Chris Crane, Beat Writer Rochester Rattlers
Lacrosse is Awesome
With the Major League Lacrosse season months behind us now, teams are now beginning to make moves in the off-season to either improve on this past season or remain the top dog among the entire league.
Part of this process but to keep the league competitive at the same time, teams are given a chance to create a 23 man protected roster. This particular roster allows a team to keep choice players and the rest are up for grabs in the Expansion Draft. In 2015 protected roster moves by the Rattlers included the release of:
Kyle Aquin (M)
Mike MacDonald (A)
Sean Young (D)
Jeremy Boltus (A)
Mark Cockerton (A)
Jason LaShomb (G)
Matt Miller (D)
John Ortolani (M)
Jeremy Thompson (M)
Casey Dowd (M)
Austin Gorman (A)
Michael O’Neil (M)
Michael Tota (A)
The Rochester Rattlers protected roster included:
Kyle Denhoff (M)
John Galloway (G)
Jesse King (M)
Will Koshansky (D)
John Lade (D)
Dave Lawson (M)
Michael Lazore (M)
John LoCascio (D)
Jordan MacIntosh (M)
Michael Manley (D)
Mark Matthews (A)
Donald Moss (M)
John Near (M)
Mike Poppleton (M/FO)
John Ranagan (M)
Kevin Rice (A)
Sam Somers (G)
Jordan Stevens (D)
Ty Thompson (A)
Justin Turri (M)
Joel White (D)
Jordan Wolf (A)
So with it being that time of year again it’s hard to say which way the Rattlers will go on their choices for their protected roster. However, there have been a few Rattlers that have already filed for the Player Movement Policy which will include Ned Crotty (A); and Mike Manley (D) who if he is selected by another team will give the Rattlers a First Round Collegiate Draft pick for 2017. Other Rattlers declaring for the MLL Player Movement will also include Will Koshansky (D); Jeremy Boltus (A); John Galloway (G); Jordan Macintosh (M); and Joel White (D).
With those filing for the MLL Player Movement it would be safe to say that the Rattlers will protect Blaze Riorden (G); Kyle Denhoff (M); Jesse King (M); John Lade (D); Dave Lawson (M); Michael Lazore (M); John LoCascio (D); Mark Matthews (A); Donald Moss (M); John Near (M); 
John Ranagan (M); Kevin Rice (A); Jason LaShomb (G); Randy Staats (A); Jordan Stevens (D);
Ty Thompson (A); Justin Turri (M); and Jordan Wolf (A). To finish out the 23 man roster could also include Matt Dunn (D); Steven Boyle (A); Kip Orban (M); Dhane Smith (M); and Drew Simoneau (FO).
It will definitely be interesting to see how the Rochester Rattlers will handle their rosters and who they will pick up in both the expansion and collegiate drafts.
Chris Crane, Beat Writer Rochester Rattlers
Lacrosse is Awesome
Photo Credits Dave Lawson & John Ranagan: Di Miller