This article is a follow up to one from last week covering Machine players in the NLL. Many professional lacrosse players participate year round in leagues, so this week I cover the Boston Cannons.
Mitch Belisle—When not playing with the Cannons, Mitch is with the Minnesota Swarm where he also practices his defensive skills. This is what makes him so dangerous.
For one, playing defense with a shortie teaches athletes how to handle themselves in tight situations, like bodying up. Defenders in the NLL need to react after shots no matter what, because the ball will most likely stay in play. In the MLL most missed shots go out of bounds, so players sometimes tend to just move into clearing positions. Playing NLL reiterates the needs to follow through after shots and after bodying up defensively.
Brodie Merrill—Brodie has a lot of promise considering he just signed a three year deal with the Toronto Rock through 2018.
With the Cannons Merrill is defense, but with the Rock he plays transition, obviously a defensive style and he is one of the better defenders in the league.
Paul Rabil—I won’t linger long on Rabil, because though he’s been on the protected rosters of the Wings/Black Wolves, I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen him in indoor action. He hasn’t played indoor since 2013 at this point.
Kevin Buchanan—Sources show that Kevin is part of the active roster for the NE Black Wolves for their 2015 debut season. If he does participate this season, he can contribute as a lefty forward, which would obviously carry over to field lacrosse.
