Thoughts on Cannons Draft Choices

Greg Coholan Virginia Midfielder

JR 39 Goals 14 Assists

SO 13 Goals 14 Assists

FR 5 Goals 2 Assists

     With the number six pick in the draft the Boston Cannons selected Midfielder Greg Coholan. I love the pick of Greg Coholan adds to the Boston Cannons depth at the Midfield position, with Max Seibald, and the draft day trade that got the Cannons Justin Turri. Just like those two players mentioned above Coholan is a great scorer from the Midfield position. Coholan has some excellent dodge moves that he can use to get passed defenders. Along with these great dodging moves he also has demonstrated he has a great stutter step that he can use to catch defenders by surprise and help him great space and get off his shot. Coholan has an excellent outside shot, and can really blow it passed a lot of keepers. Coholan really is not afraid of taking the outside shot which gives him some confidence and with that confidence and ability to shot from outside might make him a deadly 2pt threat. Coholan is not just a spot up and shot guy, but he can also beat his defenders and head to the cage. Something you do not really see often from Midfielders. With Cohlan’s great ability to drive to the net and not be afraid to pull up and shoot I think will make him an immediate impact for the Cannons and is exactly why they took him with their first selection in this draft.

Brandon Mullins Syracuse Defensemen

     With the number nine pick in the draft the Boston Cannons selected Defensemen Brandon Mullins from Syracuse. Brandon Mullins is a great defender and has really made a name for himself in his time at Syracuse, making many people start to think he might be one of the best defenders Syracuse has had in a good amount of time. Just looking at what Mullins has done for Syracuse is outstanding and he is been a huge factor in the Syracuse defense. Just last year he caused 14 turnovers, helping him climb to fifth in the program record book for career caused turnovers. Mullins has also racked in some outstanding accolades in his time at Syracuse as well, being selected as an All-American twice, and was chosen as a first-team All American in 2015, and was also selected to his second consecutive All-ACC team. Mullins is an imposing 6’3 he is one big boy at around 225 pounds he is one of those guys that nobody wants to see running at them full speed. I think Mullins will help the Cannons a great deal at the close defense position with an ageing Cannons close defense. I think Mullins brings a great young imposing threat for the Cannons defense now and for the future of the organization.

Challen Rogers Stony Brook Midfielder

JR 30 Goals 23 Assists

SO 22 Goals 30 Assists

FR 18 Goals 26 Assists

     With the number thirty-two pick in the draft the Boston Cannons selected Midfielder Challen Rogers from Stony Brook. The Cannons took a risk on the Canadian Challen Rogers. The risk is will he play much for the Cannons this year or will he be focused on box instead. I think the risk of not having Rogers every game is absolutely worth the reward of having him for a couple games. Rogers adds more depth to the Cannons Midfield unit, but provides something a little different than Coholan who was drafted with the #6 pick by the Cannons. Rogers is a big 6’4 Midfielder who really uses his indoor ability to help on the field. Rogers has a great ability to perform nifty moves where the ball always seems to stay in his stick. The first thing that I noticed when watching footage of Rogers is he doesn’t care how the goal is scored he just will do whatever it takes to put one in the back of the net whether it be assisting on the goal scoring it or getting a hockey assist. Rogers from what I saw seems like a pass first guy but is not afraid to let it fly though. Rogers is comfortable taking the outside shot if it is given to him, and he has a great ability to finish in towards the net. The area Rogers seems to kill teams is when defenses will collapse to him, he has a great sense of IQ and when he sees that slide coming he knows exactly who is going to be open to make the play.

Jake Matthai North Carolina Short Stick Defensive Midfielder

     With the number forty-one pick in the draft the Boston Cannons selected Short Stick Defensemen Jake Matthai from North Carolina. If you want to talk about someone scary just take a look at Jake Matthai he is 6’6 230. If that doesn’t make you shake in your boots I don’t know what will. Matthai is a great short stick defensemen, who has the ability to help offensively but defense is his main priority. He is similar to Josh Hawkins who will be his teammate a gritty defense first Midfielder. Just thinking about having a dangerous one-two punch at the SSDM position might make several teams scared when they have to play the Cannons.

John Upgren Tufts Attack

JR 76 Goals 54 Assists

SO 66 Goals 58 Assists

FR 23 Goal 11 Assists

     With the number forty-nine pick in the draft the Boston Cannons selected Attackmen John Uppgren from Tufts University. John Uppgren from Tufts is a great pick, a guy from around the Boston area since he goes to Tufts, really is an excellent player and there is so much to rave about him. I know you are probably think, D3?? Why would anyone take someone who couldn’t play D1, and to that I say some lacrosse players are late bloomers or would have rather gone to a better school educational then play at a lesser school that is Division one. But I will let Uppgren’s numbers speak for himself as a Freshmen he put up 23 goals and had 11 assists, not a bad first year. If you think that year was impressive Uppgren followed it up with a impressive year in which he scored 66 goals and dished out 58 assists. And just last year he produced 76 goals and had 54 assists. Uppgren is an exciting player to watch with his great ability to get to the net and finish and he has not afraid to have a fancy finish. Just watch this video from last years Division three National Championship game against Lynchburg College and his nifty finish. If he can bring his scoring ability to the Cannons he could be an extremely exciting player to watch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2szQ_xawFDE

Matt Thistle High Point Attack

JR 31 Goals 21 Assists

SO 17 Goals 36 Assists

FR 19 Goals 23 Assists

     With the number fifty-eight pick in the draft the Boston Cannons selected Attackmen Matt Thistle from High Point. The 3-Time Captain at High Point, is a great pick another local guy being drafted by the Cannons. Thistle grew up in Chelmsford, Massachusetts so this pick really did not surprise me because he is a local Boston guy and you know he will have no excuse to miss a practice or a game because he is from around here. Just watching Thistle makes me feel confident that he could be a great addition if he is ever called upon to step up for the Cannons. Possibly one of the big reasons why Thistle fell towards the end of the draft was his size Thistle is 5’7, but he actually uses his height to his advantage using his height to sneak pass defenders and avoid taking brutal hits. Thistle also posses great speed that he uses to blow passed his defenders. Thistle also has an array of moves he can use to create separation and get his shot off. Thistle is also not afraid to fight through defenders and actually embraces contact, and when Thistle gets in close he has the ability to have some nifty finishes to beat the keeper. In all Thistle is a never say die player and I think if he gets the chance he might be like Tom Brady and make the most of his chances.

Cameron Bell Endicott Goalie

JR 209 Saves

SO 202 Saves

FR 186 Saves

     With the number sixty-seven pick in the draft the Boston Cannons selected Goalie Cameron Bell from Endicott College. Did you really expect Coach Quirk not to pick someone from Endicott? Personally don’t think it is a bad pick what so ever. It adds to the Cannons depth at the Goalie position with Jordan Burke, Jack Runkel, Jack Murphy, and Eric Hagarty (who will be coaching Bell in his Senior Year at Endicott. How ironic is that?). Bell is a solid addition who has really been a big time player at Endicott really since his Freshmen year, seeing time early on in his career pretty much earning him the starting role since he stepped on campus. Bell is one the smaller side of all the Goalies the Cannons have standing at only 5’11. Bell really does let his numbers speak for himself as a talented Goalie being a three time All-American going into his Senior year at Endicott. I don’t expect Bell to really see anytime this year but people can be wrong, and if he gets a chance it could be exciting to see how things work out for him.