The Portland LumberJax
The Portland LumberJax (sometimes referred to as the Jax) is a professional lacrosse team in the National Lacrosse League (NLL), which started playing in the 2006 season. Announced by the NLL on May 11, 2005, the LumberJax play their home games at the Rose Garden Arena in Portland, Oregon. The teams colors are black, gold, red and white. One interesting fact about the Winter Hawks is that the team is owned by Angela Batinovich, who at the age of 24 entered the league as the youngest owner of a professional sports franchise.
Franchise History
The expansion LumberJax got off to a slow start in their first year, but later turned their season around and made it to the playoffs with an 11-5 record. The LumberJax finished first in their division, becoming the first and only expansion team to win their division in the 20-year history of the NLL. The LumberJax season ended with a loss in the opening round of the playoffs to the Arizona Sting.
The LumberJax were less successful in their sophomore season, finishing last in the West Division with a 4-12 record.
In their third year, the LumberJax finished with a sub-500 record for the second straight year (6-10), but were able to enter the playoffs as the fourth-seed in the West.
The LumberJax won their first playoff game in franchise history on May 4, 2008, an 18-16 victory over the San Jose Stealth at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California. Dan Dawson scored 7 goals and added 5 assists for a total of 12 points, all team playoff records. They then defeated the Calgary Roughnecks in the Western Division Final 16-12, to earn their first ever trip to the Champion's Cup, which took place Saturday, May 17, 2008 at the HSBC Arena in Buffalo, New York against the Buffalo Bandits at 7:30 PM Eastern. The LumberJax lost 14-13.