The National Lacrosse League has announced the five finalists for its Class of 2016 ballot. Two new nominees, including retired Buffalo Bandit John Tavares, have been selected by the league's Hall of Fame Committee.
Tavares played an NLL-record 24 seasons, all with Buffalo, and retired in September as the league's all-time leader in games played (306), goals (815), assists (934) and points (1,749). He also ranked second in loose balls (2,169). He is a three-time NLL Most Valuable Player (1994, 2000, 2001) and was named an NLL All-Pro a league-record 19 times (1993-2009, 2011-2012).
Former Buffalo Bandit Tracey Kelusky also is a Hall of Fame finalist. He returns to the ballot from 2015 and played three of his 14 seasons with Buffalo. With Calgary, he served as team captain and won two Champion's Cups. He also played with Columbus, Montreal and Philadelphia.
Other finalists include Josh Sanderson, who played 19 seasons with Rochester, Albany, Toronto, San Jose, Calgary and Boston; Kevin Finneran, who played 13 seasons with Toronto, Philadelphia, New England and Detroit; and Gavin Prout, who played 12 seasons with New York, Colorado and Edmonton.
Voting by the teams, current members of the NLL Hall of Fame and senior members of the league’s covering media will take place over the coming days. Voters may select up to three of the five nominees. To win induction into the Hall of Fame, nominees must be selected on a minimum of 75 percent of the ballots cast.
