National Lacrosse League Defensive Player of the Year Award

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The Defensive Player of the Year Award is given annually to the National Lacrosse League player (not goaltenders) who is chosen as the best defensive player.

Past winners

Season Winner Team Win # Other finalists
2025 Matt Hossack[1] Saskatchewan Rush 1 Ryan Dilks, Vancouver Warriors

Graeme Hossack, Halifax Thunderbirds

2024 Ryan Dilks[2] Vancouver Warriors 2 Mitch de Snoo, Toronto Rock[3]
Brad Kri, Toronto Rock
2023 Latrell Harris[4] Toronto Rock 1 Graeme Hossack, Halifax Thunderbirds[5]
Brad Kri, Toronto Rock
2022 Mitch de Snoo[6] Toronto Rock 1 Steve Priolo, Buffalo Bandits[7]
Kyle Rubisch, Saskatchewan Rush
2021 Season cancelled
2020 Graeme Hossack[8] Halifax Thunderbirds 3 Robert Hope, Colorado Mammoth
Kyle Rubisch, Saskatchewan Rush
2019 Graeme Hossack Rochester Knighthawks 2 Steve Priolo, Buffalo Bandits
Kyle Rubisch, Saskatchewan Rush
2018 Graeme Hossack Rochester Knighthawks 1 Robert Hope, Colorado Mammoth
Kyle Rubisch, Saskatchewan Rush
2017 Jason Noble[9] Georgia Swarm 1 Graeme Hossack, Rochester Knighthawks
Steve Priolo, Buffalo Bandits
2016 Ryan Dilks[10] Saskatchewan Rush 1 Chris Corbeil, Saskatchewan Rush
Steve Priolo, Buffalo Bandits
2015 Kyle Rubisch[11] Edmonton Rush 4 Chris Corbeil, Edmonton Rush
Steve Priolo, Buffalo Bandits
2014 Kyle Rubisch[12] Edmonton Rush 3 Chris Corbeil, Edmonton Rush
Steve Priolo, Buffalo Bandits
2013 Kyle Rubisch[13] Edmonton Rush 2  
2012 Kyle Rubisch[14] Edmonton Rush 1  
2011 Pat McCready[15] Rochester Knighthawks 1  
2010 Sandy Chapman [16] Toronto Rock 1  
2009 Billy Dee Smith[17] Buffalo Bandits 1  
2008 Ryan Cousins[18] Minnesota Swarm 2  
2007 Ryan Cousins [19] Minnesota Swarm 1  
2006 Brodie Merrill[20] Portland LumberJax 1  
2005 Andrew Turner[21] Rochester Knighthawks 1  
2004 (Tie) Cam Woods[22] San Jose Stealth 1  
Taylor Wray Calgary Roughnecks
2003 Jim Moss Albany Attack 1  
2002 Pat Coyle Toronto Rock 1  

References

  1. taylor (2025-05-15). "2024-25 Offensive, Defensive, Transition & Goaltender Winners". NLL. Retrieved 2025-05-30.
  2. "BUFFALO'S BYRNE, VANCOUVER'S DILKS, HALIFAX'S WITHERS AND TORONTO'S ROSE TAKE NLL POSITIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARDS". NLL.com. May 16, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  3. "NATIONAL LACROSSE LEAGUE ANNOUNCES FINALISTS FOR 2023-24 NLL AWARDS". NLL.com. May 8, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  4. "Currier repeats as Transition Player of the Year, Del Bianco and Harris take home first awards". NLL.com. May 25, 2023. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
  5. "NATIONAL LACROSSE LEAGUE ANNOUNCES FINALISTS FOR 2022-23 NLL AWARDS". NLL.com. May 16, 2023. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  6. "CURRIER, DE SNOO, VINC WIN NATIONAL LACROSSE LEAGUE TRANSITION, DEFENSIVE PLAYER, GOALTENDER OF THE YEAR AWARDS". NLL.com. June 29, 2022. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  7. "NATIONAL LACROSSE LEAGUE ANNOUNCES FINALISTS FOR 2021-22 END OF SEASON AWARDS". NLL.com. June 22, 2022. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  8. "NLL announces 2019-20 NLL award winners". NLL.com. June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  9. "2017 DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR". NLL.com. June 23, 2017. Retrieved June 23, 2017.
  10. "2016 NLL Season Awards & Hall of Fame Ceremony". NLL.com. September 27, 2016. Retrieved September 28, 2016.
  11. "2015 NLL Season Awards & Hall Of Fame Ceremony". NLL.com. September 29, 2015. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
  12. "League announces 2014 Season Award winners". NLL.com. September 21, 2014. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  13. "Rush's Rubisch wins Defensive Player of the Year Award". NLL.com. May 1, 2013. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  14. "Rush's Rubisch wins Defensive Player of the Year". NLL.com. 2012-05-14. Retrieved 2012-05-14.
  15. "Shattler, McCready, & Vinc Honored". NLL.com. 2011-05-09. Retrieved 2011-05-09.
  16. "Merrill, Chapman, & Vinc Win Yearly Awards". NLL.com. May 12, 2010. Retrieved 2010-05-12.
  17. "Defense, Transition & Goaltender Awards". NLL.com. May 11, 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-12.
  18. "Cousins Named Edge Defensive Player of the Year". NLL.com. May 12, 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-12.
  19. "Cousins Named Defenseman of the Year". NLL.com. May 1, 2007. Retrieved 2008-05-12.
  20. "Merrill Wins Belmont.com Defensive Player of the Year". NLL.com. May 2, 2006. Retrieved 2008-05-12.
  21. "Turner Named Sportsbook.com Defensive Player". NLL.com. May 3, 2005. Retrieved 2008-05-12.
  22. "Wray & Woods Split Defensive Award". NLL.com. April 27, 2004. Retrieved 2008-05-12.