The MLL season has now come to a close with the Chesapeake Bayhawks on top for the fourth time in franchise history. Another chapter in the history of the league has now come and gone, and in my eyes it was an important one for the future.
The most notable storyline we can take away from this season has been talked about a lot, the additions of Charlotte and Ohio. Both teams have now joined the league, starting their grand expansion plan. This summer will be a bit more quiet, as there will be no expansion for next season. However this year was a start to something that could make or break the MLL. If growth brings new fans and further exposure it could propel the league to one of the major sports leagues in North America. On the other side of things it could lead to issues as well if the expansion teams do not have success.
Hamilton is another story that was discussed this season, as they once again had attendance issues. The Nationals were last in attendance, averaging 1,837 spectators a game. The league obviously wants to expand, but they can’t neglect that some of their franchises may not be incredibly sound as it is. Do the Nationals have a long term future in Canada? That is yet to be seen.
In the end, Chesapeake added to their already sterling history with a fourth championship in franchise history. A team with tons of guns, they should be just as successful next season. On the other side of things, Denver loses yet another title. The Outlaws are still hoping to bring that first title to Mile High, and will have another chance to pull it off next season.
Many young stars emerged this season, and some weren’t exactly expected. Sure, most thought that Steele Stanwick and Mark Matthews would be able to translate their success to the professional level. However, players like Ryan Young, Tommy Palasek, and most notably Matt Gibson really set the scene for the Long Island Lizards. Long Island now has an incredible group of young talented players and should be powerful for years to come. They may have lost out this year but their time will come soon.
On a personal note, the 12th summer of MLL lacrosse will be very memorable for me as it was the first season I covered. As the season has gone along I’ve learned more and more, and I’d like to thank all of my readers for bearing with me as I adjusted. Although different, I’ve found that I enjoy the sport just as much (ok, maybe a tad less) than box lacrosse. The season may be over, but that doesn’t mean that we are done until next summer. MLL news will continue to come in and we’ll begin preparation for next year’s draft soon. As MLL coverage closes up for the time being, I’d like to speak for all the fans out there in thanking the league for another great summer of outdoor lacrosse.
