Now that we know the Premier Lacrosse League’s plan for the summer — a 20-game, 16-day tournament without fans — it’s time to dissect each roster and see who could be favored in this unique format.

Through the end of this week, US Lacrosse Magazine will unveil previews for each of the seven lacrosse clubs. Check back each day to learn more about another team.

PLL Team Previews

Archers
Atlas
Chaos
Chrome
Redwoods
Waterdogs
Whipsnakes

Waterdogs

2019 regular season record: N/A
Last seen: On social media every #WaterdogsWednesday 

Overview

Most casual fans of the Premier Lacrosse League probably assumed the Waterdogs would take two-time All-World attackman and 2018 MLL MVP Rob Pannell with the first overall pick in the entry draft on March 16. Andy Copelan had other ideas.

He selected Zach Currier. The 2017 Princeton grad, who won last year’s NLL championship with the Calgary Roughnecks is regarded as one of, if not the best two-way midfielders in the world. The pick exemplified Copelan’s strategy to prioritize a strong core and versatility over more marquee names.

“I wanted high-character dudes that we wanted to spend time with and build with,” Copelan, who won 87 games in 11 seasons at Fairfield University, said on The Inside Feed — a PLL podcast. “I think that’s what we got.”

What the Waterdogs lack in flashiness, they make up for in experience. Brodie Merrill (Chaos), entering his 16th year of outdoor professional lacrosse, will headline a defense that includes veterans Brian Karalunas (Redwoods) and goalie Charlie Cipriano (Chaos), mixed with younger talents like Chris Sabia (Chrome) and Noah Richard (Atlas). In the middle of the field, the Waterdogs boast versatile options like Dan Eipp (Archers), Ryan Conrad (Atlas) and Kyle McClancy (Chaos). 

Of the 18 players Copelan selected in the expansion draft, which consisted of players not protected by their previous teams, he took the most from the PLL champion Whipsnakes. The haul included offensive threats Drew Snider, Ryan Drenner, Connor Kelly and Ben Reeves, who edged out Kelly for the 2018 Tewaaraton Award. Both Reeves and Kelly played attack and midfield last season. Kieran McArdle (Atlas), Wes Berg (Redwoods) and Ben McIntosh (Archers) all could stake a claim as the most underrated scorer in the league. If that’s not enough firepower, attackman Christian Cuccinello (Archers), who had 17 points for the Archers in 2019, proved that he can put up All-Star caliber numbers, especially during the second half of last season. 

“You look at the roster top to bottom and I don’t think there is a single weakness,” said Cipriano, who Copelan selected with the fourth pick in the expansion draft on February 12. 

“What he has experienced is what a lot of our guys have experienced with patiently waiting their turn,” Copelan said about Cipriano. “Now that the spotlight is on them I think we are going to have a pretty hungry group.”

That hunger shines through in the Waterdogs’ motto: “Every game is a revenge game.”

“This team is going to have a lot to prove and easily could have success like the Vegas [Golden] Knights had in their first year,” Whipsnakes LSM and captain Michael Ehrhardt said last December, even before the PLL announced the expansion team’s name. “All the guys that get picked were overlooked by their [former] teams and get the opportunity to be more of a focal point.” 

So while they might be underdogs in name, the Waterdogs won’t be taken lightly by the rest of the PLL in the Championship Series.

Losses

N/A

Additions

Everyone

Burning question
Will the former Whips make everyone pay?

The Waterdogs’ tagline will most certainly apply to Connor Kelly, Ryan Drenner, Ben Reeves, and Drew Snider, who all bring a championship pedigree.