Photo Credit: Di Miller
The Denver Outlaws since coming into the MLL nine years ago have been a team to be reckoned with. Each of their nine years in the league they have made it to the semi-finals but have yet to bring home the Steinfeld Cup. During the MLL semi-final game against the New York Lizards on August 16, it was evident that the talent they have acquired is stellar. When you look at their roster, many of the players currently have made Denver their home. Their lineup also includes a multitude of talented players who attended the University of Denver.
So, just who are they and what makes the home-town talent so strong?
Here’s who attended the University of Denver:
Eric Law #15, Attack—He played four years of varsity lacrosse for Arapahoe High School in Littleton, Colorado, earned Colorado’s Player of the Year Award; was named an All-American in 2009; received All-State and All-Conference honors each of his four seasons; and led his squad to the 2009 State Championship. He earned All-American honors at the University of Denver, where he finished his college career ranking sixth in school history in points, eighth in goals and tied for fourth in assists, recorded 14 career hat tricks, posted three-or-more assists 11 times and topped the four-point mark in 20 career games. He started his career with the Outlaws in 2013 where he had four straight hat-tricks; had nine hat-tricks in 2014; and has an .861 SOGPCT in 2014.
Jeremy Noble #35, Midfield—Drafted by the Outlaws during the Collegiate Draft on January 10, 2014 in the first round as the sixth-overall pick, Noble had 54 G and 44 A (98 total points) in 44 career games in his first three years with the Pioneers. Noble was a two-time All-American and a 2013 Tewaaraton watch list member. During his senior year at the University of Denver, he and his teammate Jamie Faus (also drafted by the Outlaws) showed strong leadership when they asked Coach Tierney for a “players-only” meeting. After that meeting, the Pioneers went on an 11-game winning streak.
Cameron Flint #18, Attack—The Outlaws acquired Flint in exchange for Will Mangan and a first round pick (eighth overall). Flint, a former three-time All-American was a sixth round collegiate draft choice (43rd overall). Flint’s college career included 103 G and 35 A (140 total points), ranking him sixth in goals and 10th in points at the University of Denver; he was a four time All-ECAC member; and earned a spot on the Tewaaraton watch list in his senior season. In 2013, Flint finished his MLL rookie season with eight goals and assisted on nine others for a total of 17 points in seven games for the Cannons. He earned Major League Lacrosse’s Cascade Rookie of the Week Award after a four-goal, one-assist outing in Boston’s 13-10 win in Week 9.
Dillon Roy #91, Defensemen—Acquired in the sixth round (35th overall) in the 2010 Collegiate Draft, Roy had an impressive college career. He registered 195 GB, 82 FTO, and 4 A in 62 games; and was named to the Tewaarton watch list prior to his senior season. He started all 17 games for the Pioneers where he had a team-best 82 GB and 31 FTO. In 2013 he played all 14 games and ranked seventh on the Outlaws with 23 GB, and was a part of a defensive unit that had a league-low 139 points and allowed the fourth fewest two-point goals per game (three) in the league since 2011. During his regular-season career as a member of the Denver Outlaws, Roy has 125 GB in 56 games played ranking him sixth in team history in ground balls.
Players Who Live in Denver:
John Grant Jr. #24, Attack—He was signed by the Outlaws on September 6, 2013. Brought onto the team for his amazing talent and leadership abilities, he’s the only player to win Offensive Player of the Year three times and the only player to be named league MVP twice; he has surpassed everyone in career goals with 281; scored a goal in all 12 regular season games this year; had four four-plus goal games in 2014; and ranks second in career points with 457. Grant Jr. played college lacrosse at SUNY Morrisville for two years before transferring to the University of Delaware where he played in 31 games recording 96 G and 81 A (177 total points). His senior season currently ranks second in Men’s NCAA Division I Single Season Total Points; and he is ranked 11th all time in Men’s NCAA Division I Career Points per Game.
Chris Bocklet #10, Attack—He was originally drafted in the fourth round (29th overall) in the 2012 MLL Collegiate Draft by Charlotte and was traded to Denver along with the Hounds’ third-round pick in the 2013 MLL Collegiate Draft. Bocklet finished his career at the University of Virginia with 137 G, 28 A (165 total points), 112 GB in 63 games (52 starts); totaled nine GWG; ranked 10th in the nation in goals per game (2.44) as a junior and led the country with a goal-scoring streak of 35 games; and was named an honorable mention All-American by the USILA. In 2013 he led the league in goals (42) and tied for the MLL lead in points (55); was the first player in Outlaws history to post multiple (three) six-goal games; was the runner-up to the league’s Offensive Player of the Year Award; and earned his first MLL All-Star Selection. He ranks sixth in Outlaws history in career goals, and seventh with career points.
Matt Bocklet #7, Defensemen—He was traded to Outlaws in 2009 from the Baltimore (Chesapeake) Bayhawks. Since he became a member of the Outlaws he has been a leader in ground balls. He led the team in ground balls in 2009 (42); 2010 (59); and 2013 (72) which ranked him third in team history, and second most by non-faceoff men in 2013. He was second in ground balls in 2011 (47); and 2012 (58). He is currently the all-time ground ball leader for the Outlaws. During his college career he played in 46 games; helped his team to a share of the 2005 GWLL Championship and a trip to the NCAA Tournament; as a freshman he finished 16th in the nation in ground balls per game (5.06).
Lee Zink #29, Defensemen—He was traded to the Outlaws from the Baltimore Bayhawks in 2004. He was an All-American at the University of Maryland where he played 60 games and had 138 GB. He has played in 131 consecutive games (seventh-most in team history); has a career 244 GB; in 2013 earned his second-straight Defensive Player of the Year Award; has been selected to seven consecutive MLL All-Star teams; and his third-straight All-MLL Team. He also set a career high two Defensive Player of the Week honors in 2013.
When you look at the players who live in Denver or attended the University of Denver, and you add in all the out of town talent; the depth in their line-up; key veteran players; and stellar rookies, the Outlaws have put together one of the strongest squads this season.
