BUFFALO, N.Y. --The National Lacrosse League announced today that Buffalo Bandits forwards John Tavares and Mark Steenhuis will start for the Eastern Division at the 2008 NLL All-Star Game on Sunday, March 16 in Edmonton. In addition, Bandits head coach Darris Kilgour will be behind the East Bench as an assistant coach.
Tavares, the NLL's all-time leading scorer, will be making his seventh All-Star appearance. Steenhuis will be making his fourth All-Star appearance. He was named MVP of both the 2004 and 2007 National Lacrosse League All-Star Games, becoming the first player in NLL history to be named MVP of two All-Star Games, scoring six times in each outing
Tavares leads the NLL with 49 points on 17 goals and 32 assists through nine games,. Earlier this season, Tavares became the first player in NLL history to reach the 597 goals breaking Gary Gait's all-time record of 596 career goals. Steenhuis is second on Buffalo in scoring with 46 points on 20 goals and 26 assists, making his third in the league.
The East and West Division starting lineups were determined by the combined votes of the league's general managers, league media, and fans, who voted online at the league's official website,
NLL.com -- Official Website of the National Lacrosse League - Home.
The East Division All-Stars will be coached by Rochester Knighthawks head coach Ed Comeau, who will be assisted by Buffalo Bandits head coach Darris Kilgour. The All-Star Game Coaches were determined by team finishing order in the 2007 NLL Playoffs.
The game will be played at the Rose Garden in Edmonton at 4 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 16.