2010 HOF Nominees honoured to be considered

After years of dedication to the National Lacrosse League, six former players have been honored as nominees to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Their passion and love for the sport has not been ignored or unnoticed, even after as many as 23 years, and Monday, three of these six will be chosen to be Hall of Fame members.

"It would mean everything," said John Tucker, who was an original player in the league, which began play in 1987. "It would be a crowning achievement to my career, as a player. It would be something to show my sons."

Tucker played for the Philadelphia Wings from 1987 - 1992, where he was named first team all-pro each season it was awarded and won two championships, one of which he was named MVP for. He finished his playing career with Baltimore, where he also coached, again leading that team to a championship.

"I had a hand in getting it to where it is today, with starting a groundswell of support that the league still enjoys," he said. "Being a member of one of the original teams in the league in its birth is probably the biggest reason [I was nominated]."

Three other nominees - Rich Kilgour, Troy Cordingley, and Ted Dowling - were also early members of the league.

"I was lucky the NLL came along when it did, and I was lucky to be on a good team," Kilgour said. "I was there in the beginning, and I played 18 years with four championships."

Kilgour played his entire career for the Buffalo Bandits and was captain for 12 of those years, but the Hall of Fame (established in 2005) was nowhere close to his mind.

"No one plays to get in to the Hall of Fame," he said. "We played for love of the game, and I got really lucky to do something I loved for 18 years."

He wouldn't mind, though, if he were to be one of the three selected.

"If you're in a beauty pageant, you want to win."

Dowling, too, would be happy to be inducted.

"I'd be very proud of the achievement," he said. "It's not just me; it's my family and the support they gave me, standing by my side my entire career."

Dowling's 14 years in the league took him across the United States and Canada, playing for Detroit, Boston, Buffalo, Rochester, Albany, Montreal, Colorado, Calgary, San Jose and Portland. It took a lot of support from his family to keep him going.

"It took a lot of effort from them, with me being gone as much as I was," he said, adding that it was worth all he put in.

"All my experiences in the NLL were fantastic. I'd be honored to put it lightly."

Cordingley began his playing career in 1993 for the Buffalo Bandits, where he stayed most of his career, winning two championships and participating in the only undefeated season the league has seen (in 1993, along with Kilgour). He went on to become assistant coach for the Bandits, then head coach of the Calgary Roughnecks (where he won the Champion's Cup in 2009), and is now coaching the Toronto Rock.

"I've played lacrosse since I was three years old. It's my passion," he said. "I loved competing and playing and contributing with a team, and I really enjoy working with the players and other coaches to improve a team's performance."

It is that passion that earned him a nomination, though he's modest about his contribution to the game.

"I was taken aback. To be nominated with that group of guys, it's an honor to even be thought of," he said. "Everyone who's in [the Hall of Fame] has taken it to the next level."

Dan Stroup, another nominee, agrees.

"It'll be tough for them to pick three out of the guys who were nominated. Those [other nominees] are five great guys."

Stroup, or "Stroupy," as some of the other players called him, played 13 years in the league for Baltimore, Toronto, Vancouver, Colorado, Edmonton and Portland. He won four championships in that time.

The last nominee, Curt Malawsky, was also a championship winner, though his was more recent; he helped the Calgary Roughnecks - coached by Coringley - to a title in 2009.

"I was a team guy. I would play for the guy next to me; that was my M.O. It's something I hope to be remembered by," he said. "Being in the Hall of Fame would show me the people I played with thought I was worthy, and that means a lot to me too. It's something that would be with me for the rest of my life, something I could show my son."

He's currently coaching for the Roughnecks, and though he's excited about the honor, he can't focus on the waiting for the announcement.

"I'm focusing on playing the Stealth this weekend!" he said. "It's beyond my control at this point. I want to be remembered for the passion and dedication I put forward, and just to be nominated is something special. Everything else is gravy."