by The National Lacrosse League has announced Georgia Swarm forward Randy Staats (Six Nations Mohawk) as Rookie of the Month for January of the 2016 NLL season.
Staats leads all rookies in goals (11), assists (14) and points (25), and is ranked among the top six leaders in all major scoring categories in the NLL. Staats’ 25 points also is tied for first on the Swarm while his 11 goals and 14 assists rank second on the team. Staats had three hat trick performances and three six-plus point outings in January to go along with 22 loose balls. The Swarm finished the month 3-2 and in second place in the East Division.
“It’s humbling and I’m really honored to win Rookie of the Month,” Staats said. “It’s pretty special, there are a lot of good players that represent our rookie class. Obviously, I didn’t do it by myself. All the other guys on the Swarm have really helped me elevate my game.”
The 23-year-old from Six Nations, Ont., who played collegiately at Syracuse University, was Georgia’s first-round (6th overall) selection in the 2015 NLL Draft. Staats was a Tewaaraton Trophy finalist in 2014 and two-time NJCAA Player of the Year at Onondaga C.C. in 2012 and 2013.
The NLL Monthly Player Awards are determined by a vote of the league’s general managers and head coaches.
