Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. The NLL is coming to Long Island.
The league announced Tuesday that it will add a 13th franchise on Long Island, which will start play in the Nassau Coliseum starting with the 2019-2020 season.
The team will be run under the ownership of sports media entertainment company GF Sports and its affiliates. It’s asking fans to submit suggestions for the team name, which will be announced early next year.
Fellow teams celebrated the news of another NLL franchise.
Welcome to the East pic.twitter.com/ybgbSHrp6o
— Knighthawks Lacrosse (@RocKnighthawks) December 12, 2018
Hey, welcome neighbor! pic.twitter.com/ngKifaXK6Z
— Philadelphia Wings (@NLLwings) December 11, 2018
Welcome to the fam. https://t.co/8LGIY3nPx2
— Toronto Rock (@TorontoRockLax) December 11, 2018
2. The New York Lizards announced that Joe Spallina will step away from his position of head coach, but maintain the role of general manager.
Spallina, who has served as the general manager and coach since 2012, will be in charge of finding a successor for the 2019 season.
He credited his growing list of coaching positions — he also leads the Stony Brook women’s program and is a U.S. national team assistant — as a factor in his decision.
3. Michael Sanzone is back to lead the Canisius men’s lacrosse team entering 2019, returning just two months after nearly losing his life.
Sanzone, who joined the school’s ROTC program this year, collapsed during a ruck march due to heat stroke and dehydration. He was in critical care for 13 days before being transferred to the Walter Reed military hospital.
Now, he’s at full strength and serving as a captain for the 2019 season.
4. Also in NLL news, the Vancouver Warriors revealed their 2018-19 roster, which includes 18 players that call British Columbia home year-round
The roster features second-leading scorer Logan Schuss and former Towson product Jean-Luc Chetner.
Your 2018-19 Vancouver Warriors!
— Vancouver Warriors (@nllwarriors) December 11, 2018
More Info https://t.co/DUeQ6XHNf0 pic.twitter.com/AQmSI6SqYw
Continuing with our NLL previews, Jack Goods moves on to the Philadelphia Wings and New England Black Wolves.
The Wings will head into their first season with a group of young guns like Chris Cloutier, Trevor Baptiste and Matt Rambo mixing with NLL veterans.
As for the Black Wolves, the potential for the 2018-19 season is up in the air so long as Kevin Crowley remains unsigned. New England has yet to agree to terms with the star the helped it make the NLL playoffs last season.
5. The PLL teased a big announcement coming today.
Tomorrow.
— Premier Lacrosse League (@PremierLacrosse) December 11, 2018
According to Chris Jastrzembski, the league will unveil a list of the six head coaches. He mentions that Dom Starsia, John Paul, Jim Stagnitta, Chris Bates, Andy Towers, and Nat St. Laurent will be the new PLL head coaches. Stay tuned for an official announcement sometime today.
WHAT WE’RE READING
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Reflecting on our Fall Ball Focus series and sharing some of the highlights.
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The Saskatchewan Rush drew mixed reactions after playing “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” and encouraging fans to sing along in light of the controversy surrounding the Christmas song.
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The Philadelphia Wings announced their three captains ahead of Saturday’s opener against Buffalo.
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College Crosse continues its 2019 previews with a look at Lafayette’s schedule.
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Cornell unveils what could be the toughest schedule in the nation, with matchups against Albany, Yale, Syracuse, Penn State, Towson and Notre Dame.
WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
The U.S. men’s and women’s national teams are headed to M&T Bank Stadium this Sunday. Get pumped.
Hey @Ravens, see you on Sunday! pic.twitter.com/2089rRPlMb
— US Lacrosse (@USLacrosse) December 11, 2018
High Point captain Chris Young mic'ed up at practice.
We mic'ed up one of our senior leaders, Chris Young, during practice. He showed us why he was named one of our captains for this season. #GoHPU pic.twitter.com/zchq4nMFCi
— High Point Lacrosse (@HPUMensLax) December 11, 2018
WHAT’S ON TAP
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The PLL teased an announcement coming today.
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Stay tuned for more team-by-team previews for the 2018-19 NLL season.
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