Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. The U.S. senior and U19 men’s teams are on their way to San Antonio for the Spring Premiere, a US Lacrosse event that will also feature the Japanese national team and Team Premier, a collection of club players from the class of 2020. Games will be played Saturday and Sunday at the University of the Incarnate Word and will be streamed live on Lax Sports Network.
As Team USA prepares for its first foray into Texas, we’ll have plenty of coverage here on USLaxMagazine.com these next two days, including:
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A what-to-watch-for preview.
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A profile of Ty Warner, the former Yale and current Whipsnakes midfielder who is one of 11 players making their U.S. senior team debuts.
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A look at the vast geographic footprint of a U.S. U19 roster that includes natives of Oregon, Colorado, Minnesota, Michigan, St. Louis, North Carolina and Georgia.
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Coaches’ perspectives, as the senior team staff moves into evaluation mode with sights on 2022 and the U19 team, nearly down to the 23 players who will travel to Ireland for the world championship this summer, plays for the first time without impending cuts.
2. The Premier Lacrosse League unveiled Wednesday the name and logo of its seventh team, Waterdogs LC. The name was one of several proposed originally on the Barstool Sports podcast, “Pardon My Take,” on which PLL co-founder announced in October that the league was expanding.
Introducing the @pllwaterdogs
— Premier Lacrosse League (@PremierLacrosse) January 1, 2020
A determined squad of players spurned by their original teams.
Every Game is a Revenge Game. pic.twitter.com/YqnMbhTpJk
The tagline, “Every game is a revenge game,” certainly works, considering the roster will be comprised almost entirely of players left unprotected by the original six teams. The expansion draft is Feb. 12. Teams must submit protected rosters by Jan. 13.
3. Penn State’s Grant Ament graces the cover of the January edition of US Lacrosse Magazine, which drops today.
Smile @GrantAment, you're on the January 2020 cover of US Lacrosse Magazine — and it is slick.
— US Lacrosse Magazine (@USLacrosseMag) December 30, 2019
We didn't need to do much NITT PICKING when it came to naming Ament our Division I Men's Preseason Player of the Year.
The latest edition of the mag hits homes on Jan. 2. pic.twitter.com/Jzg4cbxT03
WHAT WE’RE READING
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Betty Shellenberger, a National Lacrosse Hall of Fame member and pioneer for both field hockey and women’s lacrosse, has died. She was 98. Chris Goldberg of PhillyLacrosse.com commemorates a local legend and national treasure.
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How Halifax, New England and Colorado have impressed during the first month of the National Lacrosse League season, via Lacrosse Bucket.
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Why Waterdogs? Rabil shed some light on the decision in this Sports Illustrated article.
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College Crosse’s seven bold predictions for lacrosse in the 2020s.
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Northwestern’s 2011 and 2012 NCAA championship teams earned the top two spots on Inside NU’s list of the top 10 sports seasons of the 2010s in Evanston.
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Indoor lacrosse sensation Curtis Dickson is on the move in the Western Lacrosse Association after the Maple Ridge Burrards traded him to the Langley Thunder.
WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
Lacrosse got a 14-second spot during the Rose Bowl, thanks to Jack Coan. The Wisconsin quarterback and Sayville, N.Y., native originally committed Notre Dame to play lacrosse.
@cbfowler knows how much lacrosse can help your football skills! @rosebowlgame #RoseBowl #lacrosse #multisportathlete @TheKyleDevitte @jamiemunro3 @AndyTowersPLL @tyxanders @toplaxrecruits @USLacrosse @PremierLacrosse @LaxAllStars @LacrosseNetwork @PaulRabil @LaxRecords pic.twitter.com/0TOab2aanN
— Drip Lacrosse (@drip_lacrosse) January 1, 2020
Major League Lacrosse with a 10-tweet thread of the top MLL plays of 2019.
BEST PLAY OF THE YEAR⁉️
— Major League Lacrosse (@MLL_Lacrosse) January 1, 2020
@Bradley_Voigt pic.twitter.com/O873kCkbUa
WHAT’S ON TAP
Besides the above-mentioned Spring Premiere content, we’ll take you inside the latest edition of US Lacrosse Magazine, which includes Preseason Player of the Year profiles for NCAA Division I, II and III men’s and women’s lacrosse, as well as the WCLA and MCLA.