With the season at a pause for the World Championships in Denver, it’s an interesting time in the MLL. The Rattlers have found their groove and likely hope that it doesn’t fade anytime soon. Denver finally lost a couple after seemingly years of winning. The pack of teams in position to make Championship Weekend is thick. It will be an intense finish to the summer
1: Denver Outlaws – Personally I am at a cross roads with this pick. If no one has unseated them, can you take them out of first? They have been at the top of the league for number of years now, but have never won the title. Can they make the stretch run with key pieces of their defense logging a lot of miles in Denver for Team USA and Canada?
2: Rochester Rattlers – This team has made some noise the last few weeks and won seven games this season, six by relatively convincing fashion. The pieces are there for a title run. Mike Manley is becoming one of the best defenseman in the league, David Lawson is their primary threat from midfield, John Galloway is the anchor in the cage, and they get production from a lot of other players.
3: New York Lizards – The Lizards have quietly kept atop the rankings this season. Drew Adams has played very well, earning a spot on the Team USA roster along side Max Seibald. At 6-4, they aren’t securely into Championship Weekend but a strong two weeks after the World Games ends will say a lot about their travel plans.
4: Boston Cannons – The Cannons just cannot find consistency in their game. There is a transition happening in the north as Ryan Boyle looks to be giving the reigns to the next great attackman. Boyle has always been the consistent producer, something this team desperately needs to find as they cannot live on Paul Rabil.
5: Florida Launch – There is a run in there for the Launch, much like they started the season with. After winning three of there first four, they have gone on a skid losing the last four games by a wide margin. Can Garrett Thul, Casey Powell, Tucker Durkin, Jordan Hall, and company make a run to their first Championship Weekend?
6: Charlotte Hounds – The early season and late season are two very different times for this team. With the additions coming in and the key player returning, it could be another stretch run for the Hounds. Matt Danowski at midfield has paid dividends with the emergence of their youthful attack as scorers.
7: Ohio Machine – At 4-6 like the Launch and Hounds, there will be a time for Ohio to push through the masses to get to Championship Weekend. With Kyle Harrison going down in the World Games, I am sure the coaching staff is holding its collective breath. They need all their pieces at full strength to make a run into the Top Four.
8: Chesapeake Bayhawks – Its unfortunate that the two-time defending champs have fallen so far this summer. The amount of injuries is not the end for the team, but they will not be making a run late this season. Players missed games during the regular season to be healthy for the World Games, which means that the team is resigned to getting ready for the draft this January.
