Mark Steenhuis (born December 3, 1980) is a Canadian former professional lacrosse player who last played for the Buffalo Bandits in the National Lacrosse League (NLL) and formerly with the Hamilton Nationals of Major League Lacrosse (MLL).

Mark Steenhuis
Born (1980-12-03) December 3, 1980 (age 43)
St. Catharines, Ontario
NationalityCanadian
Height5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight185 pounds (84 kg)
ShootsRight
PositionForward
NLL draft7th overall, 2002
Columbus Landsharks
NLL teamsBuffalo Bandits
Columbus Landsharks
MLL teamsHamilton Nationals
MSL teamPeterborough Lakers
Pro career20022018

Introduction to lacrosse

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Born in St. Catharines, Ontario, Steenhuis graduated from Governor Simcoe Secondary School in 1998. He did not start playing lacrosse until he was 17-years-old, when he was introduced to the game by friend and future Buffalo Bandits teammate, Billy Dee Smith.

NLL career

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Steenhuis made his NLL debut in 2002 with the Columbus Landsharks. After the 2002 season, he was traded to the Buffalo Bandits for goalie Ken Montour. Once in Buffalo, Steenhuis quickly became a fan favorite, due in part to his energetic style of play, goal-scoring ability, and athleticism, but also for his afro hair and bright orange shoes.[1]

Steenhuis was named MVP of the 2004, 2007 and 2009 National Lacrosse League All-Star Games, becoming the first player in NLL history to be named MVP of multiple All-Star Games. He scored six times in 2004 and 2007 and seven times in 2009.[2][3] In 2008, Steenhuis was named the NLL Transition Player of the Year.[4] and the NLL Championship Game MVP.

On February 14, 2009, he set the league single-game records for assists (13) and points (17).[5]

Canadian Box career

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Junior

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After having a surprisingly successful rookie season with the Spartan Warriors in 1999, Steenhuis played two successful years of Jr.A lacrosse with the St. Catharines Athletics, and helped lead the team to a Minto Cup national championship in 2001.

Senior

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Steenhuis began his senior career with the St. Catharines Athletics of Major Series Lacrosse. During his first season, he recorded 20 goals and 50 points, and shared the "Gene Dopp Memorial Trophy" for Rookie of the Year with Mike Miron. The next year, Steenhuis had 54 points in 14 games, and was awarded the "Jim Murphy Trophy" for league Most Valuable Player.[6] In 2004, Steenhuis would have a career high of 91 points in just 17 games, averaging 5.3 points per game. Steenhuis played for the St. Regis Indians in 2008 and 2009 before the team folded. In 2010, Steenhuis was selected 1st overall by the Peterborough Lakers in the St. Regis dispersal draft.[7]

Statistics

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Reference:[8]

Mark Steenhuis Regular Season Playoffs
Season Team GP G A Pts LB PIM Pts/GP LB/GP PIM/GP GP G A Pts LB PIM Pts/GP LB/GP PIM/GP

2002 Columbus Landsharks 12 11 19 30 85 11 2.50 7.08 0.92
2003 Buffalo Bandits 15 16 17 33 128 35 2.20 8.53 2.33 2 1 1 2 24 2 1.00 12.00 1.00
2004 Buffalo Bandits 16 27 17 44 129 20 2.75 8.06 1.25 3 7 4 11 36 2 3.67 12.00 0.67
2005 Buffalo Bandits 16 34 28 62 141 23 3.88 8.81 1.44 1 5 1 6 7 0 6.00 7.00 0.00
2006 Buffalo Bandits 15 34 23 57 144 22 3.80 9.60 1.47 3 5 3 8 17 0 2.67 5.67 0.00
2007 Buffalo Bandits 15 25 24 49 108 4 3.27 7.20 0.27 2 2 1 3 13 2 1.50 6.50 1.00
2008 Buffalo Bandits 15 34 41 75 121 27 5.00 8.07 1.80 3 12 5 17 23 6 5.67 7.67 2.00
2009 Buffalo Bandits 16 51 50 101 117 24 6.31 7.31 1.50 2 4 2 6 6 2 3.00 3.00 1.00
2010 Buffalo Bandits 16 36 54 90 99 27 5.63 6.19 1.69 1 2 4 6 4 0 6.00 4.00 0.00
2011 Buffalo Bandits 16 22 39 61 82 18 3.81 5.13 1.13 2 2 5 7 7 2 3.50 3.50 1.00
2012 Buffalo Bandits 16 27 35 62 75 38 3.88 4.69 2.38 1 1 0 1 10 0 1.00 10.00 0.00
2013 Buffalo Bandits 16 13 26 39 71 29 2.44 4.44 1.81
2014 Buffalo Bandits 18 31 32 63 108 21 3.50 6.00 1.17 3 6 9 15 21 2 5.00 7.00 0.67
2015 Buffalo Bandits 17 36 59 95 68 25 5.59 4.00 1.47 1 1 4 5 5 2 5.00 5.00 2.00
2016 Buffalo Bandits 18 34 38 72 68 36 4.00 3.78 2.00 4 6 5 11 18 6 2.75 4.50 1.50
2017 Buffalo Bandits 18 24 43 67 67 32 3.72 3.72 1.78
2018 Buffalo Bandits 11 4 9 13 30 10 1.18 2.73 0.91
266 459 554 1,013 1,641 402 3.81 6.17 1.51 28 54 44 98 191 26 3.50 6.82 0.93
Career Total: 294 513 598 1,111 1,832 428 3.78 6.23 1.46

GP–Games played; G–Goals; A–Assists; Pts–Points; LB–Loose balls; PIM–Penalty minutes; Pts/GP–Points per games played; LB/GP–Loose balls per games played; PIM/GP–Penalty minutes per games played.

    Regular Season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1999 Spartan Warriors OLA Jr.B 21 11 15 26 20 11 9 3 12 25
1999 St. Catharines Athletics OLA Jr.A 4 0 0 0 0 6 0 2 2 12
2000 St. Catharines Athletics OLA Jr.A 17 22 19 41 14 15 9 12 21 18
2001 St. Catharines Athletics OLA Jr.A 18 18 21 39 35 13 9 20 29 18
Minto Cup St. Catharines Athletics CLA -- -- -- -- -- 6 5 9 14 4
2002 St. Catharines Athletics MSL 19 20 30 50 24 4 7 2 9 15
2003 St. Catharines Athletics MSL 14 36 18 54 34 10 29 19 48 12
2004 St. Catharines Athletics MSL 17 42 49 91 70 3 5 4 9 6
2005 Barrie Lakeshores MSL 16 32 38 70 57 9 17 19 36 27
2006 Barrie Lakeshores MSL 16 18 22 40 8 10 15 19 34 37
2007 Barrie Lakeshores MSL 16 30 50 80 12 4 3 6 9 10
2008 St. Regis Indians MSL 15 34 48 82 16 9 20 20 40 20
2009 St. Regis Indians MSL 10 20 22 42 18 8 22 22 44 12
Junior A Totals 39 40 40 80 49 34 18 34 52 48
Junior B Totals 21 11 15 26 20 11 9 3 12 25
Minto Cup Totals -- -- -- -- -- 6 5 9 14 4
Senior A Totals 123 185 288 473 280 57 118 111 229 139

Awards

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Preceded by NLL Transition Player of the Year
2008
Succeeded by
Preceded by Champion's Cup MVP
2008
Succeeded by

References

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  1. ^ Tutka, Paul (January 1, 2009). "NLL Insider Top 50: Mark Steenhuis #7". NLL Insider. Retrieved 2009-02-25.
  2. ^ "East Wins All-Star Game 20-16". NLL.com. March 11, 2007. Retrieved 2007-03-11.
  3. ^ "East tops West in All-Star Game, 27-21". NLL.com. March 7, 2009. Archived from the original on March 12, 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-08.
  4. ^ "Steenhuis Named Top Transition Player". NLL.com. May 12, 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-12.
  5. ^ Bailey, Budd (February 15, 2009). "Steenhuis has record-setting night". Buffalo News. Archived from the original on March 22, 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-16.
  6. ^ "Trophy Winners In O.L.A. Major/Senior". wampsbibleoflacrosse.com.
  7. ^ "2010 Major Series Lacrosse Draft Results". lacrosseinsidethegame.com.
  8. ^ "Player National Lacrosse League". NLL.com. Retrieved March 9, 2020.