Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 1/5/19
From Press Release
The Philadelphia Wings have acquired forward Kevin Crowley – Fusion lacrosse Co-Founder and Co-Director and assistant coach at Shipley School – from the New England Black Wolves for two future first round draft picks.
Crowley, 30, has posted career highs in various categories in each of his last three seasons with the Black Wolves. He had 57 assists and 90 points in 2016, and followed that up with a 45-goal season in 2017. Last year, Crowley’s 51 goals set a new career high and led the NLL. He scored in 17 of the 18 games he played last year, including five-goal games at Buffalo on March 31 and Colorado on April 14. He also had two consecutive four-goal games in February, vs. Buffalo on the 9th and Colorado on the 18th.
The trade marks a return for Crowley to Philadelphia, where he started his NLL career as a first round draft pick of the original Wings in 2012. He has 257 goals and 276 assists for 533 points in 118 career games with the Wings, Black Wolves and Toronto Rock. The 257 goals rank 19th in NLL history.
“We are fortunate to pick up one of the best forwards in the NLL in the prime of his career,” said Wings General Manager and Head Coach Paul Day. “Crowley, currently living in Philadelphia, will be a number one forward for years to come. His relationship with the Philadelphia community on and off the field will be impactful for our organization.”
During his first stint in Philadelphia, Crowley posted three consecutive seasons of 30-plus goals and 70-plus points. He co-led the team in goals in 2012 and led the team in both goals and points in 2013.
He moved to New England with the franchise in 2015 but was later traded to Toronto, where he helped the Rock reach the NLL finals that year.
A native of New Westminster, British Columbia, Crowley was drafted first overall by the original Wings in 2011.
“This is a deal that had to be made,” Black Wolves general manager Rich Lisk said. “We have tried the past two years to sign Kevin to a multi-year deal and we could not come to an agreement. We are unwavering in our commitment to build a team of players that want to be in New England and the team that we have assembled is just that.”
The draft picks the team receives will join a franchise with a core of young talent, including 2018 NLL Entry Draft selection Dereck Downs, who had two points in his first career game against Saskatchewan on December 28, and Colton Watkinson, who was a member of the 2017-18 NLL All-Rookie Team after being drafted in the first round by New England in 2017.
The Wings return home next Saturday to the Wells Fargo Center to host the Georgia Swarm. In partnership with the U.S. Lacrosse Convention, lacrosse enthusiasts can purchase a general admission ticket to LaxCon’s Fan Fest and a reserved seat to the Wings-Swarm game on Saturday, January 12 at 7 p.m. for just $23. These combo tickets are on sale now at WingsLAX.com. The Wings and US Lacrosse invite fans to participate in an equipment drive at the game. Fans are encouraged to bring new or gently used equipment to the game and drop in the bins at the door. All equipment collected will be donated to the Philadelphia Lacrosse Association (PLA), the local U.S. Lacrosse Chapter. The PLA distributes equipment to local youth in an effort to grow the sport.
