I have finally had the opportunity to interview one of my favorite players! Thank you for taking the time to speak with us, PT.
PT Ricci: Andrew, thanks for the opportunity to speak with you. It’s a pleasure to be interviewed by one of my favorite lacrosse writers/websites.
Many fans associate you with the Boston Cannons, but you were initially drafted by the Chesapeake Bayhawks. You won two MLL championships ’10 with the Bayhawks and ’11 with the Cannons.
Ricci: Safe to say you know what it takes to win a Cup? I’ve been lucky enough to be on the right teams at the right times. Both of those teams were loaded with talent and veteran leadership. During the Bayhawks championship Chris Garrity was the voice in our locker room. During the Cannons run Ryan Boyle was the guy taking the reins. When both of those guys speak you make sure to listen. Having guys with that kind of leadership and experience can make the difference between winning a championship and losing.
Which team did you enjoy playing for most and which Cup as the most memorable?
Ricci: Both runs were extremely memorable, but I definitely enjoyed the championship with the Cannons more. The reason is that it was the closest team I’ve ever been on in the professional setting, both on and off the field. There was never a game that we played in the 2011 season that I thought we had a chance of losing. There was something special about that year. That team had so many different personalities in the locker room and that made for a loose and relaxed setting.
Did you ever play any position other than LSM?
Ricci: My freshman and sophomore year of both high school and college I played short stick d-mid. I think that was really important to my development as a LSM. It forced me to have better footwork and play my angles smarter. I also was dodged way more which in turn gave me more in game experience. Id highly recommend picking up a shorty for any young defender.
What do you feel are the strong points in your game?
Ricci: I’ve always felt that ground balls and wing play were the biggest parts of my game. Unfortunately with Pointstreak you never know what your correct ground ball totals are in the MLL, but according to them this past year was the highest of my career. Having been around the league for 7 years I know most of the opposing faceoff guys tendencies ie. Where they throw the ball out and where they want to pull it out to themselves.
What advice do you have for young players?
Ricci: Easiest question yet….PLAY MULTIPLE SPORTS! Too many kids are playing lacrosse year round. If you took a poll of the MLL players I bet there are very few who quit other sports to “specialize” in lacrosse in high school.
What was your reaction when you found you were going to the Florida franchise?
Ricci: I was really excited, but a bit nervous because they traded their leader (Brodie Merrill) for me. I wasn’t sure how I would be received by the guys in the locker room, but there was some comfort level there. I knew a few guys on the team prior, Coach Ross and Reid Acton are Loyola alums, and I had played with Kevin Cunningham and Chris Mattes before.
The Launch have a great mix a veterans and rookies. How do you feel about next season and what are your goals as a defense?
Ricci: Depending on how much of the team we can keep together with the expansion draft we think we are a title contender. Once we had everyone in place at the end of the season we won 4 of our last 5 games. It was the youngest roster I have ever been a part of. The guys on the team genuinely enjoy being around each other both on and off the field. As a defense we want to hold teams to 10 goals or less. We feel that gives our team a good chance to win. We also want to shut all the writers up who week in and week out say we are the worst d in the league.
What are your team goals for the Launch? Looking for a third ring? More?
Ricci: Going into every season if a championship isn’t your goal than you probably shouldn’t be playing professionally. A third ring would be great, but it would mean more to have the Launch capture their first championship.
Where do you see the MLL in five years?
Ricci: Ideally the league has expanded to 12 teams, and there is more being shown on TV. What’s really important to the league though is that there are more fans in the seats.
Any thoughts on the expansion draft?
Ricci: I love that the league is expanding, but hate that our team is going to be broken up.
Loyola has an increasing number of alumni in the MLL. How does that make you feel as a former player?
Ricci: Proud! For a while the only other alums that I was playing against were Gavin Prout and Tim Goettlemann. Now every week there is another former hound on the opposite sideline.
Best athlete you have played with in college? Best athlete you have played with in the MLL?
Ricci: Best athlete I ever played against in college was Chris Hogan from Penn St. Chris was by far my toughest cover throughout my college years. The best athlete I played against and within the MLL is Pat Heim. He was two years older than me and grew up two streets over from me so I may be a little biased.
Do you enjoy coaching more than playing?
Ricci: I don’t think I enjoy one more than the other. In coaching you get the satisfaction of having an influence on kids lives both on and off the field. In playing you get the satisfaction of competing at the highest level every week.
What is your offseason like? How do you prepare for the MLL season?
Ricci: Once the season ends I usually take about a month to do nothing and let me body recover. Coaching college (now at Cabrini College) allows me to have a stick in my hands everyday. I’ll start lifting and light running in the fall, and won’t really amp up my conditioning until January. Another perk of coaching is the access to the weight room, strength coach, and trainers. I think this is a big reason that I’ve been able to keep healthy for the majority of my career.
If you could change any rule in the MLL what would it be?
Ricci: I would take out some of the TV timeouts that we are always hurried out of our huddles and on the field than have to wait. I would then add in a timeout or two for each team.
Now you get to ask me a question…
Ricci: Two part questions. First which game has been your biggest thrill to cover throughout your years? Second what part of the MLL would you change as a writer?
Well the most influential was not a game I covered, but watching the Cannons win their championship. I was not covering the sport at the time because of work. I had played club ball in Boston and got caught up in the excitement of the Cannons capturing the cup. It made me realize how much I missed lacrosse. I would shorten the overlap between the NLL and MLL so the players and fans benefit. In addition to the lessening overlap I would increase the game day roster to 20 players because I like even numbers.
