The Kentucky Stickhorses were an American indoor lacrosse team based in Louisville, Kentucky . They were formerly a member of the North American Lacrosse League , before the league's demise after the 2013 season. The Stickhorses played their home games at Freedom Hall .
17-688: The franchise was announced as the fourth of five founding members of the North American Lacrosse League on September 26, 2011, joining the Charlotte Copperheads , Hershey Haymakers , Jacksonville Bullies , and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Shamrocks for the inaugural season. However, the league faced legal troubles before playing a single game and split, with the other four members forming the new Professional Lacrosse League . This left
34-553: A rift in the organization led to the departure of four of the five teams to form the Professional Lacrosse League . After playing only one "full" season that was plagued with canceled games, a franchise folding, and players not showing up for games, the leagues folded. The league was announced in May 2011. According to Sports Business Journal , the league once sought to become an official developmental league for
51-654: A winter to a fall schedule. Caruso responded that his removal was not legitimate, asserting that the Hershey franchise had already been suspended for failure to secure a venue, and that Wilkes-Barre/Scranton owner Jim Jennings was no longer managing partner of that franchise. Caruso claimed that he represented the true NALL, which then consisted of the Kentucky Stickhorses, other members of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton ownership group (eventually named
68-751: The Lehigh Valley Flying Dutchmen ), and a recently announced 2013 expansion franchise in Boston (which Caruso claimed would be ready to compete in 2012 and considered a voting member). Both camps considered themselves the legitimate North American Lacrosse League. The fall group planned on starting play in September and claimed to have a television deal lined up. The winter group played an abbreviated schedule featuring matches against non-league teams beginning in January 2012. It controlled
85-748: The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Shamrocks , the Charlotte Copperheads , the Jacksonville Bullies , the Kentucky Stickhorses , and the Hershey Haymakers . However, weeks before the season was to start a rift split the league over leadership and scheduling. One faction comprising four of the five announced teams – Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Jacksonville, Charlotte, and Hershey – announced that the NALL had relieved acting Commissioner Anthony Caruso of duty and would be switching from
102-632: The Bombers posted about giveaway at the game scheduled for March 10. The 2013 league championship was viewable via internet pay-per-view for the cost of $ 2.95 at northamericanlacrosseleague.com/live One June 18, 2013 the Kentucky Stickhorses posted on their Facebook a message from their owner, Anthony Chase, stating the NALL had suspended operations due to the Baltimore, Boston, and Rhode Island franchises not being able to continue operations due to "financial constraints." The messaged also stated that
119-406: The NALL season was to start, four of the teams – the Charlotte Copperheads , the Hershey Haymakers , the Jacksonville Bullies , and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Shamrocks – announced that the NALL had relieved acting Commissioner Anthony Caruso of duty and would be switching from a winter to a fall schedule. In turn, Caruso responded that his removal was illegitimate and that he remained in charge of
136-631: The NALL website and issued a restraining order against the other camp. The dispute was settled in litigation; as a result the winter faction retained the NALL name and branding, while the fall faction formed the Professional Lacrosse League , scheduled to begin play in September 2012. On March 8, 2013, it was officially reported the Baltimore Bombers had folded. General manager and head coach, Hunter Francis noted that "...the economics didn't work." This news initially broke on Laxdirt.com and later on their Facebook page. Just two days before,
153-772: The NALL, which would keep to the winter schedule. The dispute went to litigation, with the result that winter faction kept the NALL name and branding, while the fall faction formed the PLL. Brett Vickers was announced as PLL League President. The league was supposed to start play with four teams in September 2012, however, it was announced that the Haymakers and Shamrocks franchises had not secured arena leases and were currently searching for new locations. On July 11, 2012, Commissioner Brett Vickers announced on Twitter "@PLLcommissioner I love throwing people off by setting up websites." & "Heading South..........had two great meetings in
170-524: The Stickhorses had two options: "Join another 'startup' league or suspend operations as well. It is with deep regret, that I have to choose the latter." †-Teams left NALL to form PLL American Lacrosse League, 1987 Executive Director Professional Lacrosse League The Professional Lacrosse League ( PLL ) was a men's professional indoor lacrosse league in the United States . It
187-610: The Stickhorses to play an exhibition season in 2012, with all the games being hosted at Freedom Hall . Reorganized, the NALL returned for the 2013 season with three new full-time members, the Boston Rockhoppers (who participated in two games of the 2012 exhibition season), Baltimore Bombers , and the Rhode Island Kingfish . The league was eager to finally get things going with their first normal season, and
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#1732793646682204-460: The established National Lacrosse League , but the plan was rejected. Like the NLL but unlike other lacrosse leagues that play in the summer, the NALL originally intended to start play in January. The league announced it did not intend to compete with the NLL, but would serve alternate markets where the NLL had no presence. By December 2011 five franchises had been announced for the inaugural 2012 season:
221-478: The first season where the league was housed in more than one venue. Kentucky struggled in the regular season, posting a 2–6 record, but still found themselves taking on the Rockhoppers in the first ever league championship. The Stickhorses fell to Boston in a blowout, 26–13, to end the year. However, the league wasn't past all the roadblocks. The Kingfish lost their home arena deal, while the Bombers folded from
238-423: The league mid-season. The first ever season ended with the league still hanging in the balance. On June 18, 2013, it was official; the NALL had disbanded. Stickhorses owner Anthony Chase wrote an open letter to the fans announcing the end of the team, citing a lack of resources, but hoping that his and the fans' "paths will cross again someday soon." ✝ Games canceled due to Baltimore Bombers mid-season fold. † 2012
255-486: The two new PLL cities Wednesday and yesterday. Excited about September!". This added to speculation that New Jersey might not be the league's newest member. On August 28, Brett Vickers resigned from the PLL. On September 6, 2012, New Jersey Rascals CEO announced "It is with a heavy heart that we announce the New Jersey Rascals will not be playing this season. We believe it is in the best interest of our fans,
272-399: Was announced in 2012 with its inaugural season scheduled to begin in September 2012. The league originated in a split with the North American Lacrosse League (NALL). The league ended after a year, in 2013. The Professional Lacrosse League developed out of a rift in the North American Lacrosse League , which was originally scheduled to start play with five teams in January 2012. Weeks before
289-561: Was only an exhibition season. North American Lacrosse League The North American Lacrosse League ( NALL ) was a professional indoor lacrosse league based in the United States . It was founded in 2011 as North America's fourth professional lacrosse league, after American Lacrosse League (field lacrosse, 1987) Major League Lacrosse (a field lacrosse league) and the National Lacrosse League (the established professional indoor lacrosse organization). However,
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