A new lacrosse league is ready to launch with a slew of outstanding players.
The Premier Lacrosse League, created by lacrosse icon Paul Rabil and his brother Mike, is a new, six-team professional field lacrosse league. It will operate on a tour-based model with each team traveling to twelve cities at the same time and playing games against each other over 14 weeks this summer.
PLL teams are Atlas Lacrosse Club (LC), Archers LC, Chaos LC, Chrome LC, Redwoods LC, and Whipsnakes LC. These clubs feature many of the biggest and best names in the sport, including Rabil, Kyle Harrison, and Myles Jones.
The league begins play on Saturday, June 1st, at Gillette Stadium.
Here are five players I think will have a huge summer.
Trevor Baptiste, Faceoff, Atlas LC
Courtesy: UD Athletics
Baptiste is known as one of the best–if not the best–face-off men in the world. He shattered records for face-offs while playing collegiately at the University of Denver. He then went on to have dominant performances with Team USA at the World Games last summer and indoors with the NLL’s Philadelphia Wings this past winter. There are a lot of superstars on this Atlas team, but the squad’s path to success starts with Baptiste.
Adam Ghitelman, Goalie, Archers LC
Adam Ghitelman is an underrated player. He’s not only a mainstay on the field, but a leader both on- and off-the-field. And he’s already playing a leadership role for the Archers. Ghitelman’s career save percentage is over .500, and I expect no less this season.
Scotty Rodgers, Goalie, Atlas LC
Scotty Rodgers is a player any coach would love to have on his team. A rah-rah leader, Rodgers has the ability to get through to teammates. When healthy (he’s in the hospital currently), I think Rodgers is the second best goalie in the world behind John Galloway. (Anyone who wants to debate me on that assertion can DM me on Twitter @jordan_john27.) When Rodgers gets back in action, I guarantee you he’ll be like a coach on the field, making his presence known.
Connor Fields, Midfield, Chaos LC
Fields is a force. He can score, dodge, and pass well. He was a star collegiately at Albany, showing the ability to play with big names, like Tehoka Nanticoke and Jakob Patterson. He’ll do the same at the Chaos with Myles Jones and Demer Class. Fields embodies toughness, something HC Andy Towers wants on this team. Consider the fact that he played an entire college season with a torn ACL! I expect Fields to be in the running for the Jim Brown MVP award.
Kyle Harrison, Midfield, Redwoods LC
Harrison is one of the best. Period. A future Hall of Famer, Harrison has accomplished everything a player would want to accomplish in the sport. He has been named MVP, won a championship, and played for Team USA. But like all champions, Harrison still has fuel in his tank. A plus this summer is that he’ll team up with HC Nat St. Laurent, who’s familiar with Harrison’s play, and he’ll play in a loaded offense with teammates Serg Perkovich, Joe Walters, and Joey Sankey. Even at 36-years-old, I expect Harrison to end up in the top five, either in goals or assists. He and his Redwoods should have a big year.
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It will be a big summer for the PLL, and I can’t wait for the action to begin. Here’s how you can follow the action.
