ALBANY, N.Y. – Blaze Riorden won two awards at the Premier Lacrosse League End of Season Awards Ceremony Friday, night, including the league's Jim Brown Most Valuable Player.
Riorden, who plays for the PLL's Chaos LC, becomes the second field lacrosse goalkeeper to win a league MVP award, following Chesapeake Bayhawks goalkeeper Greg Cattrano winning the Major League Lacrosse MVP award in 2002. The PLL merged with the MLL prior to the 2021 season.
In addition to league MVP, Riorden also named the PLL's Oren Lyons Goalie of the Year. Riorden has led the league in saves in each of its first three seasons, finishing 2021 with 149 saves at a rate of .610. Riorden has led his team to a second-straight PLL title game, and, with former UAlbany teammate Troy Reh, will take the field on Sunday against two-time defending champion Whipsnakes LC in a rematch of the 2020 title game.
Riorden was recently featured in a story by the PLL for the
unconventional style with which he minds the net.
Another former Great Dane, Lyle Thompson, was also recognized in Friday night's ceremony with the Welles Crowther Humanitarian Award. Thompson, who was also a finalist for league MVP and Attackman of the Year, was recognized with the Humanitarian Award for his efforts in raising awareness about atrocities committed against Indigenous youth in Canada's residential schools. Thompson and his campaign to draw attention to what Indigenous children were subjected to at these schools was featured in the
latest issue of Sports Illustrated.
Thompson, who joined the PLL following the merger wil the MLL and plays for the inaugural Cannons LC, has previously won professional league MVP awards in 2019 for the MLL and in 2017 for the National Lacrosse League. Riorden becomes the second Great Dane to win a professional lacrosse MVP award.
Riorden and Thompson were both named to the PLL's 2021 All-Pro First Team on Saturday.
Riorden's Chaos will play for the 2021 PLL title against the Whipsnakes on Sunday, September 19 at 12:00 pm. The game will be broadcast by NBC and can be streamed on Peacock.
