprotected by the Rock, Blasdell was selected by the expansion Albany Attack
Albany Attack
The Albany Attack was the name of a franchise which played in the National Lacrosse League from the 2000 season through the 2003 season. The Attack played in the former Pepsi Arena in Albany, New York...
in the 1999 expansion draft
National Lacrosse League expansion draft
The National Lacrosse League expansion draft is a meeting where the general managers of expansion National Lacrosse League teams begin to fill their teams with unprotected players from the rosters of existing NLL teams. Such a draft occurs whenever an expansion NLL franchise is awarded...
. Blasdell played four seasons in Albany, and was named NLL Goaltender of the Year
National Lacrosse League Goaltender of the Year Award
The National Lacrosse League Goaltender of the Year Award is given annually to the best NLL goaltender of the year.In the 2008 season, the award was sponsored by the US Navy and was known as the "US Navy Goaltender of the Year award". In the 2007 season, it was the "Progressive National Lacrosse...
in 2002
2002 NLL season
-All Star Game:The 2002 All-Star Game was held on April 21 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, where the North team beat the South 14-10. The MVP was Toronto's Steve Toll, who scored three goals. At the time, this also marked Paul Gait's final professional lacrosse game, as he...
when he led the Attack to the NLL finals.
The Attack moved to San Jose before the 2004 season
2004 NLL season
-All Star Game:The 2004 All-Star Game was held at the Pepsi Center in Denver on February 22, 2004. The East division defeated the West 19-15, and Buffalo's Mark Steenhuis was named game MVP.-All-Star teams:-Awards:-Weekly Awards:...
and Blasdell played in all 16 games that season, but after a blockbuster trade brought goaltender Anthony Cosmo to San Jose in the summer of 2004, Blasdell served as a backup for Cosmo for the 2005 season
2005 NLL season
The 2005 National Lacrosse League season began on January 1, 2005 and concluded with the championship game on May 14. The Toronto Rock won their fifth NLL championship, defeating the Arizona Sting 19-13 in Toronto....
. He was then dealt to the Arizona Sting
Arizona Sting
The Arizona Sting was a member of the National Lacrosse League from 2004 to 2007. They played at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, from 2001 to 2003 as the Columbus Landsharks. On August 28, 2003, it was announced that the team was relocating to Glendale, Arizona...
, where he earned the starting role and returned to the championship game in 2007
2007 NLL season
The Knighthawks had the overall top seed in the playoffs, but were unable to host the Championship game due to a scheduling conflict at the Blue Cross Arena.-Team Movement:...
.
After the cancellation and subsequent reinstatement of the 2008 season
2008 NLL season
The 2008 National Lacrosse League season, the 22nd in the history of the NLL, began on December 29, 2007 and concluded with the Buffalo Bandits winning the championship game over the Portland LumberJax on May 17, 2008....
, the Arizona Sting
Arizona Sting
The Arizona Sting was a member of the National Lacrosse League from 2004 to 2007. They played at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, from 2001 to 2003 as the Columbus Landsharks. On August 28, 2003, it was announced that the team was relocating to Glendale, Arizona...
and Boston Blazers
Boston Blazers
The Boston Blazers were a member of the Major Indoor Lacrosse League from 1989 to 1997. They were called the New England Blazers from 1989 to 1991 while based in Worcester, Massachusetts, and were renamed the Boston Blazers in 1992 when they moved to Boston. While in Worcester, the Blazers played...
announced that they would not be playing in 2008. A dispersal draft
National Lacrosse League dispersal draft
The National Lacrosse League dispersal draft is a meeting where the general managers of National Lacrosse League teams choose players from teams that are ceasing operations. The NLL has seen a lot of team changes over the years , so dispersal drafts have been commonplace...
was held, and Blasdell was selected third overall by the Philadelphia Wings
Philadelphia Wings
The Philadelphia Wings are a member of the National Lacrosse League, a professional box lacrosse league in North America. They play at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
. When the Arizona Sting ceased operations prior to the 2009 NLL season
2009 NLL season
-Pre-season:* August 19, 2008: The NLL announced that the Minnesota Swarm would be moving from the East division to the West division, giving the West six teams to the East's seven....
, another dispersal draft was held, and Blasdell was again selected by the Philadelphia Wings.
NLL
| Regular Season | Playoffs | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | GP | Min | GA | Sv | GAA | Sv % | GP | Min | GA | Sv | GAA | Sv % | ||
| 1998 | Ontario | 5 | 161 | 42 | 90 | 15.65 | 68.18% | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 1999 | Toronto | 5 | 149 | 21 | 87 | 8.46 | 80.56% | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 0.00% | ||
| 2000 | Albany | 12 | 674 | 144 | 434 | 12.82 | 75.09% | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 2001 | Albany | 13 | 745 | 151 | 474 | 12.16 | 75.84% | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 2002 | Albany | 16 | 934 | 187 | 644 | 12.01 | 77.50% | 2 | 118 | 23 | 78 | 11.67 | 77.23% | ||
| 2003 | Albany | 16 | 855 | 168 | 513 | 11.79 | 75.33% | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 2004 | San Jose | 16 | 600 | 128 | 333 | 12.79 | 72.23% | 1 | 43 | 9 | 22 | 12.50 | 70.97% | ||
| 2005 | San Jose | 5 | 157 | 35 | 95 | 13.37 | 73.08% | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 2006 | Arizona | 12 | 622 | 129 | 362 | 12.45 | 73.73% | 2 | 118 | 24 | 80 | 12.17 | 76.92% | ||
| 2007 | Arizona | 16 | 844 | 154 | 490 | 10.95 | 76.09% | 3 | 178 | 29 | 133 | 9.76 | 82.10% | ||
| 2008 | Philadelphia | 14 | 659 | 153 | 434 | 13.93 | 75.09% | 1 | 30 | 8 | 19 | 16.00 | 70.37% | ||
| NLL Totals | 130 | 6401 | 1312 | 3956 | 12.30 | 75.09%!! 11 !! 488 !! 93 !! 332 !! 11.43 !! 78.12% | |||||||||