On February 15th at 1:15pm, Charlotte Hounds general manager Wade Leaphart announced that the team would be composing their second blockbuster trade of the off-season after sending fan-favorite Billy Bitter attackman to Rochester. Friday, Leaphart announced that the Hounds would be trading midfielder Stephen Berger, who scored the first ever goal in Hounds history, back to the New York Lizards, where Berger was a five-time all star selection.
During his one year in Charlotte, Berger set career highs in goals and points as well as earning the Bud Light MVP award during the 2012 All-Star game in Florida. In return for Berger, the Hounds will receive a 2014 third-round pick from the Lizards, attackman Ryan Young, and a 2014 second-round pick from the Boston Cannons (who will indirectly receive Colin Briggs through the Hounds).
Although it will be hard for fans in Charlotte to say good-bye to Berger who lead the team in goals, the move makes sense with the Hounds are extremely thin at the attack position, only having former-Lizard and star Matt Danowski, somewhat unproven Eric Lusby (one career start), and Shayne Jackson.
Ryan Young is entering his third year in league after graduating from the University of Maryland, and showed some potential scoring 12 goals and dishing out 6 assists in the 13 games he played during the regular season.
While Young may not be Billy Bitter or Jeremy Boltus, he is still a good short-term solution for the Hounds at the attack position. The draft picks allow the team to prepare for the future, which is critical, especially for the Hounds who are entering only their second year in the MLL.
