Cannons Add Six in 2015 MLL Collegiate Draft
January 23, 2015 - Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
Boston Cannons News Release
BALTIMORE, MD - The Boston Cannons of Major League Lacrosse (MLL), the premier professional outdoor lacrosse league, selected six players in the 2015 MLL Collegiate Draft, beginning with Ryan Tucker, senior midfielder at the University of Virginia and son of Head Coach John Tucker.
Tucker was a member of the 2012 USA U-19 Team that won a Gold medal at the World Championships. His freshman year at UVA, Tucker appeared in all 16 games, scoring 13 goals and tying current Cannons' member Rob Emery for second in goals scored by a freshman. As a sophomore, he appeared in all 15 of UVA's games, with 12 starts, scoring 15 goals and dishing out five assists. As a junior in 2014, Tucker started in all 15 games he appeared in finishing 3rd on the team with 24 goals.
"Ryan Tucker is going to be a great fit for our team and offensive unit," said Cannons GM Kevin Barney. "He has the size and talent to be a force in this league for years to come. The family connection just made the choice and even easier one for us to make. I'm looking forward to watching his season at Virginia as he continues to get better every season."
"It was obviously a very special night for me," said Cannons Head Coach John Tucker. "It was apparent that many of the other teams had him ranked high, so it was the easiest and most difficult decision to make as a father and with my Coaches hat on. He is a talented player and his skills will translate well from the college to pro game."
Following Ryan Tucker at the #4 overall pick, Cannons chose John Glesener from Army with the #5 overall pick. Glesener is a versatile attackman who scored 43 goals last season and added 14 assists. His freshman year, he lead the team from midfield with 33 points in 2012. The 6-foot-3, 214 pound attackman uses his size to his advantage and is able to play all over the field moving from middie to attack as a sophomore and was named Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year and was a USILA honorable mention All-America. Additionally, he was named a top 25 nominee for the Tewaaraton Award.
"John is incredibly athletic as he played both midfield and attack at Army," Tucker continued. "He is a high level scorer and a guy with great character. He will also be stationed at West Point so we are fortunate to be able to use his services in the next few years. He is one of the best athletes in this year's draft, and can be a very dangerous addition to our offense" said Cannons head coach John Tucker.
Seven picks later at #12, the Cannons selected Wells Stanwick, an attackman out of Johns Hopkins and two time honorable mention USILA All-American. Stanwick is Johns Hopkins career active leader in points with (137), and assists (81) entering the 2015 season. His junior year led the team in assists (44) and points (67) and ranked fourth in goals (23). He currently carries a 19-game point streak into the 2015 season.
"Wells' ability to control the game and the quarterback role will have an immediate impact for his teammates in the off ball positions," said Cannons Coach Jim Murphy.
In the fifth round the team added two more with defenseman Brian Fischer of Harvard and faceoff specialist Joseph Nardella of Rutgers .
"We were surprised to be able to pick up Brian and Joseph so late in the draft as we had them rated very high, stated Cannons Head Coach John Tucker. "They are two of the better players at their respective position in all of college lacrosse."
The Cannons rounded out their 2015 draft class with T.A. Demoulas, midfielder from Bentley University, and Lowell, MA native.
"We came into the draft looking at specific needs and we feel like we have adequately addressed those needs, said Cannons Head Coach John Tucker. "We added big scorers, a natural quarterback, and a lot of depth, so it was a really special night for us."
Boston Cannons 2015 Collegiate Draft Results
1. (4th): Ryan Tucker, Midfield, UVA
2. (5th): John Glesener, Attack, Army
3. (12th): Wells Stanwick, Attack, Johns Hopkins
4. (34th) Brian Fischer, Defenseman, Harvard
5. (36th): Joseph Nardella, Faceoff, Rutgers
6. (56th): T.A. Demoulas, Midfielder, Bentley
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