Four Hounds Selected to 2016 MLL All-Star Game
June 14, 2016 - Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
Charlotte Hounds News Release
BOSTON, MA - Major League Lacrosse today announced the event roster for the 2016 MLL All-Star Game to be held on July 9 at Titan Stadium at Cal State Fullerton in Fullerton, California. The Charlotte Hounds will be represented by attack Joey Sankey, midfielder John Haus and faceoff specialist Brendan Fowler - all three of whom were 2015 MLL All Stars - as well as defenseman Mike Ehrhardt, who earns his first selection to the event.
The final teams will be chosen the night prior, on July 8, in a playground-style draft decided by this year's "MLL Ultimate Fan Fantasy" contest winners. The MLL Ultimate Fans will participate in a full schedule of All-Star Game festivities, and the contest is open until June 23. Fans can enter at bit.ly/MLLUFF
"It is a great honor to represent the Charlotte Hounds at the All-Star Game this summer," said Ehrhardt. "The Hounds have started off the year on a great run and that is a credit to the coaching staff and the guys on the team. Playing with the best players in the world on July 9 will be quite an experience. I am looking forward to interacting with the rest of the guys in the league who I have become great friends with over the year. Being able to play alongside some of the greats in the game will be an experience I will never forget."
Ehrhardt, a third-year defenseman, leads the Hounds with nine caused turnovers in seven games. He also has scored three goals this season, including a two-pointer. Those four points rank Ehrhardt third among all MLL defenders this season. In addition, the long pole's 19 groundballs are tied for second on the Hounds with fellow All-Star Fowler.
Fowler this season has started five games at the X, going 68-150 (45.3%) on draws while adding two goals. "It means a lot to be selected as an All-Star," he said. "We play in a league with the best lacrosse players in the world, so to be recognized at all is a huge compliment. My favorite part of All-Star Weekend last year was definitely getting to hang out with and get to know some guys on other teams. We compete so hard against each other all season, it's nice to be on the same side as some guys for a game."
Sankey, the reigning MLL Cascade Rookie of the Year, continues to pace the Hounds offense with 27 points (15g, 12a) in six games. He set a new franchise record for most points in a single game on April 23, tallying nine (6g, 3a) versus the Boston Cannons. Sankey has tallied at least one point in each of his 15 MLL appearances, a streak that dates back to his May 23, 2015 debut.
Haus, one of the Hounds' co-captains, holds a 10-game point streak of his own, dating back to July 11, 2015. In the first seven games of 2016, the fourth-year midfielder has posted a team-high 18 goals while adding four assists. Haus' best performance came on May 14 against the Florida Launch, when he recorded four goals and three assists.
"It's a great honor to be selected to the All-Star Game," said Haus. "As a competitor you strive to be the best. With that being said, I want to thank my teammates and the Hounds organization as they are truly the ones that make all of this possible. The 2015 All-Star Experience was something new to me, so I was trying to take it all in. This year I will be able to relax more and enjoy all the weekend festivities."
Joe Spallina of the New York Lizards and Bear Davis of the Ohio Machine will serve as head coaches for the 2016 MLL All-Star Game, which marks the league's return to Southern California. The game will be broadcast live, exclusively on CBS Sports Network, at 7:00pm ET. For ticket info, please visit majorleaguelacrosse.com/article/2016-allstar-game
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Major League Lacrosse Stories from June 14, 2016
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