Long-time Delray Beach (FL) residents Casey Powell and Kevin Finneran are amongst 10 honorees who will be inducted into the National Lacrosse League Hall of Fame in Burlington, Ontario this evening. The class of 2021 inductees also include players, John Grant Jr., Shawn Williams, Colin Doyle, Pat McCready, Regy Thorpe, Steve Toll, and referees Roy Condon and Bill Fox. The induction has been delayed the past 2 years due to Covid. Long wait is over boys!
Casey Powell spent 11 seasons in the National Lacrosse League having played for the Rochester Knighthawks (twice), Anaheim Storm, New York/Orlando Titans, Boston Blazers and Colorado Mammoth. The 1998 1st overall pick out of Syracuse University endured a rough start to his pro box career, but his star began to rise at Madison Square Garden as the Captain of the New York Titans, who he would lead to a Champions Cup appearance against Calgary in 2009. The Titans would move to Orlando the next season where CP's star shined bright leading the team to an 11-5 record and becoming the first American born player to win the NLL's MVP Award during that 2010 season. The West Carthage, NY native was a big time performer having scored 33 goals and 32 assists in 13 career playoff games. In 2014 CP finished his career at the Pepsi Arena with Colorado and still remains the league's all-time points leader for an American born player having amassed 674 points on 279 goals and 395 assists.
Kevin Finneran played in the National Lacrosse League from 1991 through 2003 for the New England Blazers, Detroit Turbos, Philadelphia Wings and Toronto Rock. He was considered the "Iron Man" of lacrosse having played in 139 consecutive games during his 13 year career, which was a league record until fellow inductee Steve Toll surpassed it in 2008. The Long Island native is a five-time NLL/MILL champion, winning his first four Cups with the Philadelphia Wings in 1994, 1995, 1998 & 2001, and getting his fifth in his final season playing for the Toronto Rock in 2003. FINN is beloved in Philadelphia where his jersey #11 has been retired to the rafters of the Wells Fargo Center. At the time of his retirement from the NLL, he was the all-time league leader with 143 games played, sixth all-time in goals (235), third all-time in assists (329), fifth all-time in points (564) and 11th all-time in loose-ball recoveries (631) and was also the league's all-time points leader for an American born player before being surpassed by fellow inductee Casey Powell.
Ironically enough both Powell and Finneran would make Delray Beach, Florida their homes after retiring from the NLL. Each have coached thousands upon thousands of kids, both of them helping to lead the recent rampant growth of youth lacrosse in South Florida together and separately. Casey and Kevin are still adored by our young players and both remain actively involved coaching camps and clinics locally and nationally. Powell was recently quoted by the NLL “I spend my life trying to push the game forward because of the impact I know it can make on other players. I try and pass along the things that matter within the game, and I love it because it makes a difference. I had idols and heroes who gave me time and attention, which made a huge impact on my life. I try to replicate that and be an ambassador of the game because of how special it is.” Finneran was one of those idols, and today the 2 underdog Americans will go into the National Lacrosse League Hall of Fame together with all of the Canadian greats. We are so grateful to have them as Lacrosse Ambassadors in the Deep South. Play Box! USA!
Casey Powell photos courtesy of www.CoyoteMagicActionShots.com
Kevin Finneran photos self submitted
Article written by Larry Palumbo
Article released on Friday, September 15, 2023 @ 07:15 EST
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