Edmonton, AB - The National Lacrosse League announced its player of the week awards today and Edmonton Rush goaltender Curtis Palidwor earned Defensive Player of the Week honors for his performance in Edmonton's 11-9 win over the Arizona Sting. The day after being traded from New York to Edmonton, Palidwor relieved goaltender Pat Campbell early in the first quarter and played 55:14 in his first game for the Rush. Palidwor recorded 42 saves and allowed only five goals while leading Edmonton to an 11-9 win over the Arizona Sting at home on Saturday.

The Rush acquired the seven-year veteran netminder last week from the expansion team New York Titans in exchange for a 2007 first-round pick n the NLL Entry Draft (previously acquired from Arizona) as well as a conditional fifth-round draft choice.

Palidwor had spent the past four seasons playing for the Calgary Roughnecks and helped that club win the 2004 NLL Champions Cup. Last season with the Roughnecks, Palidwor sported a .791 save-percentage and 10.69 goals-against average - both career bests - but he was placed on the Unprotected List by Calgary for the 2006 NLL Expansion Draft. He was then the Titans' second choice in the Expansion Draft.

The Weekly Player Awards are determined by a vote of the General Managers and Head Coaches of the league's thirteen member clubs.

Additional awards announced:

Buffalo Bandits forward John Tavares earned both the Overall and Offensive Player of the Week Awards after scoring four goals and three assists for seven points in a 12-11 road win over the Chicago Shamrox on Sunday. Tavares scored two of his goals on the power play and added a short handed goal in the victory. The veteran also collected six loose balls.

Philadelphia Wings forward Ian Llord earned Rookie of the Week honors for his performance in Philadelphia's 10-7 road win over the Calgary Roughnecks on Saturday. Llord scored a goal and added an assist for two points and collected seven loose balls while helping Philadelphia to the victory.

Mark Steenhuis of the Buffalo Bandits was named Transition Player of the Week. Steenhuis scored three goals and added an assist for four points and collected three loose balls in a 12-11 road win over the Chicago Shamrox. Steenhuis scored one goal on the power play.