The Boston Cannons have three picks in the top 14 picks of the draft. Those picks could really rejuvenate this franchise, which some media members have pointed out is getting older and doesn’t have enough young guys to supply fresher legs.
While names like UMass attackman Will Manny and Johns Hopkins defender Tucker Durkin would be very appealing to the Cannons for various reasons, they are appealing to many other teams as well. Barring a surprise trade, they’ll both be off the board when the Cannons make their first pick with the No. 6 selection overall in the first round.
So who else might interest the Cannons?
Brian Megill, D, Syracuse
Megill has been a reliable talent since he first walked onto campus at Syracuse in 2010. He was the first rookie defenseman to start every game for Syracuse under head coach John Desko. That defense was first in the nation in scoring defense, allowing only 7.4 goals per game. He started every game his sophomore season. He played all 17 games his junior year. The stats say he started only 10 games, but Megill took the opening faceoff in those other seven games, so it’s just a technicality.
Megill was a co-captain his junior year as well as being a second team All-American and one of the final 25 Tewaaraton award nominees. He’s just a tough defenseman that is just very difficult to get past.
Scott Ratliff, LSM, Loyola
The Cannons have P.T. Ricci as the versatile LSM from Loyola, but it wouldn’t hurt to bring in some depth at the position to give him a break or to play defense in a pinch. Last season Ratliff scored 12 goals, tallied seven assists and picked up a team-high 88 ground balls.
In the NCAA Tournament the 6-foot long pole scored three goals (including a game-winner), picked up 20 ground balls and caused seven turnovers. He’s a do-it-all long pole with a championship ring. His skill set and championship experience would fit in nicely in Boston.
Jesse Bernhardt, LSM, Maryland
Bernhardt doesn’t score, certainly not like Ratliff. His numbers don’t speak as loudly as Ratliff’s. But you need to watch Bernhardt to understand how good he is. He’s more athletic than Ratliff and is a tough cover and physical presence on defense. Another junior team captain, Bernhardt is a leader. He’s played at a very high level for three seasons now and should transition to a good pro.
Jake Smith, D, UMass
He’s a local guy, which always is a plus in this league, especially with the Cannons and their fans. He’s started all 30 games over the past two seasons. Smith went toe-to-toe with Will Manny in practice every day and against Colgate he did a good job holding Peter Baum in check. He is strong in close defense and just quietly goes about his business.
John Ranagan, M, Johns Hopkins
On Lacrosse Lounge Monday night, Cannons GM Kevin Barney said that the league was a midfielder’s league and a team could never have enough depth at that position.
Ranagan is a big (6-foot-3-inch, 218 pounds), strong midfielder. He was a first-team All-American as a sophomore, the first sophomore middie to earn first-team All-American honors since the Cannon’s own Paul Rabil. His scoring production was down last year, but he wouldn’t be relied on to score in Boston. Rabil would draw a lot of attention while the big man Ranagan works out the kinks in his shot.
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