Since Sandy Brown took over as Major League Lacrosse commissioner, the discussion has been about a new beginning for the league, an “MLL 2.0” as league officials have dubbed it.

The 2019 season is the dawn of that new era, and there are plenty of changes in store.

Not only does the league have a new literal face, rebranding with a new logo — red and blue with a white silhouette of a player in movement, similar in color to that of the NBA, NFL, and MLB — there are also new metaphorical faces.

With the advent of the Premier Lacrosse League, many perennial MLL All-Stars — such as Paul Rabil, Kyle Harrison, Tom Schreiber and Will Manny — will no longer play in Major League Lacrosse. Those fan favorites left huge holes in their respective former teams’ rosters, but the old sports cliché is “next man up.”

Moreover, three MLL teams have ceased operations. Where there are openings, MLL league and team officials are confident new players will rise to the occasion.

“We have diamonds in the rough that haven’t had that opportunity,” Atlanta Blaze coach Liam Banks said. “Lacrosse has grown so much. There are so many good players. The opportunities are out there for superstars.”

For our season preview, we’ve identified a face of the franchise, MVP frontunner and under-the-radar player from each of the remaining six teams. The MLL season opens May 31, when the New York Lizards host the Denver Outlaws.

Dallas Rattlers

2018 record: 11-3 (lost in championship game)
Head coach: Bill Warder (second season)

Face of the Franchise
Bryce Wasserman, A

Wasserman played in the final three games of the 2018 season for the Ohio Machine and exploded onto the scene in a very short time. He scored a goal in his debut and then had nine points in his next two games. This outburst included an effort where Wasserman scored four goals and added an assist in the season finale against Boston.

“He’s a very confident young man,” former Ohio Machine coach Bear Davis said. “You have to be to go from a guy drafted pretty close to last in the draft and wasn’t getting an opportunity, to get in the game and make the most of it.”

Davis said Wasserman came to the coaching staff in the offseason, telling them he was ready to take on a bigger role with the team. Wasserman was all over the Ohio Machine social media pages this offseason, but Ohio was one of three teams to cease operations. Wasserman – a native of Southlake, Texas – was selected by Dallas in the relocation draft, and he picked up where he left off with Ohio, representing his new team in numerous interviews to promote the new season.

Draft List

Chris Sabia, D, Penn State
Craig Chick, D/LSM, Lehigh
Isaac Paparo, LSM, UMass
Teddy Hatfield, A, Richmond
Jack Jasinski, A, Ohio State
Joe Saggese, A, Sacred Heart
Lucas Wittenberg, M, Georgetown
Fleet Wallace, D, Cornell
Landon Kramer, D, Sacred Heart
Robert Mooney, D, Yale
Drew Schantz, M, Notre Dame
Jake Seau, M, Duke
Johnny Surdick, D, Army

MVP Watch
Ryan McNamara, M

The Marquette product had a breakout sophomore season in 2018, finishing third on the team in goals (23), assists (10), and points (35). He also tied for the team lead with two two-point goals. In his promotional video the league pushed out, identifying him as “The Marksman,” McNamara looks rather serious. Dallas coach Billy Warder said, however, that he also sees another side of McNamara.

“Ryan can dodge either hand. He can play attack. He can play midfield. He has an absolute laser beam for a shot,” Warder said. “He absolutely loves the game of lacrosse. He plays with a ton of passion. If you look at any photo, the guy has always got a smile on his face. That’s genuine. He’s a great team guy.”

Under the Radar
Blake Boudreau, FO

Warder said the Rattlers have a couple players who will compete to be the face-off specialist for the team in 2019, but Boudreau has an impressive resume for the job. A two-time All-American, Boudreau won 67.7 percent of his face-offs in his Merrimack career while finishing with 389 ground balls, good for second all-time. He’s also a very competitive individual.

“Blake was the face-off Player of the Year in Division 2,” Warder said. “That’s where Max Adler came out of. Max proved he’s a good player. My first conversation I had with Boudreau, he was like, ‘Hey, the guy that beat you in the championship game, I beat him head to head.’ That’s the kind of guy you want to bring in to compete for that job.”