CILL Team Preview: Chicago Outlaws

The Continental Indoor Lacrosse League season is set to kick off on Saturday night when the Chicago Outlaws host the Grand Rapids Dragonfish. We will have previews before after game, but here we preview the team itself.

Offense

If you don’t follow the CILL and the Chicago Outlaws sound familiar to you, you probably have heard of Zack Dorn. Dorn broke the MLL hardest shot record as a “fan” at the all star game and halftime events, but he is one of the stalwarts of the Chicago offense. His shot is the best (obviously) in the league and he brings the Outlaws to a strong offense because of it.

Ryan Knautz returns as captain after making the All-CILL team in 2013. Other returners include forwards Dylan Weber and forward Lance Yaper.

Defense

Nick Jonas was a huge addition to the defense on this roster. Jonas, who played in the MCLA with the Minnesota Golden Gophers, was a sixth round pick to the Minneosta Swarm of the NLL in 2013 but did not sign. He is a solid defensive presence who will be welcomed.

The defense is rounded out by Alex Novak, Sean Canty, Jack Helmer, Patrick Lean, Mike Martin and others to make it one of the better defensive units in the league.

Goaltending

Desmond Bailey returns as the solid backstop for the Outlaws. The CILL veteran is coming off of an All-CILL season in which he led the Outlaws to the championship game where they fell to Colorado.

2014 might be the Outlaws year. Their current players got better and adding Jonas and other veterans made their roster the best it has been yet.