Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. Kenzie Kent, Boston College’s 2017 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player with 10 points against Maryland in the championship, as well as the recently drafted forward for the Boston Pride of the National Women’s Hockey League, spoke at the ESPNW Women + Sports Summit on the “Voices of the Future” panel Monday.
The panel was hosted by soccer great Julie Foudy. Kent spoke alongside Charli Collier, U17 USA women's basketball player, and Mallory Pugh, a rising star for the U.S. women’s national soccer team.
“I hope that hockey and lacrosse get on the same level,” said Kent, the senior two-sport athlete at Boston College, on the growth potential for lacrosse and its fan base. She later added that she wants women’s lacrosse to have fewer whistles because they slow down the game.
2. The MLL announced the 23-man protected rosters for the league’s nine teams. Protected players cannot be selected in the 2018 MLL Supplemental Draft on Dec. 8.
Protected players include Deemer Class and Adam Ghitelman for Atlanta, Brodie Merrill and Joe Nardella for Boston, Ryan Brown and Matt Rambo for Charlotte, Myles Jones and Lyle Thompson for Chesapeake, Matt Kavanagh and Eric Law for Denver, Kieran McArdle and Sergio Salcido for Florida, Will Manny and Paul Rabil for New York, Kyle Harrison and Marcus Holman for Ohio, and Blaze Riorden and Ty Thompson for Rochester.
For full lists, visit majorleaguelacrosse.com.
3. Las Vegas received support from various members of the lacrosse community after a tragic shooting at a Jason Aldean concert Sunday night.
— Paul Rabil (@PaulRabil) October 2, 2017
today's world makes me so sad...thoughts and prayers go to those we tragically lost last night, may we all learn to love one another again
— Taylor Cummings (@tee_cee10) October 2, 2017
Yest, 1 shooter. Today, Hundreds on site donating blood. Good people far outweigh the Evil. There is hope but we all need to come 2gether.
— Greg Gurenlian (@GregBeast32) October 2, 2017
Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected by the Las Vegas Shooting. Absolutely heartbreaking. #PrayForVegas
— Adrenaline Lacrosse (@adrenalinelax) October 2, 2017
Thinking of those affected by the unimaginable tragedy in Las Vegas! pic.twitter.com/cxA67VrFZ8
— GVSU Womens Lacrosse (@GVSUWLAX) October 2, 2017
4. Connor Kelly is one of the youngest Team USA members, but the Maryland Terp doesn't show it. In the U.S. team’s Blue-White exhibition game last month, the first time Kelly ever wore a Team USA uniform, he poured in three goals.
“He makes the plays available to him,” said U.S. team head coach John Danowski. “His confidence and ability to relax allow him to play at a high level.”
This weekend, Kelly is on double duty. On Saturday, he’ll suit up with Maryland as the Terps battle a split-squad U.S. team in the Team USA Fall Classic at US Lacrosse headquarters. On Sunday, he’ll switch colors to red, white and blue as he plays with the U.S. team against Towson.
5. The Heritage Cup venue, First Ontario Center in Hamilton, was home to the first Canadian NLL team.
US Lacrosse Magazine’s Neil Stevens catches up with Team Canada coaches Ed Comeau and Glenn Clark about their memories at the arena. Comeau was one of the coaches and Clark was a standout defenseman when Canada won the inaugural world indoor championship in what was then known as Copps Coliseum.
6. Andrew Athens, the current associate head coach at Furman, was named the first head coach of Greece’s senior men’s team, which will compete in the country’s first World Championship in Nentanya, Israel, in July 2018. He was mentored by former U.S. men’s coach Richie Meade.
“My original last name is Athenasiades . . . shortened to Athens when my great grandparents came to the United States from Patras, Greece,” Athens said. “I would like to thank my head coach, Richie Meade, for his mentorship and enthusiastic support as I take on this special role as the head coach of the Greece National Lacrosse Team.”
7. Check out photo galleries from the Room2Smile Fall Classic, hosted by Le Moyne, and the inaugural WPLL showcase at US Lacrosse.