Cousins wins NLL defensive award; Steenhuis gets transition player prize
NEW YORK — Ryan Cousins of the Minnesota Swarm won the National Lacrosse League's defensive player of the year award for the second straight season Monday, while Mark Steenhuis of the Buffalo Bandits took the transition player honours.
Cousins, a defenceman from Toronto, anchored a Minnesota defence that finished the regular season with a 10-6 record. He also scored nine goals, two of them overtime winners, with five assists.
"Ryan is our captain and the main ingredient in our quick transition from expansion team to competitor," said Swarm general manager Marty O'Neill. "He is always assigned to stop one of the top two offensive players among our opponents and does a great job."
Steenhuis, from St. Catharines, Ont., scored 34 goals with 41 assists in helping the Bandits to a 10-6 record and the East Division title. He led all transition players in goals and points while also scooping up 121 loose balls.
The award winners are voted on by the league's coaches, general managers and executives.
