Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 12/14/12
The Philadelphia Wings of the National Lacrosse League (NLL), today acquired transition player Paul Rabil,who is widely considered to be the best lacrosse player in the world, from the Rochester Knighthawks, as part of a blockbuster six-player trade that will send Wings forward Dan Dawson and defenseman Paul Dawson to the Knighthawks.
Rabilcomes to Philadelphia with a championship mentality after winning the NLL’s Champions Cup in 2010 with the Washington Stealth and NCAA championships with Johns Hopkins in 2005 and 2007. As a collegiate player, Rabil received the McLaughlin Award (given to the nation’s most outstanding midfielder) and named a finalist for the Tewaartan Trophy (award for the country’s most outstanding player) in both 2007 and 2008. The Gaithersburg, MD native was drafted second overall in the 2008 NLL Entry draft and has been selected as an NLL All-Star in every season he has competed.
“This trade allows us the opportunity to get the most recognizable player in the sport to join our team. Paul Rabil is in the prime of his career and plays a big part in our plans to get younger and more athletic,” said Owner andTeam President Michael French. “Paul can play really any position on the field with his speed and power.”
As part of the transaction, the Wings will also acquire Knighthawks transitional players Jordan Hall, Joel White and Rob Campbell, while Rochester will receive the Wings first round pick in 2016.
“I have huge respect for the way Jordan Hall plays, he is an athletic defender who reminds me a lot of (Wings Captain) Brodie Merrill,” French added. “He, White and Campbell are all great additions to the Wings organization.”
During the 2012 season, the elder Dawson scored 27 goals and tallied a career high 89 assists for a team leading 116 points, while his brother Paul finished with 6 assists and 53 loose balls recovered.
“As an owner, I have developed a personal relationship with the Dawson brothers and it was a difficult decision to move forward with this transaction,” said French. “I wanted to be sure if they were going to leave, they were going to be a package deal, so that their family could continue to see them play together.”
The Philadelphia Wings will open the 2013 season at home against the Buffalo Bandits at Wells Fargo Center on Friday, January 11, 2013 at 7 p.m.
Call 215-389-WING (9464) or visitWingsLAX.com to order Season Tickets for the upcoming 2013 Philadelphia Wings Season.
