Cannons LC
Key Additions
- A Marcus Holman (FA, Archers)
- A Matt Kavanaugh (FA, Redwoods)
- D Matt Rees (FA, Chaos)
- LSM Kyle Hartzell (FA, Redwoods)
- D Finn Sullivan (FA, Redwoods)
- G Adam Ghitelman (FA, Archers)
- M Jeff Trainor (FA, Archers)
- M Brent Adams (FA)
- M Matt Campbell (Draft, Villanova)
- HC Brian Holman
Key Departures
- A Lyle Thompson (Holdout List, Out For Year)
- G Nick Marrocco (FA)
- M Jake Froccaro (Retired)
- D Holden Garlent (FA)
- HC Sean Quirk
Sadly, for the last place finisher in 2022, the “boom” in Boom Squad is the sound of an implosion. Lyle Thompson, the 2022 PLL points and goals leader, announced he is stepping away for the 2023 summer season to direct his energy to himself, his family and his community. Lyle has been playing lacrosse year round for the last 15 years. Anyone with that level of dedication and responsibility could use a summer to chill.
Former MLL champion head coach Sean Quirk stepped down due to a recent heart surgery and will be succeeded by Brian Holman. Holman has 40 years of coaching experience, most notably as Utah head coach and an assistant with Johns Hopkins and UNC. His first order of business was recruiting his son, Marcus, who was the Cannons most notable free agency signing.
Without Lyle, most of the offense should be generated by second-year stud, Asher Nolting. Ryan Drenner and Stephen Rehfuss have proven themselves to be fully equipped offensive weapons at the midfield, and Jonathan Donville showed flashes of his brilliant vision last year as well. Cannons will add an NCAA All-American in Matt Campbell to the midfield as well.
LSM looks like a duo of Kyle Hartzell and Matt Rees. Living legend of the game, Brodie Merrill, is listed on the holdout list, which means he could at least a few games this year. The defense will return Jack Kielty and Jake Pulver, while Finn Sullivan will finish the close defensive rotation to start the season. SSDM will be a bright spot with all-star Zach Goodrich and Bubba Fairman following up a bright rookie season. Adam Ghitelman is expected to be the starter between the pipes.
All in all, we have the league’s worst team, who is missing two of the most respected players in lacrosse history in Lyle Thompson and Brodie Merrill. They did not have a first-round draft pick, and haven’t added any young talent that can single handedly lift a franchise to glory. The only way I see the Cannons improving this year is through elite team play and unmatched hustle. If the Cannons can make the whole greater than the sum of its parts, there is a chance to make a playoff push in a league where nearly every team makes the playoffs.
