2002 NLL season
| 2002 NLL season | |
|---|---|
| League | National Lacrosse League |
| Sport | Indoor lacrosse |
| Duration | November 16, 2001 – April 13, 2002 |
| Number of teams | 13 |
| Regular season | |
| Season MVP | Paul Gait (Washington Power) |
| Top scorer | Paul Gait (Washington Power) |
| Playoffs | |
| Eastern champions | Washington Power |
| Eastern runners-up | Philadelphia Wings |
| Central champions | Albany Attack |
| Central runners-up | Rochester Knighthawks |
| Northern champions | Toronto Rock |
| Northern runners-up | Vancouver Ravens |
| Champion's Cup | |
| Champions | Toronto Rock |
| Runners-up | Albany Attack |
| Finals MVP | Colin Doyle (Toronto) |
The 2002 National Lacrosse League season began on November 16, 2001 and concluded with the championship game on April 13, 2002. The Toronto Rock defeated the Albany Attack 13–12 to win their third championship in four seasons. Colin Doyle was named championship game MVP for the second time.
Only one year after the season was lengthened to 14 games, 2002 saw it extended again, this time to 16 games. During that season, it was known as the 2001-2002 season as can be seen in the Albany Attack's 2001-2002 Central Division Championship banner.
2002 was a year of expansion for the NLL, particularly north of the border. No less than four teams were added, three of them Canadian: the New Jersey Storm, Montreal Express, Vancouver Ravens, and Calgary Roughnecks all made their NLL debuts. The expansion caused the NLL to return to a divisional format for the first time since 1994. The teams were split into the Eastern, Central, and Northern divisions; the winners of each division would make the playoffs, as well as the top three ranked non-division-winners. The Eastern division consisted of Washington, Philadelphia, New York, and New Jersey, the Central division had Albany, Rochester, Montreal, Buffalo, and Columbus, while the remaining Canadian teams (Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver, and Calgary) were in the Northern division.
Early in the morning of February 14, limousine driver Costas Christofi was found shot to death at the home of New Jersey Storm owner Jayson Williams. Williams was later arrested and charged with manslaughter. Williams was acquitted of most charges, but was to be retried for reckless manslaughter. However, the case was delayed several times. On Monday, January 11, 2010, Williams plead guilty to aggravated assault in the case, and was sentenced on February 23, 2010. Williams would remain owner of the Storm until the franchise folded after the 2005 season.
For the first time in league history, a team changed arenas midseason, as the Ottawa Rebel left the Corel Centre for the smaller Ottawa Civic Centre. There were two home games left in the season at the time of the move.
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