Since Sandy Brown took over as Major League Lacrosse commissioner, the discussion has been about a new beginning for the league, an “MLL 2.0” as league officials have dubbed it.
The 2019 season is the dawn of that new era, and there are plenty of changes in store.
Not only does the league have a new literal face, rebranding with a new logo — red and blue with a white silhouette of a player in movement, similar in color to that of the NBA, NFL, and MLB — there are also new metaphorical faces.
With the advent of the Premier Lacrosse League, many perennial MLL All-Stars — such as Paul Rabil, Kyle Harrison, Tom Schreiber and Will Manny — will no longer play in Major League Lacrosse. Those fan favorites left huge holes in their respective former teams’ rosters, but the old sports cliché is “next man up.”
Moreover, three MLL teams have ceased operations. Where there are openings, MLL league and team officials are confident new players will rise to the occasion.
“We have diamonds in the rough that haven’t had that opportunity,” Atlanta Blaze coach Liam Banks said. “Lacrosse has grown so much. There are so many good players. The opportunities are out there for superstars.”
For our season preview, we’ve identified a face of the franchise, MVP frontunner and under-the-radar player from each of the remaining six teams. The MLL season opens May 31, when the New York Lizards host the Denver Outlaws.
Atlanta Blaze
2018 record: 7-7
Head coach: Liam Banks (2nd year)
Face of the Franchise
Tommy Palasek, A
The Player Movement Policy, put in place after the 2017 season, has paid immediate dividends to the Atlanta Blaze. The team acquired Tommy Palasek from the Lizards in November 2017. The Blaze only needed to part with a fourth-round draft pick as compensation for Palasek, but in return, he finished with 16 goals and 10 assists in 2018. He also emerged as one of the locker room leaders.
“It’s about time Tom Palasek got recognized,” Blaze head coach Liam Banks said. “Tommy has been putting up numbers his whole career. He’s a loyal guy. That holds a lot of weight, not only as a leader on the Atlanta Blaze, but as a person. I have a lot of respect for Tom Palasek. He’s going to do some incredible things this year.”
Draft List
Brendan Sunday, A, Towson *
Dylan Gaines, D, Denver *
Colton Jackson, M, Denver *
Brett Craig, LSM, Seton Hill *
Tyson Gibson, M, Robert Morris
Eddie Bouhall, D, Lehigh *
Jake McCulloch, M, Cornell
T.J. Comizio, M, Villanova *
Jack Mangan, M, Mount St. Mary’s *
Jacob Stover, G, Loyola
Alex Woodall, FO, Towson *
* signed contracts
MVP Watch
Randy Staats, A
He seems to move back and forth between the Rattlers and Blaze franchises, but it’s not because he isn’t wanted. His availability has been a big question mark due to his NLL commitments, and he played in only two games in the 2018 season. With no MLL and NLL overlap in 2019, however, the Blaze believe they will see the same kind of effort they received when Staats scored 30 goals and added 15 assists in 11 games in 2016.
“Randy is a real professional in the game of lacrosse that comes from the way the NLL has set up their players,” Banks said. “[The community of] Atlanta can know Randy Staats better to be a face of the organization. We’re looking forward to him leading and showing the new guys in the league how to be a professional.”
Under the Radar
Bryan Cole, M
One would expect a former first-team All-American from Maryland to have a huge role in Major League Lacrosse, especially when he has played in three NCAA championship games. Cole has only been able to play in a handful of MLL games due to his box commitments. Since being drafted in the second round of the 2016 draft, he has played in only 12 games (scoring 11 goals). Like Staats, however, Banks believes the 2019 season will finally give Cole the opportunity to shine.
“What he did at Maryland speaks for itself,” Banks said. “I don’t think Bryan has gotten a fair shake at playing a full season. He’s the type of player this year that could put up 20 to 30 goals for us.”