NLL

Examining 2017 NLL Rosters: Who’s New & What’s Missing?

By Mark Donahue · December 20, 2016

We are finally less than two weeks away from #FaceoffWknd of the 2017 NLL Season and Monday, December 19th marked the end of preseason and served as the official deadline for 20-man rosters to kickoff the new campaign.

With all nine rosters turned in, we can start to sift through the names and raise our eyebrows to some, question others and generally get a sense of who is hitting the floor in 2017.

This is a big year for the USA, although the numbers aren’t staggering. 13 Americans will be suiting up with the starting rosters, combining with another 6 currently on practice rosters or injured. Of those 19 athletes, 11 of which are rookies, or without any regular season minutes. Let’s keep our fingers crossed.

Well, what are you waiting for? Click a team in the list below and get to know the new 2017 NLL Rosters!

Buffalo Bandits

Forwards: Ryan Benesch, Mitch Jones, Anthony Malcom, Craig Point, Dhane Smith, Mark Steenhuis, Daryl Veltman

Transition: Kevin Brownell, Alex Kedoh-Hill, Brad Self, Mitch Wilde

Defense: Matthew Bennett, David Brock, Mitch de Snoo, Steve Priolo, Billy Dee Smith, Andrew Watt, Nick Weiss

Goalies: Anthony Cosmo, Davide Diruscio

New Faces: Not much is changing this year in Banditland. Only moving slightly over an hour to the west, the starting lineup’s only new additions are a pair of former Knighthawks, Brad Self and Craig Point. Point will takeover as a bigger body where Culp is now missing and with face-off specialist Thorimbert gone, the Bandits built up the transition team by adding Self. Culp and Thorimbert are now with the Black Wolves, but it’s all good, Knighthawks fans, the veterans’ voids were filled by solid vets. Win-win.

2017 NLL Rosters

Calgary Roughnecks

Forwards: Wesley Berg, Holden Cattoni, Curtis Dickson, Tyler Digby, Dane Dobbie, Riley Loewen, Jeff Shattler

Transition: Karsen Leung, Curtis Manning

Defense: Dan MacRae, Tyler Burton, Greg Harnett, Scott Carnegie, Mike Carnegie, Chad Cummings, Jon Harnett, Kellen LeClair, Tyson Bell

Goalies: Christian Del Bianco, Frankie Scigliano

New Faces: Forward Holden Cattoni, 5th overall in the 2016 NLL Draft, joins the squad along with one other “rookie,” defenseman Chad Cummings. Cummings was taken in the middle of the 2012 draft, but has since been on the Hold Out List as he finished up his NCAA hockey career at The College at Brockport. Tightening up the roster is a third newcomer, Riley Loewen, from the Saskatchewan Rush. Although he won a Champion’s Cup with them last season and was just shy of the 2016 Mann Cup with the Maple Ridge Burrards, Loewen was underutilized on the stacked Rush lineup card and is now looking to pick up the production amongst an already impressive group of hefty lefties.

2017 NLL Rosters

Colorado Mammoth

Forwards: Jacob Ruest, John Grant Jr., Jeremy Noble, Eli McLaughlin, Zack Greer, Callum Crawford, Chris Wardle

Defense: Josh Sullivan, Greg Downing, Taylor Stuart, Ilija Gajic, Robert Hope, Cameron Holding, Jordan Gilles, Dan Coates, Creighton Reid, Joey Cupido, Bryce Sweeting

Goalies: Alex Buque, Dillon Ward

New Faces: The highlight addition to the Mammoth roster is lefty all-star Zack Greer, popular in Denver from his time with the Outlaws and fresh off a Champion’s Cup win. It came at a price, losing key veteran Adam Jones, although the deal seems to be a fair move to freshen up both squads, and both stars’ careers. Along with Greer, two rookies will join the starting lineup for week one, free agent Jacob Ruest joins the righties and draft pick Taylor Stuart will bolster the already deep Mammoth defense.

In the wings, three more field transfers from the MLL wait for a shot to show what they’ve learned. Zach Herreweyers could add an offensive spark, Nick Ossello has the tools to takeover the draw circle and Brent Adams is an edgy hustler that could fill a defensive role, potentially pushing transition.

2017 NLL Rosters

Georgia Swarm

Forwards: Lyle Thompson, Jordan Hall, Jerome Thompson, Miles Jackson, Shayne Jackson, Kiel Matisz, Randy Staats Transition: Sean Young, Liam Byrnes, Ethan O’Connor, Chad Tutton, Jason Noble, Bryan Cole

Defense: Alex Crepinsek, Connor Sellars, Leo Stouros, Drew Petkoff, Mitch Belisle

Goalies: Brodie MacDonald, Mike Poulin

New Faces: In typical Swarm fashion, they’ve chalked up five rookies for opening weekend. After Staats, Thompson, King and Tutton all had breakout rookie seasons, I guess they figure they’d push their luck again by adding even more new faces. Bulking up the transition game with young legs, we’ll see Sean Youngs, Liam Byrnes and Bryan Cole on both ends of the floor, with defensemen Leo Stouros and Connor Sellars filling in the defensive gaps.

There are some veterans joining the squad, as Jordan Hall is over from the Black Wolves to guide some offense and net-minder Mike Poulin in from Free Agency through Calgary. The two have a combined 19 years of NLL experience and join the team as two of the only four players with over 5 years of playing time in the NLL.

2017 NLL Rosters

New England Black Wolves

Forwards: Reilly O’Connor, Seth Oakes, Pat Saunders, Shawn Evans, Chad Culp, Kevin Crowley, Brett Bucktooth, Kevin Buchanan, Kyle Buchanan

Transition: Ryan Hotaling, Sheldon Burns, Jay Thorimbert

Defense: Scott Self, Matt Spanger, Stephen Hoar, Derek Suddons, Brett Manney, Zac Reid, Bill O’Brien
Goalies: Evan Kirk, Doug Jamieson

New Faces: Well, it looks like New England is rocking 21 guys, with rookie goaltender Dougie Jamieson left off the list, although I’m sure the Six Nations star will be running a door to start week one, so I added him myself. The only other rookie is another shining star from the Iroquois Nationals, Seth Oakes, a tough right-handed forward. From Buffalo, Jay Thorimbert is in to win draws and with him comes veteran forward Chad Culp to slightly refine the already experienced offensive group. Joining Culp will be another lefty, Reilly O’Connor from Calgary, to bring new life to Kevin Buchanan’s side.

The only defensive addition is veteran Scott Self, previously a staple with Rochester. Each of their pickups have proven themselves, I expect that these six guys will bring a lot of life to New England.

2017 NLL Rosters

Rochester Knighthawks

Forwards: Kyle Jackson, Tyler Ferreira, Josh Currier, Wayne Van Every, Dan Dawson, Joe Resetarits, Stephen Keogh, Jarrett Davis, Quinn Powless

Transition: Dylan Evans

Defense: Luc Magnan, Paul Dawson, Graeme Hossack, Brad Gillies, Ian Llord, Scott Campbell, Sid Smith, Joel Matthews

Goalies: Matt Vinc, Angus Goodleaf

New Faces: Three guys, with three very different backgrounds, join the Knighthawks after various issues to find the right place in the NLL; Tyler Ferreira spent his last two seasons trying to crack the Bandits, Wayne Van Every started to run the CLax show after getting drafted in 2011 with no traction and Luc Magnan joins after a decent rookie run in 2016 with Toronto. With Cory Vitarelli, Cody Jamieson, Andrew Suitor and Adam Bomberry dealing with injuries at the top of 2017 and Joe Walters calling it quits, plenty of room opened up for new guys to crack a roster that was nearly unchanged through their 3-peat.

The last new name you’ll hear is Jarrett Davis, hot off an exciting 2016 that brought him a Champion’s Cup with Saskatchewan, then all the way to the Mann Cup finals with Maple Ridge. After spending his first two seasons with Rochester, they sent him off to the Rush where he won two Champion’s Cup before the Hawks got him back.

Ultimately this could be a tough season, with all of the inevitable rebuilding insight. If things can click early, the pressure won’t be on Jamieson and the guys to force recovery time and get back on the floor.

2017 NLL Rosters

Saskatchewan Rush

SKASTCHEWAN RUSH 2017 NLL — Photo: Josh Schaefer

Forwards: Mike Messenger, Ryan Keenan, Curtis Knight, Robert Church, Dan Taylor, Mark Matthews, Matthew Dinsdale, Ben McIntosh, Adam Jones

Transition: John LaFontaine, Adrian Sorichetti, Jeremy Thompson

Defense: Brett Mydske, Kyle Rubisch, Jeff Cornwall, Chris Corbeil, Ryan Dilks, Nik Bilic

Goalies: Aaron Bold, Tyler Carlson

New Faces: I feel that it’s safe to say that the biggest addition to the 2017 Saskatchewan Rush will be lefty all-star Adam Jones, in to replace Zack Greer and to potentially lead them to a three-peat. One of the biggest names in the game is joining the most electric team in the NLL, inside the rowdiest barn…it’s a recipe for something serious! But pushing Jonesy for the spotlight is Coach Keenan’s own son, and first overall draft pick, Ryan Keenan alongside Mike Messenger, the fourth overall pick, out of Coquitlam. Both rookies had incredible NCAA careers with smaller programs, Keenan with Quinnipiac and Messenger at Limestone, but where they really shine is inside the box.

There’s not much to tweak on a team that’s pulled back-to-back titles, but with contracts, age and chemistry always a looming issue, Urban and co. parted ways with Loewen, Greer, Lintz and Davis to make a little room for young talent and refine what has been already finding great success.

2017 NLL Rosters

Toronto Rock

Forwards: Kieran McArdle, Mike MacDonald, Brett Hickey, Turner Evans, Stephan Leblanc, Tom Schreiber, Kasey Beirnes, Dan Lintner

Transition: Jesse Gamble, Connor Buczek, Challen Rogers, Brodie Merrill

Defense: Sandy Chapman, Bradley Kri, Jeff Gilbert, Damon Edwards, Billy Hostrawser, Latrell Harris
Goalies: Nick Rose, Steve Fryer

New Faces: With Brock Sorensen, Rob Marshall, Patrick Merrill, Brandon Miller and Rob Hellyer all off the floor with various injuries, a ton of room has opened up in Toronto for new opportunity.

In comes three MLL all-stars, each with next-to-no box experience, in an attempt to do anything to fix the atrocity that was the 2016 Toronto Rock, the team that didn’t win until their seventh game of the season. Tom Schrieber, Kieran McArdle and Connor Buczek all made the 20-man cut after being thought of as just publicity stunts in the beginning. The trio has the brains, athleticism and silky smooth hands to make it a reality. It also doesn’t hurt that Schrieber/McArdle’s headline sponsor Warrior and Buczek’s StringKing both made deals with the NLL to let sponsored players use the manufacturers’ equipment this season.

The second-overall draft pick, Challen Rogers, will be a staple of the offense as soon as he hits the floor, bringing a lot of promise to Ontario after such a prosperous career growing up in Coquitlam. Second rounder Latrell Harris will be by far the youngest cat in the locker room, but the defenseman has raised some eyebrows with his athletic prowess and has raised a ton of eyebrows already. Bailing out of playing NCAA ball at High Point, the 18 year old is in a great place to learn from Toronto’s big, veteran defensive unit. Lefty forward Mikey MacDonald will join as the only non-rookie pickup, coming in from New England in the offseason.

2017 NLL Rosters

Vancouver Stealth

Forwards: Keegan Bal, Rhys Duch, Jordan Durston, Corey Small, Joel McCready, Tommy McKee, Logan Schuss

Defense: Matt Beers, Travis Cornwall, Brendan Fowler, Ian Hawksbee, Curtis Hodgson, Thomas Hoggarth, John Lintz, Peter McFetridge, Chris O’Dougherty, Justin Salt, Ryan Wagner
Goalies: Tye Belanger, Tyler Richards

New Faces: Two of the most surprising faces to join the Stealth camp have to be the pair of American rookies, Tommy McKee, forward out of Air Force, and dominant MLL face-off star, Brendan Fowler. Fowler’s role will be simple, win the draw, every draw, possessions are going to be precious for the team that finished dead last in 2016. McKee is grinding his way into a gig and although his job is as stable as a candle in a windstorm, there’s rumblings that he’s gritty enough to figure this thing out and make a real name for himself.

A pair of veterans will be attempting to rebuild the defense, Peter McFetridge comes over from Calgary and 2016 Champion John Lintz joins up from the Rush. Those two will be standing in front of what we can only imagine will be another revolving door of goaltenders, starting with the re-re-addition of Tyler Richards.

This whole fiasco could ultimately be solved if newcomer Tye Belanger, coming off his best season with NEBW, can find his footing early and buy the confidence of not only himself, but his teammates and coaches.