How does the merger between Premier Lacrosse League and Major League Lacrosse affect the Boston Cannons. What changes can fans expect for the Cannons Lacrosse Club in 2021. How will the team’s roster be determined under the new league structure.
The Merger of Premier Lacrosse League and Major League Lacrosse
In a significant development for professional lacrosse, the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) and Major League Lacrosse (MLL) have announced a merger. This consolidation brings together the two competing outdoor leagues in North America, creating a unified professional lacrosse landscape. The merged entity will operate under the PLL banner, marking a new era for the sport.
The merger has several implications for existing teams and fans:
- The PLL will now consist of 8 teams, including the newly integrated Boston Cannons
- The league will adopt PLL’s unique touring model, moving from city to city throughout the season
- Former MLL teams’ rights will be retained by PLL for potential future expansion
Rebranding of Boston Cannons: Introducing Cannons Lacrosse Club
As part of the merger, the Boston Cannons, a stalwart of MLL since 2001, will undergo a significant transformation. The team will be relaunched as Cannons Lacrosse Club (Cannons LC), becoming the PLL’s 8th franchise. This rebranding effort aims to honor the team’s rich history while aligning with the PLL’s vision for the future of professional lacrosse.
Key aspects of the rebranding include:
- A refreshed logo and brand identity
- Overhauled social media presence
- Integration into PLL’s digital platforms
Mike Rabil, CEO and Co-Founder of PLL, emphasized the importance of respecting the Cannons’ legacy: “Core to the relaunch [of Cannons LC] is paying homage to the community and long history of success that has been cultivated under the Boston Cannons leadership and ownership.”
Roster Building and Player Movement for Cannons LC
The transition of the Cannons into the PLL structure raises questions about the team’s roster composition. How will Cannons LC build its team for the 2021 season. The league has outlined a process for determining the new roster:
- An expansion draft will be held in 2021 to select players for Cannons LC
- A transition team consisting of PLL and MLL leadership will oversee the drafting and player movement process
- Details on player retention and free agency are forthcoming
This approach ensures a fair and competitive process for building the Cannons LC roster while integrating players from both leagues.
Impact on Boston and Local Lacrosse Community
The merger and rebranding of the Cannons raise concerns about the team’s connection to its hometown. Will Cannons LC maintain its ties to Boston. The PLL has expressed a commitment to preserving local relationships in historic MLL communities, including Boston.
Mick Davis, PLL VP of Growth, stated: “The Cannons organization brings years of community engagement, youth initiatives, and local partnerships to the PLL. We want any Boston Cannons fan to know that we recognize and respect the history of the organization – and that we’ll work to serve them and continue to build lacrosse in their community in 2021 and beyond.”
While the team will no longer be permanently based in Boston due to PLL’s touring model, the league has identified Boston as a priority market. This commitment is evidenced by the PLL staging its Opening Weekend at Gillette Stadium in both 2019 and 2020.
Transition from Quincy: A New Chapter for the Cannons
Prior to the merger, the Boston Cannons had been playing their home games at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Quincy. The move to the PLL’s touring model means the team will no longer have a fixed home venue. How will this change affect local fans and the Quincy community.
While the loss of a permanent local presence may disappoint some fans, the PLL’s touring model offers several potential benefits:
- Increased national exposure for the Cannons brand
- Opportunities for fans across the country to see the team play
- Potential for higher-quality facilities and production values at each tour stop
The Future of Professional Lacrosse: PLL’s Vision
The merger between PLL and MLL represents a significant shift in the professional lacrosse landscape. What does this consolidation mean for the future of the sport. The PLL, co-founded by lacrosse superstar Paul Rabil and his brother Mike Rabil, has ambitious plans for growing the game:
- Increased media exposure through an exclusive rights agreement with NBC Sports Group
- Backing from major investors in sports and media, including Joe Tsai Sports and Creative Artists Agency (CAA)
- A focus on innovative game formats and fan engagement strategies
The league’s success in attracting investment and media attention bodes well for the sport’s growth potential. In fact, the PLL was named Sports Breakthrough of the Year in 2020 by the Sports Business Journal, highlighting its impact on the lacrosse world.
Challenges and Opportunities in the Unified Lacrosse Landscape
While the merger presents exciting opportunities for professional lacrosse, it also brings challenges. How will the PLL navigate the integration of MLL teams and players. Some potential hurdles and opportunities include:
Challenges:
- Balancing the interests of existing PLL teams with the newly integrated Cannons LC
- Maintaining local fan bases while operating under a touring model
- Harmonizing different organizational cultures and operational practices
Opportunities:
- Leveraging the combined strengths of both leagues to accelerate growth
- Attracting a wider audience through consolidated marketing efforts
- Improving player compensation and career opportunities in a unified league
The success of this merger will largely depend on how effectively the PLL can address these challenges while capitalizing on the opportunities presented by a unified professional lacrosse landscape.
The Role of Technology and Innovation in PLL’s Strategy
As the PLL integrates the Cannons and potentially other MLL assets, technology and innovation are likely to play a crucial role. How does the PLL plan to leverage technology to enhance the fan experience and grow the sport. Some potential areas of focus include:
- Advanced analytics and player tracking to provide deeper insights into the game
- Virtual and augmented reality experiences for remote fans
- Social media integration to boost fan engagement and interaction
- Digital platforms for youth development and grassroots growth of the sport
By embracing cutting-edge technology, the PLL aims to create a modern, engaging product that appeals to both hardcore lacrosse fans and new audiences.
Economic Impact and Growth Potential of Professional Lacrosse
The consolidation of professional outdoor lacrosse under the PLL banner has significant economic implications. What potential does this unified league have for growth and economic impact. Several factors contribute to the optimistic outlook:
- Increased bargaining power for media rights and sponsorships
- Streamlined operations leading to potential cost savings
- Expanded reach through the touring model, tapping into new markets
- Potential for international expansion as the sport grows globally
The PLL’s innovative approach, combined with the established fan bases of MLL teams like the Cannons, creates a strong foundation for future growth. This growth could lead to increased player salaries, improved facilities, and greater investment in youth development programs.
The Evolution of Lacrosse: From Niche Sport to Mainstream Attraction
The merger of PLL and MLL, along with the relaunch of the Cannons, represents a significant milestone in the evolution of lacrosse. How has the sport transformed from a niche activity to a potential mainstream attraction. Several factors have contributed to lacrosse’s growing popularity:
- Increased participation at youth and collegiate levels
- Growing media coverage and exposure
- Crossover appeal to fans of other sports
- Innovations in equipment and gameplay making the sport more accessible
The PLL’s efforts to modernize the professional game and create a more engaging product are aimed at accelerating this trend. By leveraging the history and fan base of teams like the Cannons, while introducing new elements like the touring model, the league hopes to position lacrosse as a major player in the North American sports landscape.
Player Perspective: Opportunities and Challenges in the New League Structure
For players, the merger of PLL and MLL presents both opportunities and challenges. How will the new league structure affect professional lacrosse players. Some key considerations include:
Opportunities:
- Potential for increased salaries and benefits in a more financially stable league
- Greater media exposure and endorsement opportunities
- Chance to compete against the best players from both leagues
- Access to advanced training facilities and resources
Challenges:
- Increased competition for roster spots
- Adaptation to the touring model and its impact on work-life balance
- Potential relocation or team changes for some players
As the league moves forward with its expansion draft and roster-building process for Cannons LC, players from both PLL and MLL backgrounds will need to navigate these new dynamics. The success of the merger will depend in part on how well the league can balance the interests and needs of its players while pursuing its growth objectives.
Fan Engagement: Bridging the Gap Between Traditional and Modern Lacrosse
One of the key challenges facing the PLL as it integrates the Cannons and potentially other MLL assets is maintaining and growing fan engagement. How can the league bridge the gap between traditional lacrosse fans and the modern audience it seeks to attract. Several strategies could be employed:
- Honoring team histories and traditions while introducing new elements
- Creating interactive digital experiences that complement live events
- Developing content that educates new fans about the sport’s nuances
- Fostering a sense of community through social media and fan events
By striking a balance between respecting lacrosse’s rich heritage and embracing innovation, the PLL aims to create a product that appeals to longtime fans of teams like the Cannons while also attracting new supporters to the sport.
The Global Perspective: Lacrosse’s International Growth Potential
While the merger of PLL and MLL is primarily focused on the North American market, it has implications for lacrosse’s global growth. How might this consolidated professional league impact the sport’s international development. Several factors come into play:
- Increased resources for promoting lacrosse globally
- Potential for international tour stops or exhibition games
- Greater visibility for top players, inspiring international youth
- Opportunities for collaboration with international lacrosse organizations
As lacrosse continues to gain popularity worldwide, with efforts underway to include it in future Olympic Games, the success of the PLL and its integration of established brands like the Cannons could play a crucial role in shaping the sport’s global future.
Youth Development: Nurturing the Next Generation of Lacrosse Stars
The merger of PLL and MLL, along with the relaunch of the Cannons, has significant implications for youth lacrosse development. How will this unified professional league impact young players and grassroots programs. Several potential benefits emerge:
- Increased visibility of professional players as role models
- More resources for youth clinics and development programs
- Clearer pathway from youth to professional lacrosse
- Potential for expanded college scholarships as the sport grows
By leveraging the combined strengths of both leagues, including the Cannons’ established youth initiatives, the PLL has the opportunity to make a significant impact on the development of young lacrosse talent. This focus on youth development could be crucial for ensuring the long-term growth and sustainability of the sport at all levels.
Premier Lacrosse League Relaunch Boston Cannons As Cannons Lacrosse Club
LOS ANGELES, CA. (January 12, 2021) – The Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) announced today the relaunch of the Boston Cannons as Cannons Lacrosse Club (Cannons LC). The club was recently announced as the PLL’s 8th team, which came into the league through a merger with the 20-year incumbent Major League Lacrosse (MLL).
The relaunch of Cannons LC includes a refreshed logo, marks, and brand identity plus an overhaul of Cannons LC on social media and inclusion on PLL web. The rebranding efforts surrounding Cannons LC will maintain consistency with the team’s historic name and branding, while adding elements to compliment the new direction of the team and create consistency within the broader league ecosystem.
“Core to the relaunch [of Cannons LC] is paying homage to the community and long history of success that has been cultivated under the Boston Cannons leadership and ownership,” says PLL CEO and Co-Founder Mike Rabil. “While we work to bring the Cannons into the Premier Lacrosse League, we do so armed with 20 years of Cannons history, including two MLL Championships and countless legendary performances.”
“The re-launch of the Boston Cannons as Cannons LC is the first step in what will be an exciting 2021, a new chapter for professional lacrosse,” says Ian Frenette, who has served as President of the Cannons for the past five years. “The Cannons look forward to continuing our relationship with our partners and dedicated fans under refreshed marks as a part of the now-unified professional lacrosse landscape.”
The announcement of the Cannons relaunch marks early progress within a broader effort of the PLL and MLL merger. While details remain forthcoming, the league has identified a transition team consisting of PLL and MLL leadership to determine and communicate other core outcomes from the merger – including drafting and player movement – which will shape the new Cannons LC roster in the coming months.
The league has also indicated interest in maintaining local relationships within historic MLL communities, including Boston – the original home city of the Cannons. Boston has been a priority market for the PLL since inception, staging Opening Weekend at Gillette Stadium in both 2019 and 2020.
“The Cannons organization brings years of community engagement, youth initiatives, and local partnerships to the PLL,” says PLL VP of Growth Mick Davis. “We want any Boston Cannons fan to know that we recognize and respect the history of the organization – and that we’ll work to serve them and continue to build lacrosse in their community in 2021 and beyond.”
Please direct all inquiries to [email protected] and [email protected]
ABOUT PREMIER LACROSSE LEAGUE
The Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) is a men’s professional lacrosse league in North America, composed of 8 teams rostered with the best players in the world. Co-founded by lacrosse superstar, philanthropist, and investor Paul Rabil and his brother, serial entrepreneur and investor, Mike Rabil, the Premier Lacrosse League is backed by an investment group composed of Joe Tsai Sports, Brett Jefferson Holdings, The Raine Group, Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and other top investors in sports and media. The PLL was named Sports Breakthrough of the Year in 2020 by the Sports Business Journal. The PLL season is distributed through an exclusive media-rights agreement with NBC Sports Group. For more information, visit www.premierlacrosseleague.com and follow on social media: Instagram (@PLL), Twitter (@PremierLacrosse), Facebook (@PremierLacrosseLeague) and YouTube (YouTube.com/PLL).
Boston Cannons abandon Quincy to join new pro lacrosse league
Staff reports
| The Patriot Ledger
The Boston Cannons, a pro lacrosse team that played its home games in Quincy, are moving out of the city as the franchise switches leagues.
Major League Lacrosse, the Cannons’ home since their inaugural 2001 season, is merging with the Premier Lacrosse League. The move combines the country’s two competing outdoor leagues into one league that will operate under the PLL banner.
The PLL, which only launched last year, features a unique setup in which teams are not affiliated with individual cities. Instead, the whole league moves from city to city throughout the season, staging mini-tournaments. The 2019 campaign featured a 14-week schedule spread among 12 major-market cities.
The Cannons will become the PLL’s eighth franchise and will be rebranded as the Cannons Lacrosse Club. The Cannons roster will be entirely selected through an expansion draft in 2021. The PLL will retain the rights to all of the former MLL teams for future expansion considerations.
The Cannons played their home games at Quincy’s Veterans Memorial Stadium in 2019. Previous home sites were Cawley Memorial Stadium in Lowell, Nickerson Field (Boston University) and Harvard Stadium.
The Cannons won the final MLL championship this summer. The league staged an abbreviated, 10-day campaign in a sports bubble in Annapolis, Maryland, and the Cannons beat the Denver Outlaws, 13-10, in the title game to claim the Steinfeld Cup for the second time in franchise history. They also won in 2011.
According to a statement from the PLL, the PLL and MLL have created an internal team that will oversee the merger, including: front office, team and player orientation; the 2021 season schedule, which will include former MLL team markets; and a long-term plan to develop youth lacrosse players in historical MLL communities.
Details on the 2021 expansion draft, including how transitioning MLL players may enter the PLL player pool, will be announced at a later date.
In a statement, MLL Commissioner Sandy Brown said: “This merger only benefits the future of the game, for it combines the history of professional lacrosse with an innovative approach that has already accelerated the game’s growth. Further, the major market commercial opportunities are at their infancy. The runway for a combined effort is robust.”
Lacrosse stars Mike and Paul Rabil co-founded the Premier Lacrosse League, which has a TV deal with NBC.
In a statement, Mike Rabil, the league’s CEO, said: “The unification of PLL and MLL puts the game first by providing our athletes and fans a single destination for the best lacrosse in the world, across every medium, coming this Summer 2021 on NBC Sports. I can’t think of anything better and more exciting for the sport.”
Added Paul Rabil: “The PLL and MLL partnership is a massive step forward for professional lacrosse. Merging the two organizations and removing some of the challenges that athletes, sponsors and fans faced will undoubtedly advance the game forward. This one’s particularly nostalgic for me and a number of PLL players given that we began our careers and played in championship games with MLL prior to the PLL’s launch. Today and forever we share in that history and continue to build the future of pro lacrosse together.”
Boston Cannons No More As PLL Announces Team Rebrand
The Boston Cannons are no more. On Tuesday the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) announced that the Boston Cannons would relaunch as Cannons Lacrosse Club (Cannons LC). Boston had been a founding club of the 20-year-old Major League Lacrosse (MLL) but it was announced recently that Boston would merge with the PLL and become the league’s 8th team.
“The re-launch of the Boston Cannons as Cannons LC is the first step in what will be an exciting 2021, a new chapter for professional lacrosse,” says Ian Frenette, who has served as President of the Cannons for the past five years. “The Cannons look forward to continuing our relationship with our partners and dedicated fans under refreshed marks as a part of the now-unified professional lacrosse landscape.”
In this relaunch, the identity both from imaging and from a marketing perspective have drastically changed for the Cannons. Given there is actual history with the Cannons they are paying homage to that by keeping the name and much of its colorways and branding.
“Core to the relaunch [of Cannons LC] is paying homage to the community and long history of success that has been cultivated under the Boston Cannons leadership and ownership,” says PLL CEO and Co-Founder Mike Rabil. “While we work to bring the Cannons into the Premier Lacrosse League, we do so armed with 20 years of Cannons history, including two MLL Championships and countless legendary performances.”
There is still a lot of unknowns about the PLL and MLL merger with a transition team in place to determine the next steps for the new league such as drafting and player movement. In the press release, the league did make a point that they were interested in maintaining relationships in Boston and the local community.
The Cannons have called Boston home for the past twenty years and the MLL league offices resided in the area as well. There has been a clear encouragement from both the team and the league to transition Cannons fans from MLL to PLL but that will truly remain to be seen. PLL did host its Opening Weekend at Gillette Stadium for its first two seasons but the difference between coming in for one weekend and playing in the community on weekly basis is completely different.
“The Cannons organization brings years of community engagement, youth initiatives, and local partnerships to the PLL,” says PLL VP of Growth Mick Davis. “We want any Boston Cannons fan to know that we recognize and respect the history of the organization – and that we’ll work to serve them and continue to build lacrosse in their community in 2021 and beyond.”
PLL and MLL coming together does provide lacrosse fans with a unified landscape and one that can pool resources to build going forward. It is great that the history of the Cannons is being carried forward into the tour-based PLL model but the lack of a Boston base does disconnect the team from the original fanbase regardless of their efforts to keep it intact.
It has been a pleasure to write about the Cannons for the past couple of seasons. Going forward we at Trifecta Sports will no longer be covering the team due to it no longer being a local product.
2021 PLL Schedule Partially Announced
Presented by FlexForce
We might still be waiting on an official 2021 PLL schedule, but the No. 1 opponent is pretty clear at this point: COVID-19.
This week, the Premier Lacrosse League announced a return to the tour format that was the league’s signature (critics, though I’m not one of them, would say gimmicky) format before the pandemic forced the league into a bubble for 2020. Beginning on June 4, the PLL plans to hit 11 cities as part of its 2021 43-game schedule.
That seems … aggressive. As I’m writing this out in Oregon, my gym remains closed. There were just fewer than 200,000 new COVID-19 cases in the United States yesterday. Granted, the vaccine is starting to get rolled out, but the league assuming that it’ll not only be able to hit 11 cities nationwide by June, especially with fans in attendance, seems unlikely given the current situation nationally. We’ll have to wait and see how it goes.
“Our team is monitoring the evolution of COVID-19 and ongoing access to vaccinations, and we remain steadfast in working closely with our medical committee to deliver a safe path forward to our 2021 season,” PLL CEO and co-founder Mike Rabil said of the schedule in a press release. “The ability to travel and perform in markets across North America is core to the foundation of the PLL, which emphasizes growth of lacrosse through access to the world’s best players.”
As someone who was hyped to be attending their Portland weekend in 2020 before it got scrapped for the bubble, I’m eager to be able to go watch pro lacrosse in my home state, something I’ve never been able to do before. I’m also eager to not risk death to do so. We’ll see which is more likely by June.
Last Week in Lacrosse
-Athletes Unlimited announced another wave of players in their player pool for the 2021 women’s pro field season, including Sam Apuzzo and Katrina Dowd. This league is going to be crazy stacked for 2021.
-In a sad turn of events, there won’t be a spring season for the Onondaga CC Lazers after the school cancelled all spring sports earlier this week. The elite community college program will have to wait for 2022 to resume play.
-Cannons LC, formerly the Boston Cannons, made its new branding and logos official as it continues to work out how the PLL-MLL merger will go down. Cannons LC will be the first MLL franchise in the PLL, although the PLL retained the rights to the other MLL franchises for future expansion.
-Albany coach Scott Marr hopes that the Great Danes will begin the 2021 season on Feb. 27. Final approval is still in the works, but we could finally see a schedule from one of our top 20 teams soon.
-Meanwhile, we do have a schedule from one of the best women’s programs in the nation, as No. 1 UNC has dropped its 2021 schedule. The Tar Heels are set to begin play on Feb. 13 against James Madison.
-Across the pond, the British women’s national team is trying to get their status as a “recreational sport” changed so it can resume training for the 2022 women’s world games.
-Bellarmine men’s lacrosse also released its 2021 schedule, giving us a look at how others might appear when released. With multiple ACC teams listed, it appears that the ACC will not be following the same modifications as the Patriot League.
Get Caught Up on LAS Content!
Miss out on what we did last week? Here’s a recap of some of our top content from the last seven days:
#Shots4Stew Campaign Aims to Make a Difference for Stew Curran
Stew Curran is a big deal in the Massachusetts lacrosse world, so PrimeTime Lacrosse rallied to fight brain cancer with #Shots4Stew after the coach was diagnosed with partially methylated glioblastoma.
Photo courtesy of Vin Curran.
What Is the Best Lacrosse Game Ever?
It started with a tweet, and the replies led Ryan Conwell to dig deeper into what was the best lacrosse game ever played. While he did narrow it down to one, he also compiled plenty of others than deserve recognition. These are the results.
What are the best 3 lacrosse games you’ve ever seen?
— Ryan Conwell (@RyConw) January 22, 2019
Player Profile: Spain’s Fernando Martinez Sierra
If not for a couple of James Harden free throws, Fernando Martinez Sierra wouldn’t have picked up a lacrosse stick. This is how the Spanish national team player won a lost bet.
Anish Shroff – A Driving Voice
Last week, Going Offsides welcomes Anish Shroff in as its guest, with the broadcaster discussing his lacrosse story and the other elements of his life that define him.
Duke vs Syracuse Lacrosse 2021: You Decide
Duke and Syracuse appear to be the two strongest teams heading into the 2021 men’s college lacrosse season. Vote on which team has the better attack, midfield, defense and more and see who Ryder Cochrane thinks has the edge.
Cannons don’t plan to abandon Quincy with PLL merger
Jay N. Miller
| Special to the News
There was an impression that Quincy would lose the Boston Cannons franchise after finding out about the merger of Major League Lacrosse (MLL) with the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL).
But that may not be the case. At least anytime soon.
While the MLL played a traditional schedule of games, usually home-and-away contests between the teams, the PLL employed a touring schedule. Before going to a bubble format for the 2020 season due to COVID-19, during its inaugural season in 2019, the PLL traveled to 12 major-market cities over the course of a 14-week season.
The press release of the merger said that the Cannons would become the PLL’s eighth team while the other MLL squads would disband. Players for all the 2021 PLL teams would be chosen in an upcoming expansion draft. That was especially painful news for Cannons fans, as not only had the team won the 2020 MLL championship after the shortened season and playoffs in a bubble at Annapolis, but they had established a firm base in the local lacrosse community.
Cannons president Ian Frenette said the team still plans to keep its roots in Quincy, though. The Cannons fully intend to remain in their Quincy headquarters, continue to utilize Memorial Stadium for their many youth programs and try as much as possible to maintain their Boston-area identity.
“There are no plans in place yet, so we don’t know how it will work,” said Frenette about leaving or staying at Memorial Stadium. “But our relationship with the city of Quincy is extremely important to the big picture for us. We have to start planning for 2021 right now, but I don’t see us giving up that relationship. Again, there are a lot of details, and a lot of things that still need to be done, so I would urge patience.”
The MLL had been around for 20 years, ever since “Body By Jake” founder Jake Steinfeld had the idea and the financial backing to launch the league in 2001. The Cannons played their first few years at Cawley Stadium in Lowell, then moved to Boston University’s Nickerson Field and Harvard Stadium in subsequent years. But as lacrosse exploded all over New England, they always had a solid core of fans, and their youth programs were continually popular.
The PLL’s maiden season was a success, but the merger news was still a surprise.
“In the lacrosse industry, change is pretty much constant,” Frenette said. “If you just looked back at how it looked in 2018, versus how it changed in 2020 to 2021, you see it is very different. For the Cannons as a whole, our position in the local community is very important to our structure and our business model. We have built on that through the years and I don’t see that we want to lose that. Playing in Boston has been very important to us, and now playing in Quincy is very important to us.”
But how does that Boston/Quincy identity survive in the touring tournament format of the PLL?
“What you must realize is that what the MLL brings to this match is that we bring the cities in. All the power that the MLL brings to this dance is that we ‘own’ the cities, so to speak, where we’ve had teams for years and years,” Frenette said. “The PLL wanted to work with that, which is partly what made for such an easy path for this merger to happen.”
Quincy’s Memorial Stadium underwent a $1.5 million renovation when the Cannons called Quincy home in 2019. As of right now, it’s unclear if the Cannons will continue to call Quincy home.
“I just want to urge all our fans to be patient, and give us all the time to work it out, and come up with the best format. Right now, the key word is patience,” Frenette said. “… We’re all trying to see what makes the best out of the two entities – the PLL and MLL – to keep building and expanding our sport. A lot more information will come out about this merger in January and February, as our transition teams make some decisions and put it all together.”
Boston Cannons – Outdoor Lacrosse on OurSports Central
Lacrosse >> Outdoor Lacrosse >> MLL >> Boston Cannons
December 16, 2020 – QUINCY, MA – The PLL and MLL have merged with all operations to formally exist under the Premier Lacrosse League. As a part of the merger, the PLL will immediately expand to include the Boston Cannons as the PLL’s eighth team, under the rebranded name of Cannons Lacrosse Club.
The Cannons Lacrosse Club roster will be entirely selected through an Expansion Draft in 2021.
About the Boston Cannons:
The Boston Cannons are a Founding Member of Major League Lacrosse (MLL) and one of the most recognizable global lacrosse … Full Story
More Boston Cannons stories below
December 14, 2020 – Major League Lacrosse star Frank Brown of the Boston Cannons recently launched the first Cousin Brownie Holiday Give Back, whose mission is to benefit Seneca families of the Iroquois Confederacy from the Allegany and Cattaraugus territories.
The Cousin Brownie Holiday Give Back has created an Amazon Wish List in partnership with Seneca Nation Child and Family Services. For every $10 spent on toys or donations, individuals will be granted one raffle ticket. The raffle ticket includes items from professional lacrosse … Full Story
November 24, 2020 – BOSTON -Â Upon the game’s inception, the Native Americans who first played lacrosse said it is so meaningful, it has the ability to heal those who play it. Boston Cannons Attackman Randy Staats has to agree.
“I always grew up on the reserve, but not in our traditional ways,” he said. “Whenever I played lacrosse, I never really thought of anything outside or let anything bother me. It was a getaway from what I had going on in my life at the time.”
Staats also elaborated on the healing aspect of the Creator’s Game for … Full Story
November 17, 2020 – While Boston Cannons midfielder Kyle Jackson wasn’t fully emerged in his Native American background when he was first born, lacrosse has helped Jackson learn about his culture and the importance of the origins of the game.
“I’m a blonde-haired, blue-eyed Native American,” Jackson said. “I also didn’t really grow up in the typical reservation, like Six Nations, where lacrosse was at the forefront of everybody’s mind. I’m the outlier in 99.9 percent of the cases, and it doesn’t cause problems by any means, but it puts me in… Full Story
- Major League Lacrosse and Premier Lacrosse League Merge – December 16, 2020
- Frank Brown Uses his Platform to Make a Difference – December 14, 2020
- Randy Staats Reflects on the Creator’s Game – November 24, 2020
- Lacrosse Helps Integrate Kyle Jackson with Native American Background – November 17, 2020
- Checking in with MVP Bryce Wasserman – October 14, 2020
- Cannons’ Kyle Jackson Hosts Podcast – September 30, 2020
- Boston Cannons to Host Steinfeld Trophy Presentation at Home Stadium Thursday – August 24, 2020
- Boston Cannons Earn 2020 MLL Championship – July 26, 2020
- We’re Back: Our 2020 Schedule Is Here – July 2, 2020
- Cannons 2020 Draft Recap – May 6, 2020
- Boston Cannons Prepare for 2020 Draft – April 23, 2020
- Boston Cannons, Sean Quirk Announce 2020 Coaching Staff – April 20, 2020
- All Today’s News
2020 MLL Champion Boston Cannons
Team Photo Gallery
League: Major League Lacrosse
Home: Boston, Massachusetts
Class: Outdoor
Website: Boston Cannons site
Schedule: Full Boston Cannons Schedule
Message Board: MLL forum
Statistics: Full Boston Cannons Statisticsreport this ad
Sun. , Jul 26 | W | Boston 13 at Denver 10 (Annapolis, MD; Championship) | Final |
Sat., Jul 25 | Boston at Denver (Annapolis, MD; Playoff) | Cancelled | |
Fri., Jul 24 | W | Denver 8 at Boston 10 (Annapolis, MD) | Final |
Thu., Jul 23 | L | Boston 8 at Connecticut 11 (Annapolis, MD) | Final |
Tue., Jul 21 | W | Philadelphia 10 at Boston 12 (Annapolis, MD) | Final |
Mon., Jul 20 | L | Boston 13 at Chesapeake 15 (Annapolis, MD) | Final |
All times Eastern On game days, refresh page for latest results Full Boston Cannons Schedule and Results |
OurSports Central provides coverage of the following independent and minor league teams near the Boston Cannons:
FROM PREMIER LACROSSE LEAGUE: THE PREMIER LACROSSE LEAGUE AND MAJOR LEAGUE LACROSSE ANNOUNCE MERGER
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, December 16th, 2020
FROM PREMIER LACROSSE LEAGUE: THE PREMIER LACROSSE LEAGUE AND MAJOR LEAGUE LACROSSE ANNOUNCE MERGER
LOS ANGELES (December 16, 2020) – The Premier Lacrosse League (“PLL”) and Major League Lacrosse (“MLL”) have merged with subsequent season operations and activities to formally exist under the Premier Lacrosse League.
As part of the merger, the PLL will immediately expand to include the Boston Cannons as the PLL’s eighth team, under the rebranded name Cannons Lacrosse Club. The Cannons Lacrosse Club roster will be entirely selected through an Expansion Draft in 2021. Additionally, the PLL will retain the rights to all of the former MLL teams for future expansion considerations.
The PLL and MLL have created an internal team that will oversee the success of the transition, including: front office, team and player orientation; the 2021 season schedule, which will include former MLL team markets; and a long-term plan to develop youth lacrosse players in historical MLL communities.
In the coming months, details will be announced regarding the 2021 Expansion Draft, as well as more information on how transitioning MLL players may enter the PLL Player Pool.
MLL Commissioner, Sandy Brown, explained, “this merger only benefits the future of the game, for it combines the history of professional lacrosse with an innovative approach that has already accelerated the game’s growth. Further, the major market commercial opportunities are at their infancy. The runway for a combined effort is robust.”
PLL co-founder and CEO, Mike Rabil, responded saying, “the unification of PLL and MLL puts the game first by providing our athletes and fans a single destination for the best lacrosse in the world, across every medium, coming this Summer 2021 on NBC Sports. I can’t think of anything better and more exciting for the sport.”
PLL co-founder and CMO, Paul Rabil, stated, “the PLL and MLL partnership is a massive step forward for professional lacrosse. Merging the two organizations and removing some of the challenges that athletes, sponsors and fans faced will undoubtedly advance the game forward. This one’s particularly nostalgic for me and a number of PLL players given that we began our careers and played in championship games with MLL prior to the PLL’s launch. Today and forever we share in that history and continue to build the future of pro lacrosse together.”
About PLL
The Premier Lacrosse League is a men’s professional lacrosse league in North America, composed of 7 teams rostered with the best players in the world. Co-founded by lacrosse superstar and investor, Paul Rabil, and his brother, serial entrepreneur and investor, Mike Rabil, the Premier Lacrosse League is backed by an investment group composed of Joe Tsai Sports, Brett Jefferson Holdings, The Raine Group, Creative Artists Agency (CAA), and other top investors in sports and media. The PLL was named Sports Breakthrough of the Year in 2020 by the Sports Business Journal and is distributed through an exclusive media-rights agreement with NBC Sports Group.
For more information, visit PremierLacrosseLeague.com, and follow on social media:
Instagram: @PLL
Tik Tok: @PLL
Twitter: @PremierLacrosse
Facebook: @PremierLacrosseLeague
YouTube: YouTube.com/PLL
90,000 Schedule and results Boston 2020-2021 Match statistics Pribalt.info
January 15
New Jersey – Boston
2: 3 B (0: 1, 0: 0, 2: 1, 0: 0, 0: 1) match review
January 16
New Jersey – Boston
2: 1 OT (1: 0, 0: 1, 0: 0, 1: 0) match review
January 22
Boston – Philadelphia
5: 4 B (0: 0, 0: 2, 4: 2, 0: 0, 1: 0) match review
January 27
Boston – Pittsburgh
3: 2 OT (1: 0, 1: 0, 0: 2, 1: 0) match review
January 31
Washington – Boston
4: 3 OT (1: 0, 2: 1, 0: 2, 1: 0) match review
February 4
Philadelphia – Boston
3: 4 OT (0: 1, 1: 0, 2: 2, 0: 1) match review
11 February
Rangers – Boston
2: 3 OT (1: 0, 0: 1, 1: 1, 0: 1) match review
February 14
Islanders – Boston
4: 2 (2: 1, 0: 1, 2: 0)
February 19
Boston – New Jersey
2: 3 (0: 0, 1: 3, 1: 0)
March 4
Boston – Washington
1: 2 B (0: 0, 0: 0, 1: 1, 0: 0, 0: 1) match review
March 10
Islanders – Boston
2: 1 B (0: 1, 1: 0, 0: 0, 0: 0, 2: 1) match review
March 16
Pittsburgh – Boston
4: 1 (2: 1, 1: 0, 1: 0)
March 17
Pittsburgh – Boston
1: 2 (1: 1, 0: 0, 0: 1)
March 19
Buffalo – Boston
1: 4 (0: 1, 1: 2, 0: 1)
March 26
Boston – Islanders
3: 4 OT (2: 0, 0: 1, 1: 2, 0: 1)
March 27
Boston – Buffalo
3: 2 (0: 1, 1: 1, 2: 0)
March 29
Boston – New Jersey
0: 1 (0: 1, 0: 0, 0: 0)
March 31
Boston – New Jersey
5: 4 B (1: 2, 1: 2, 2 : 0, 0: 0, 2: 0) o match review
April 6
Boston – Philadelphia
2: 3 OT (1: 1, 1: 0, 0: 1, 0: 1) match review
April 12 2:00
Boston – Washington
14 April 2:00
Boston – Buffalo
April 16 2:00
Boston – Islanders
April 17 2:00
Boston – Islanders
April 18 19:00
Boston – Washington
April 21 2:00
Buffalo – Boston
23 April 2:00
Buffalo – Boston
April 24 2:00
Buffalo – Boston
April 25 22:00
Pittsburgh – Boston
April 28 2:00
Pittsburgh – Boston
April 30 : 00
Boston – Buffalo
May 1 20:00
Boston – Buffalo
May 4 2:00
New Jersey – Boston
May 5 2:00
New Jersey – Boston
7 May 2:00
Boston – Rangers
May 9 2:00
Boston – Rangers
May 11 2:00
Boston – Islanders
May 12 2:00 900 03
Washington – Boston
Season: | 2020-2021 |
Total matches: | 56 |
Past / Future: | 38/18 (68%) |
Wins: | 21 (55%) |
Lost: | 17 (45%) |
Washers: | 108-96 (+12) |
03. 01.2020 | 23: 00 | Turkish Airlines EuroLeague | Valencia Basket | Away | 91: 77 | 7809 | |
09.01.2020 | 22: 00 | Turkish Airlines EuroLeague | Maccabi Plates | Homes | 89: 95 | 8616 | |
fourteen.01.2020 | 22: 00 | Turkish Airlines EuroLeague | Olympiacos | Away | 86: 93 | 7233 | |
17.01.2020 | 21: 00 | Turkish Airlines EuroLeague | Crvena Zvezda MTS | Away | 85: 94 | 14376 | |
24.01.2020 | 21: 00 | Turkish Airlines EuroLeague | Zalgiris | Away | 104: 80 | 14869 | |
30.01.2020 | 21: 30 | Turkish Airlines EuroLeague | Fenerbahce Beko | Houses | 70: 74 | 12122 | |
04.02.2020 | 22: 45 | Turkish Airlines EuroLeague | AX Armani Exchange Milan | Away | 96: 102 | 7036 | |
06.02.2020 | 22: 00 | Turkish Airlines EuroLeague | Real | Houses | 97: 103 | 10457 | |
20.02.2020 | 20: 00 | Turkish Airlines EuroLeague | Zenith | Away | 81: 83 | 3732 | |
27. 02.2020 | 22: 00 | Turkish Airlines EuroLeague | Anadolu Ephesus | Houses | 86: 99 | 9343 | |
04.03.2020 | 22: 00 | Turkish Airlines EuroLeague | Barcelona | Houses | 80: 84 | 8797 | |
06.03.2020 | 23: 00 | Turkish Airlines EuroLeague | TD Systems Baskonia | Away | 73: 72 | 8725 | |
postponed | Turkish Airlines EuroLeague | CSKA | Away | preview | – | |
postponed | Turkish Airlines EuroLeague | Panathinaikos OPAP | Houses | preview | – | |
postponed | Turkish Airlines EuroLeague | Bavaria | Away | preview | – | |
postponed | Turkish Airlines EuroLeague | Valencia Basket | Home | preview | – | |
postponed | Turkish Airlines EuroLeague | LDLC ASVEL | Houses | preview | – | |
postponed | Turkish Airlines EuroLeague | Khimki | Houses | preview | – | |
01.10.2020 | 21:05 | Turkish Airlines EuroLeague | Maccabi Pleytika | Away | 80: 73 | – | |
09. 10.2020 | 21: 00 | Turkish Airlines EuroLeague | Bavaria | Houses | 72: 90 | – | |
13.10.2020 | 21: 00 | Turkish Airlines EuroLeague | Anadolu Ephesus | Houses | 72: 93 | – | |
sixteen.10.2020 | 20: 00 | Turkish Airlines EuroLeague | CSKA | Away | 88: 93 | – | |
05.11.2020 | 21: 00 | Turkish Airlines EuroLeague | Barcelona | Houses | 67: 103 | – | |
12.11.2020 | 22: 00 | Turkish Airlines EuroLeague | Olympiacos | Away | 75: 71 | – | |
eighteen.11.2020 | 22: 00 | Turkish Airlines EuroLeague | LDLC ASVEL | Houses | 76: 75 | – | |
20.11.2020 | 22: 00 | Turkish Airlines EuroLeague | Zenith | Houses | 66: 73 | – | |
26.11.2020 | 22: 00 | Turkish Airlines EuroLeague | Khimki | Houses | 100: 80 | – | |
01.12.2020 | 22: 45 | Turkish Airlines EuroLeague | AX Armani Exchange Milan | Away | 75: 55 | – | |
03.12.2020 | 23: 00 | Turkish Airlines EuroLeague | Valencia Basket | Away | 92: 100 | – | |
10. 12.2020 | 22: 00 | Turkish Airlines EuroLeague | Fenerbahce Beko | Houses | 89: 63 | – | |
15.12.2020 | 21: 00 | Turkish Airlines EuroLeague | Crvena Zvezda MTS | Away | 84: 90 | – | |
17.12.2020 | 22: 00 | Turkish Airlines EuroLeague | Panathinaikos OPAP | Visiting | 92: 69 | – | |
22.12.2020 | 23: 00 | Turkish Airlines EuroLeague | Real | Away | 91: 62 | – | |
12/29/2020 | 22: 00 | Turkish Airlines EuroLeague | Zalgiris | Houses | 71: 74 | – |
90,000 Premier League 2021 – 2021 Premier Lacrosse League season
Lacrosse Premier League Third Season
Sports season
2021 Premier Lacrosse League Season will be the third Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) season.2021 will mark a return to the touring format that the league followed in 2019 after playing the bubble tournament in 2020 due to concerns about COVID-19. 2021 also represents a return to one single professional field Lacrosse format following the Major League Lacrosse and Premier League Lacrosse announced that they were merging on December 16, 2020. This monumental fusion sees the Guns Lacrosse Club moving from MP FAPCHA as the 8th team set on the project extensions.Like last season, the Whipsnakes Lacrosse Club will be the reigning champions of the league this year.
Extension
The addition of an eighth team, the Cannons Lacrosse Club, provides scheduling flexibility and natural breaks for each team throughout the season. While MLL fielded six teams last season and PLL seven, after the merger, PLL decided to expand its operations with just one team in order to maintain the highest level of competition.The Cannons will form their initial core of the PLL roster by drafting the expansion of unprotected players from the other seven clubs. Former MLL players will have the opportunity to join the squad through the March 25th New Player Draft.
Player Movement
The 2021 PLL waiver application period and the trading period began on February 9th. Expansion Call-Protected Membership Lists are to be announced on February 28, and a waiver subscription is closing.The Cannons Lacrosse Club will host an Expansion Draft on March 11, and the entire league will participate in a draft for former MLL players on March 25. The disclaimer telegram will be reopened for Cannons on March 26, and for other teams on March 30. The 2021 Collegiate Drafting will take place on April 6. The end of the movement of players through the trade windows and the disclaimer are scheduled for April. thirty.
A | Attack | D | Protection | FOS | Throw-in Specialist | ||
grams | Goalkeeper | LSM | Long stick midfielder | M | Midfielder | ||
SSDM | Short Stick Defensive Midfielder |
Waiver of rights
The first league waiver application period began on February 9th.Notable players who changed teams during this time included:
trades
During 2021, the league made the following notable deals:
- Feb 11: Atlas traded Rob Pannell for the Redwoods for third overall pick in the 2021 draft and second round in the 2022 college draft.
- February 25: Chaos trades Connor Fields for the Archers for Ian McKay.
- Feb 28: Atlas sends Paul Rabil and the sixth overall pick in the 2021 draft to the Cannons for the ninth overall pick in the 2021 draft, the eighth overall pick in the 2021 draft, and the first round pick in the 2022 college draft.
- March 2: Atlas sends Ryan Brown to the Waterdogs for eleventh place in the 2021 college draft.
Noticeable pensions
The following notable players have retired prior to the 2021 season:
- Kevin Buchanan – Started his professional career at the Los Angeles Riptide in 2008. Also spent time with the Bayhawks, Chicago Machine and Boston Cannons. Buchanan has spent the past two seasons at the Chaos Lacrosse Club. He retires with 282 outdoor career points.At the time of his retirement, Buchanan also had 421 points in NLL.
- Matt Danouski – Seven-time All-Star, three-time All-Pro and Co-Captain of the 2018 World Champion for the USA national team. During his 13-year career, he played for Pride, Lizards, Hounds, Bayhawks and Chrome.
- M Jeremy Sieverts is a seven-time All-Star champion and five-time champion in both MLL and PLL after not being drafted. Played eleven seasons with Bayhawks, Outlaws and Whipsnakes.
- SSDM Ty Warner – Developed in Florida in 2018. Two-time PLL Champion with Whipsnakes and George Boyardi Hard Hat SSDM of the Year (2020 PLL Championship Series). Warner announced that he is giving up lacrosse to focus on medical school, and his rights will be retained for the Whipsnakes until the 2022 season if he decides to return.
Other pensions
- Andrew Hodgson
- Joe Locazio
- Tyler Pfister
- Brett Schmidt
Expansion project
The Cannons Expansion Draft will take place on Thursday, March 11th to select a starting lineup of players left unprotected by their team on March 1st.
Extension draft format:
- Draft 18 rounds
- Maximum 3 players selected for an existing PLL team
- Existing teams will be protected by 14 players (1-2 goalkeepers + 12-13 outfield players).
- Teams must defend players selected in the 2020 College Draft.
Player Entry Draft
All former MLL players, a total of over 100 athletes, are currently without teams.Some of these players, along with the NLL and other non-college athletes with no professional field experience, will be selected for teams in a specially crafted three-round draft on March 25th. Expansion Cannons will be picked first in every round and pick. The slot for the rest of the teams was determined by the draw on February 10th.
Rnd. | Select # | PLL Command | Player | Pos. | College |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | Cannon | |||
1 | 2 | Archers | |||
1 | 3 | Atlas | |||
1 | 4 | Waterdogs | |||
1 | 5 | Chrome | |||
1 | 6 | Cannon | |||
1 | 7 | Whipsnakes | |||
1 | 8 | Chaos | |||
2 | 1 | Atlas | |||
2 | 2 | Archers | |||
2 | 3 | Sequoias | |||
2 | 4 | Waterdogs | |||
2 | 5 | Chrome | |||
2 | 6 | Atlas | |||
2 | 7 | Whipsnakes | |||
2 | 8 | Chaos | |||
3 | 1 | Cannon | |||
3 | 2 | Archers | |||
3 | 3 | Sequoias | |||
3 | 4 | Waterdogs | |||
3 | 5 | Chrome | |||
3 | 6 | Atlas | |||
3 | 7 | Whipsnakes | |||
3 | 8 | Chaos |
College project
Due to NCAA participation rules in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many college graduates have returned to their fifth year of eligibility for the Spring 2021 season. As a result, the April 6 draft is expected to be one of the most talented draft in years.
Changes in coaching
- Cannons Lacrosse Club. After weeks of uncertainty, Sean Quirk was officially named head coach of the Cannons lacrosse club on January 19. Quirk served from 2016 to the 2020 season as head coach of the Boston Cannons MLL. In 2020, he was named MLL Coach of the Year. On February 9, the Cannons announced the return of John Klepaki (Boston Cannons) and the addition of Sean Kirwan (Virginia) to the assistant coaching staff.
Graph
The 2021 tour schedule will run for eleven weeks, including three weekend playoffs and an All-Star Game. In total, 43 games will take place during this time.
Leaderboard
Records, milestones and important statistics
- January 12 – The League announces changes to the former Boston Cannons logo, team emblem and slogan for the upcoming season.
Recommendations
Ovechkin thinks about family and team victories
The captain of the Washington Capitals no longer looks like the smooth-skinned boy who, at the age of 20, burst into the NHL like a storm in the 2005-06 season. However, some of his youthful habits remain, like joyful celebrations of heads.
But, as Capitals general manager Brian McLellan remarked, “he’s settled down a bit.”
“He’s not the little boy he once was,” McLellan said.“He still has a lot of passion and enjoys having fun, but that’s not what it was at the start of his career.”
Right now Ovechkin is most excited on the ice with the desire to win. and a statistical point of view, but still did not lift the Stanley Cup over his head
So as he approaches the milestone of 1000 points, to which he lacks four points, Ovechkin realizes that this is “a great achievement and it will be great. “But in preparation for the game against the Montreal Canadiens, which will take place on Monday at the Bell Center (January 10, 3:30 Moscow time), he says that he does not think about it at all.
In the history of the league, 83 players have surrendered the 1000-point mark. Ovechkin will become the fourth Russian hockey player on this list after Sergei Fedorov (1179), Alexander Mogilny (1032) and Alexei Kovalev (1029).
“It’s nice to be in such a company,” Ovechkin said.
With 543 goals in the asset, Ovechkin is also in decent company.He needs another scored puck to catch up with Maurice Richard at 29th in NHL history. On January 3, Ovechkin scored in overtime against the Toronto Maple Leafs (6-5) and caught up with Jaromir Jagr in overtime goals (19).
Video: YOUR TOP: Ovechkin brought Washington victory
Ovechkin has won the Maurice Trichar Trophy (Best Sniper Award) six times, including in the last four seasons. He is the only player to have scored at least 50 goals in the past three seasons.In this championship, his productivity decreased slightly. After 39 matches, he has 18 goals scored, that is, according to the schedule, he goes to 38 goals.
This will be his lowest result in a full season since 2011-12, when he scored 38 goals. However, he is not that far from last year’s figure, when after 39 meetings he had 23 goals.
Ovechkin’s performance also declined. After 39 games, he has 30 points, while a year ago he had 35 points. Recently, he gained 11 (6 + 5) points in the last 13 meetings, but generally considers the season as normal.
“The season is developing with varying success,” he said. “The most important thing now is to win matches.”
Capitals owner Ted Leonsis revealed before the season that he told Ovechkin: “It doesn’t matter to us if you lead the league in goals or not.
This required, among other things, less to play. To balance the workload and keep Ovechkin fresher for the playoffs, Capitals coach Barry Trotz trimmed Ovechkin’s playing time from 8:18 pm last season to 6:28 pm this season.
Trotz informed Ovechkin of a similar intention on the eve of the season. And although the striker said he wanted to play more, he was ready to do whatever the coach asked.
“Trotz said that during the regular season he wants to give everyone the same playing time, but it will be different in the playoffs,” Ovechkin said. this season we will be able to show a better result than in the past. ”
Video: NDD-YOUR: Ovechkin scored after finishing
Last year, a familiar story happened with Ovechkin and the Capitals.They won the Presidential Cup ahead of schedule, setting a club record with 56 wins, but lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round of the playoffs.
Despite having scored five goals and made seven assists in 12 playoff games, including two goals and five assists in a six-game streak against the Penguins, the focus was again on him because his NHL career The Capitals have never made it past the second round of the playoffs. Now in his 20s in the league, Ovechkin is more determined than ever to break that hurdle.
“He achieved most of his individual goals, so now it’s time for team achievement. I think it’s important for him,” McLellan said.
So Ovechkin didn’t mind at all when Trotz approached him this season and offered to do more work on labor goals with corrections and finishing moves that often bring Stanley Cup victories.
“You always want to work on something,” Ovechkin said.“These are elements that others think I’m not doing well, so why not?”
One of the main reasons why Ovechkin has been able to score so consistently throughout his career (he is fifth in NHL history with 0.62 goals per game), became his ability to adapt. For 12 seasons the game changed several times, he changed too.
“The game continues to change, you must change too. But his goal-scoring skill remains with him, Trotz said. “This is how he is.”
Video: NYA-YOUR: Ovechkin finished off the puck against Halak
Ovechkin’s priorities on the ice have changed, as well as beyond. In August, he got married to model Anastasia Shubskaya, and the couple are going to have children.
Ovechkin’s love for children is evidenced by his many years of charitable work. The smile on his face as he taught the kids at Fort Dupont Cannons Hockey Club last month was further evidence of this.
“Of course, my wife and I want children and sooner or later we hope that they will appear with us and we will become Ovechkin’s,” he said proudly.
When that time comes, and he has to find a balance between hockey and fatherhood, Ovechkin will need to change again.He said he hadn’t thought about how long he was going to play yet. His contract will expire in four years, and at that time he will be 35 years old. “Then we’ll see,” he said.
Despite the fact that Ovechkin has a theoretical chance of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s record for goals (894), if he plays long and consistently, the player himself noted: “I don’t think it is possible.”
“I’ve talked to Wayne and I don’t think his records will ever be broken,” Ovechkin said. “The game has changed.I have to score 50 goals for six years, right? It will be 300 and it will still not be enough. “
Ovechkin is more focused on short-term goals and victories. With the ever-changing game and the ticking hands of his career clock, he realizes that he will also need to keep changing.
“You just have to take every chance,” he said. – Hockey has changed. The game has changed. You have to be ready for this. ”
Ovechkin trained the kids
ARLINGTON – For the 50 kids at the Fort Dupont Cannons Children’s Hockey Club, Christmas came three days earlier than usual.On Thursday, they held a training session at the Washington Capitals Kettler Capitals Iceplex with team captain Alexander Ovechkin.
Children of different ages (from five to 18 years old) took part in the lesson. Their club typically trains at the Fort Dupont Ice Arena, Washington’s only full-size indoor ice rink. It is the oldest hockey project of its kind in North America and is part of the NHL’s Hockey is for Everyone program. The goal of the program is to enable all children to play hockey.
Coach Neil Henderson founded the club in 1977. He believes that the chance to ride, play pass and throw the puck with Ovechkin will be a “special gift” for his charges before the holidays.
“The kids love working with him,” said 79-year-old Henderson. “They get along well with him right away. I tell them that all the professionals started this way. Hockey players are different from other athletes. They put on skates, go out on the ice and skate. with children.It is unlikely that you will see a basketball player go to the playground in the park to work out with the children.Only if there is a press officer of the club nearby. It’s the same in football. A hockey player will go out on the ice and help a boy who cannot skate. He will talk to him. He doesn’t need to know his name. And the guy will remember him. “
31-year-old Ovechkin, wearing a Capitals tracksuit and a Santa Claus hat, did all the exercises with noticeable pleasure, constantly prompting the children to do something.
Video: Ovechkin spent time with the children from Fort Dupont
“I was a kid myself and dreamed of skating with the NHL hockey players I knew and followed,” Ovechkin said.“This is a great chance for me and for them.”
All the children received a souvenir club with Ovechkin’s autograph. 15-year-old Eric Bennett was especially lucky. After the lesson was over, Ovechkin signed the club with which he came to training, and gave it to Bennett.
“I asked the guys who is the best among them,” Ovechkin explained. – They said Bennett. So I gave him my club. I hope he becomes a professional athlete and enjoys it. ”
Bennett started playing hockey at age 6.He is grateful to Ovechkin for the gift, as well as for taking the time to help him and his partners.
“He’s a wonderful person, it’s nice to know that such a great player is helping us,” Bennett said.