2005 NLL season
| 2005 NLL season | |
|---|---|
| League | National Lacrosse League |
| Sport | Indoor lacrosse |
| Duration | January 1, 2005 – May 14, 2005 |
| Number of teams | 10 |
| Regular season | |
| Season MVP | Colin Doyle (Toronto Rock) |
| Top scorer | Colin Doyle (Toronto Rock) |
| Playoffs | |
| Eastern champions | Toronto Rock |
| Eastern runners-up | Buffalo Bandits |
| Western champions | Calgary Roughnecks |
| Western runners-up | Arizona Sting |
| Champion's Cup | |
| Champions | Toronto Rock |
| Runners-up | Arizona Sting |
| Finals MVP | Colin Doyle (Toronto) |
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.
Colin Doyle of the Toronto Rock won the scoring title, marking the first time since 1990 that someone other than Gary Gait, Paul Gait, or John Tavares has led the league in scoring. For his efforts in leading the Rock to the championship, Doyle was named both league MVP and Championship Game MVP.
Just hours after the Rock's championship victory, another lacrosse legend, former Toronto head coach and general manager Les Bartley lost his battle with colon cancer at age 51. Bartley had coached the Buffalo Bandits to three MILL/NLL championships before moving to the expansion Ontario Raiders in 1998. Bartley moved with the Raiders to Toronto the next year, and went on to win titles in four of the next five seasons. Bartley also won the NLL Executive of the Year award in 2005, in part due to his involvement in the negotiation of the new CBA.
The 2005 season featured the NLL retirement of two lacrosse legends: Gary Gait and Tom Marechek. Marechek played his entire 12-year career with the Philadelphia Wings, winning Rookie of the Year in 1994, as well as four championships with the Wings. He was named to the All-Pro team eight times, and is third all-time in the NLL in points, after only Gary Gait and John Tavares . Marechek announced his retirement shortly before the end of the season.
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