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MLL Florida Launch

Launch Almost Unscathed After Expansion Draft

November 18, 2015 - Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
Florida Launch News Release


In an exciting day in Major League Lacrosse history, the Atlanta Blaze began their trek towards the start of their inaugural season. In the first expansion draft since the Ohio Machine and Charlotte Hounds joined the MLL in 2012, the Atlanta Blaze took former Boston Cannons goalie Adam Ghitelman as the number one overall pick of the 2016 MLL Expansion Draft.

Overall, the Blaze drafted 15 players to its 2016 inaugural season roster:

#1 Pick: Adam Ghitelman (G - Boston)

#2 Pick: Brodie Merrill (D - Boston)

#3 Pick: Ryan Tucker (M - Boston)

#4 Pick: Justin Turri (M - Rochester)

#5 Pick: Randy Staats (A - Rochester)

#6 Pick: John Ranagan (M - Rochester)

#7 Pick: Henry Schoonmaker (M - Chesapeake)

#8 Pick: Chris Hipps (D - Chesapeake)

#9 Pick: CJ Costabile (D - Chesapeake)

#10 Pick: Justin Pennington (M - Denver)

#11 Pick: Mark Matthews (A - Rochester)

#12 Pick: Jeremy Noble (M - Denver)

#13 Pick: Casey Ikeda (D - Florida)

#14 Pick: Dominque Alexander (M - Ohio)

#15 Pick: Ryan Walsh (A - New York)

With the Expansion Draft closed out, the Florida Launch was able to collect all but one player that was not protected on its 12-man roster. Rookie defenseman Casey Ikeda was drafted as the Atlanta Blaze's 13th Overall Pick. Ikeda played in eight games for the Launch after being drafted 54th overall in the 2015 MLL Collegiate Draft. In his eight games, Ikeda scored one goal and two assists for three points, as well as collected 16 groundballs.

The 2016 MLL Supplemental Draft will be hosted on Wednesday, December 16 and the Launch holds 14 picks.

2016 Florida Launch Roster (Post-Expansion Draft)

First Last Pos.

Reid Acton D

Steven Brooks M

Connor Buczek M

Tom Croonquist FO

Tucker Durkin D

David Earl M

Pat Frazier D

Nick Galasso M

Austin Kaut G

Cameron Lao-Gosney M

Roman Lao-Gosney M

Bobby Lawrence D

Joe LoCascio M

Chris Mattes FO

Kieran McArdle A

Jovan Miller M

Casey Powell M

Brett Queener G

P.T. Ricci D

Miles Thompson A

Lyle Thompson A

Chad Tutton M

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