IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE HOUNDS/BAYHAWKS TRADE
CHARLOTTE, NC (June 28, 2016) — The Charlotte Hounds on Tuesday traded a first-round 2017 Supplemental Draft pick to the Chesapeake Bayhawks in exchange for All-Star defenseman Kyle Sweeney. The trade was executed just prior to the 4:00pm ET Major League Lacrosse trade deadline. In order to make room for Sweeney on the 25-man roster, the Hounds moved defenseman Stephen O’Hara to the practice squad and waived defenseman Henry Lobb.
Sweeney is a 13-year MLL veteran, having made his debut in 2003 with the now defunct Bridgeport Barrage. The versatile defenseman helped the Barrage capture three MLL Championships (2004, 2006 and 2007) before being assigned to the then Washington Bayhawks in 2009. He was traded to the Boston Cannons that same season, and went on to win another Steinfeld Trophy with the Cannons in 2011. Sweeney played three more seasons in Boston, appearing in all but one game during that stretch. The Bayhawks acquired the defenseman through a trade with the Cannons prior to the 2015 season.
In 164 career MLL games, both regular season and postseason, Sweeney has amassed 483 groundballs, 44 goals, 28 assists and 39.5 penalty minutes.
A native of Sea Grit, N.J., Sweeney was a three-time USILA All-American at Georgetown University and was twice named ECAC Defensive Player of the Year. He graduated in 2003 as Georgetown’s all-time leader in groundballs with 229.
Sweeney joins a Hounds defensive unit that already features a trio of All-Stars in Ryan Flanagan, Brett Schmidt and Michael Ehrhardt, as well as talented rookies Robert Duvnjak, Goran Murray and Joe Meurer.
In an unrelated move on Tuesday, the Hounds also claimed midfielder David Earl from the Florida Launch practice squad. Goalkeeper Eric Dolan was waived to make room on the roster for Earl.
The Hounds (5-3) this weekend travel to Atlanta for a rematch with the Blaze (3-5). Faceoff is scheduled for 8:00pm ET at Fifth Third Bank on Friday, July 1.