The Philadelphia Wings are a lacrosse team based in Philadelphia playing in the National Lacrosse League (NLL). The 2012 season was the 26th in franchise history.
In August, the Wings pulled off a blockbuster trade with the Edmonton Rush, sending star forward Athan Iannucci to the Rush along with Alex Turner, Brodie MacDonald, and three first round draft picks for two-time Transition Player of the Year Brodie Merrill, Dean Hill, Mike MacLellan, and two low draft picks. A month later, the look of the team changed even more dramatically, as the Wings landed superstar forward Dan Dawson in the Boston Blazers dispersal draft. The 2012 version of Boston's "big three" was completed when the Wings picked up star Stony Brook forward Kevin Crowley first overall in the entry draft.
The significant roster changes didn't help the Wings in their first game of the year, a 22–12 pounding at the hands of the Rochester Knighthawks. But the Wings settled down and won four of their next five games, and seven of ten to take the lead in the East division. The wheels fell off at the end of March, however, as the Wings lost an overtime game to the Colorado Mammoth, and then lost their next four. The losing streak included three games at home, and the Wings didn't score more than ten goals in any of their last four games.
They finished in third place in the East with a 7–9 record and made the playoffs. They traveled to Rochester to face the Knighthawks, who had beaten them three times already this season. In only their third playoff game since winning the Championship in 2001, the Wings came up a goal short, losing to the Knighthawks 14–13.
Regular season
Conference standings
Game log Reference:
Playoffs Reference:
Transactions
Trades August 9, 2011 To Philadelphia Wings Brodie MerrillMike McLellanDean Hill41st overall pick, 2011 entry draft4th round pick, 2013 entry draft To Edmonton Rush Athan IannucciAlex TurnerBrodie McDonald1st round pick, 2012 entry draft1st round pick, 2013 entry draft1st round pick, 2014 entry draft
Dispersal Draft The Wings chose the following players in the Boston Blazers dispersal draft: RoundOverallPlayer11 Dan Dawson210 John Orson319 Nick Cotter428 Brett Queener
Entry draft The 2011 NLL Entry Draft took place on September 21, 2011. The Wings selected the following players: RoundOverallPlayerCollege/Club11 Kevin Crowley Stony Brook University428 Steve Fryer Coquitlam, AB537 Matt Stefurak University of Delaware
Roster
See also 2012 NLL season
References