With Brodie Merrill already having won the Defensive Player of the Year award and with his name thrown into consideration for Most Valuable Player, it came as no surprise today that the Portland LumberJax defenseman was named as the Edge Active Rookie of the Year.

2005   Ryan Boyle
       San Jose
2004   Taylor Wray
       Calgary
2003   Brian Langtry
       Colorado
2002   Blaine Manning
       Toronto
2001   Tracey Kelusky
       Columbus
2000   John Grant Jr.
       Rochester
1999   Jesse Hubbard
       Baltimore
1998   Colin Doyle
       Toronto
1997   Jeff Wilfong
       Boston
1996   Darren Fridge
       Boston
1995   Charlie Lockwood
       New York
1994   Tom Marechek
       Philadelphia
1993   (Not awarded)
1992   Derek Keenan
       Buffalo
1991   Gary Gait
       Detroit

Merrill is the first number-one entry draft pick since Calgary's Tracey Kelusky four years ago to win the Rookie of the Year Award.

Merrill's impact on the LumberJax was felt on both offense and defense, finishing second on the team with 32 assists and third in points, 49.

He also scooped up 214 loose balls, which would have set a new single-season record if not for Toronto's Jim Veltman grabbing 226 loosies.

As one of three assistant captains, Merrill anchored a defense which limited opponents to 177 goals this season.

Portland won its final six regular-season games to finish 11-5 and became the first team to win a division title in its debut season.

Merrill is joined on the NLL's sixth annual All-Rookie Team by the three players who immediately followed him in the draft -- Shawn Evans (Rochester), Sean Greenhalgh (Philadelphia) and Luke Wiles (San Jose). Fellow first-rounders Dan Carey (Colorado) and Jeff Zywicki (San Jose) were also selected.

This is the fourth straight year that no goaltender made the All-Rookie Team.

All-Rookie Team statistics are listed below.

The end-of-season awards announcements continue tomorrow with the All-Pro Teams and conclude Thursday with the selection of the Most Valuable Player.

2006 NLL ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
                        GP   G   A PTS PIM  LB
Dan Carey         COL   16  17  45  62   2  80  (9 PP)
Shawn Evans       ROC   15  21  16  37  59 110  (3 PP)
Sean Greenhalgh   PHI   16  31  42  73   4  66  (9 PP)
Brodie Merrill    POR   16  17  32  49  33 214  (1 PP, 2 SH)
Luke Wiles      PH/SJ   17  23  26  49  15  68  (3 PP, 2 SH)
Jeff Zywicki      SJS   16  27  21  48   4  77  (9 PP, 2 SH)