The 2023 PLL Season is almost here and we have a recap of all the offseason transactions and storylines to get you ready for this summer.
Archers LC
Key Additions
- M Mac O’Keefe (FA, Chaos)
- M Challen Rogers (FA, Chaos)
- M Reid Bowering (FA, Player Pool)
- FO Mike Sisselberger (Draft, Lehigh)
- SSDM Connor Maher (Draft, UNC)
- SSDM Piper Bond (Draft, Penn)
- D Cam Wyers (Draft, Loyola)
Key Departures
- A Will Manny (FA, Whipsnakes)
- A Marcus Holman (FA, Cannons)
- G Adam Ghitelman (FA, Cannons)
- M Jeff Trainor (FA, Cannons)
- LSM Scott Ratliff (Retired)
- SSDM Dominique Alexander (Retired)
For the first time in franchise history, Archers LC will roll out a Week 1 starting lineup without goalie Adam Ghitelman and attackmen Will Manny and Marcus Holman. These three, all former Team USA teammates and University of Utah assistant coaches, have brought a charisma and professional tone to past Archers teams.
Replacing Ghitelman will be 2022 12th overall draft pick, Brett Dobson. Since graduating as one of the top NCAA goalies from Saint Bonaventure, Dobson won gold at the 2022 World Games as the starter for team Canada, as well as cemented himself as one of the top NLL rookies and overall NLL goalies for the Georgia Swarm. I expect him to bring some youth and confidence to the Archers net.
The Archers roster page lists only Grant Ament and Connor Desimone as attackmen, but we’ve seen middies Mac O’Keefe, Connor Fields, Matt Moore, Tre Leclaire, and Reid Bowering all play the attack position at All-American levels in their careers. Reuniting Ament and O’Keefe on the Archers was my most desired offseason move, and I’m excited to see the former Penn State duo in action again. I’d love to see Ament, O’Keefe and Moore together at attack to start the season, but Archers fans will certainly be happy with any combination of the names above.
In the middle of the field, first round draft pick Mike Sisselberger arrives with immediate PLL size and muscle, and should walk into a starting faceoff role. Archers also signed two players who have made names for themselves in the NLL in Challen Rogers (two-time Transition Player of the Year) and Reid Bowering (Top 5 in loose balls in 2022-23) to bolster the midfield. Losing Scott Ratliff as a dangerous transition LSM is a blow for sure, but I expect third-year Jared Conners and second-year John Robbins to each take steps forward in their young careers.
Overall, I am expecting improvements from Archers LC. We are seeing promising youth in goal, faceoff, LSM, and attack. The offense will look different, but I think its safe to expect more dynamic dodging and a plethora of weapons for dime men Grant Ament and Tom Schreiber to use. Archers have received a reputation for being in the top half of the league, but not necessarily the top tier. 2023 could be the year that changes.
