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Williams Traded To Colorado Mammoth

Irving native Zed Williams was traded from the Georgia Swarm to the Colorado Mammoth on Monday. Photo courtesy of Georgia Swarm

DENVER — The Colorado Mammoth have acquired forward Zed Williams and two second-round selections in the 2020 National Lacrosse League Entry Draft from the Georgia Swarm in exchange for defenseman Dan Coates and a first-round selection in the 2020 NLL Entry Draft.

“We’re very excited to add a player of Zed’s caliber and believe he’ll be a great fit here in Colorado,” Mammoth Assistant General Manager Brad Self said Monday. “He’s a strong, creative power forward with a right-handed shot who’s capable of scoring and creating space for his teammates and we’re looking forward to getting him in the lineup next season.”

The trade came to no surprise for Williams who knew that he was being shopped on the trade block.

“I had talked with the owner of the Swarm and I knew he was going to trade me,” Williams said Monday evening. “It was mutual, I just didn’t know where.”

Williams is excited for the opportunity to get into the West Coast lacrosse action whenever the next league season begins.

“It’s going to be a lot of travel,” stated Williams who still lives in Williamsville. “All of the division games are on the West Coast, but I’m OK with that. They have got a very good team. We always had close games with them and they’re always up there in the Western Division.”

With the 2019-20 NLL season officially ending, the Mammoth will have to wait until next season eventually begins to experience Williams, the offensive talent who still holds the high school national goal record after scoring a career total of 444 at Silver Creek. However, they will be able to see him in action this summer when the PLL takes the field in Utah at Zions Bank Stadium from July 25 to Aug. 2. Williams is rostered on the Whipsnakes who are the defending PLL Champions.

In 12 games with the Swarm during the 2019-20 season, the Irving native posted 30 points (18 goals, 12 assists) and four penalty minutes while adding 56 loose balls and one caused turnover.

Drafted by the Georgia Swam fourth overall in the first round of the 2017 NLL Entry Draft, the 25-year-old has spent three seasons with the Swarm.

Despite being featured in an elite offense alongside Lyle Thompson, Randy Staats and Shayne Jackson, the forward ranked fourth in goals (18) and sixth in points (30) this season, while Williams’ 56 loose balls ranked tied for fifth among Swarm players.

The 6-foot 2-inch, 185-pound forward has logged 45 goals and 38 assists for a total of 83 points in 39 career games. Williams logged one goal in his lone 2019 playoff appearance with the Swarm. He also represented the Iroquois national team during the 2019 World Indoor Lacrosse Championship.

The forward recorded a career-high five goals Feb. 22 against the Calgary Roughnecks, and tied his career-best outing with six points (5 goals, 1 assist) that same evening. Williams recorded at least one point in each of his 12 games during the 2019-20 season and recorded at least one goal in 10 of the 12 contests.

“We are elated to get a veteran player of the stature of Dan Coates,” Swarm Owner and General Manager John Arlotta said. “He is an immensely talented defensive player who plays maximum minutes, including man down and face-offs. As good as he is, what our fans will quickly come to recognize is his incredible competitiveness and desire to win. His leadership and character are a perfect fit for the Swarm.”

Coates, 33, was the Mammoth’s team captain from 2016-20, and he was selected by the Mammoth with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2011 NLL Entry Draft. He has logged 128 regular season games in his nine-year NLL career and has 75 points (15 goals, 60 assists), 492 loose balls, 139 caused turnovers, and 476 faceoff wins in 1024 opportunities. In 10 postseason contests, the St. Catharines, Ontario native recorded six points (1 goal, 5 assists) to go with 28 loose balls, 13 caused turnovers, and 45 faceoff wins in 102 chances.

During the 2019-20 season, Coates led the Mammoth to a 7-6 record and the fourth lowest team goals against (9.62 goals against per game). In 12 games, the 33-year-old recorded five points (2 goals, 3 assists), 34 loose balls, and five caused turnovers, while going 20-for-53 in faceoffs. Coates is a graduate of Canisius College.

“Dan Coates has been a leader on each team he has played on,” Swarm Head Coach Ed Comeau said. “He brings a level of intensity in the way he trains, practices, and plays that will help the Swarm. We are excited to bring in another quality player as we prepare for the 2021 NLL Season.”

The deal is currently pending league approval.

Both the Georgia Swarm and Colorado Mammoth contributed to this article.

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