In January 2016, the Boston Cannons selected Virginia midfielder Greg Coholan with the sixth pick in the MLL collegiate draft.
On Saturday, June 17, 2017, Coholan finally made his Cannons debut.
The delay didn’t come because the Cannons benched him. It came because they traded him before he ever dressed for them, only to reacquire him later. Not even two weeks after the draft, Boston sent the rights to Coholan to Chesapeake — along with Tyler German, Ryan Young and a 2017 first-round draft pick — in exchange for goalie Tyler Fiorito and a supplemental draft pick.
“We were in a spot where the goalie position is so important in this league,” Cannons general manager Kevin Barney said. “Having a high-end caliber goalie has always been important to us. When Jordan [Burke] decided to retire, Jack Murphy has been a phenomenal back up. He hasn’t gotten his chance to show it, but I’d had talks with Chesapeake when they got [Brian] Phipps. When Jordan decided to retire, I reached back out and wanted to talk about Fiorito. He was phenomenal against us the year before. We knew we’d have to pay for it.”
Coholan didn’t take the trade personally.
“I tried not to focus on it because I was in season with Virginia, but I just looked at it as people are interested in me,” he said. “Boston drafts me and Chesapeake makes a deal to acquire me. It’s all based on who the coaches think would make a good fit. MLL has been a ride for me, so I just tried to go with the flow. Wherever I end up, I try to play my best and help the team any way I can.”
Coholan played four games for the Bayhawks in his debut season, during which he was slowed down by a torn labrum. He scored two goals and added four assists.
In September 2016, he was traded to the Atlanta Blaze for midfielder Ryan Tucker. He played five games for the Blaze at the start of the 2017 season, and he scored six goals and added four assists. (Through eight games, he is still seventh on Atlanta’s roster with 10 points.)
“Atlanta was a good experience,” he said. “We had a lot of team chemistry in training camp. We were getting to a good flow and had to make adjustments for Kevin Rice getting hurt. More people took on stronger leadership and playing roles.”
Atlanta moved Coholan to the practice squad, however, allowing Boston to put him on its active roster. Barney said adding Coholan was an easy decision.
“We were very happy when they put him on their practice squad. We had maybe a two-minute conversation,” he said. “It was a funny phone call Wednesday night. When it cleared, we were able to get him. I called Greg and said it was full circle, but somehow he was a Boston Cannon, where you’re supposed to be.”