Local lacrosse coach and professional player
Published on July 26, 2006 under Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
Chicago Machine News Release
Last Wednesday, ChicagoLax took to the field to scrimmage the Varsity Machine. Two local high school travel teams went head to head while Machine teammates Zach Heffner and Ryan Danehy stood on the sidelines coaching the opposing teams.
On July 13th, the Chicago Machine - Chicago's Major League Lacrosse team - acquired Ryan Danehy off waivers after originally being drafted by the Boston Cannons.
"We're excited to bring Ryan onto our team," said Machine Head Coach Kevin Finneran. "He will definitely add to our midfield and his move to Chicago will benefit the Machine both on and off the field. We are always glad to have players on our team who live in Chicago and can be an integral part of the team both during the season and in the off season."
Danehy grew up in Massachusetts and played both lacrosse and football at Dartmouth College. So how did this East Coaster get to Chicago?
Three years ago, Ryan Danehy was recruited by Western Springs Lacrosse in the western suburbs of Chicago to spend his summer coaching a youth lacrosse league and also work a summer internship at a firm in Chicago. Danehy enjoyed his experience in Chicago so much, he decided to come back for a second summer. After spending two summers coaching in the Chicagoland area, Danehy came to love this Midwest city more and more and decided to move to Chicago after graduating from Dartmouth last spring.
"I enjoyed Chicago so much, I had to come back," said Danehy. "The people here are phenomenal."
Ryan presently coaches for ChicagoLax, works at WH Trading, and is looking into the possibility of coaching an Illinois high school team in the near future.
"The athletes are the same here and on the East Coast," said Danehy when asked about his East Coast lacrosse roots and now moving to the Midwest. "The difference is the Midwest is lacking in coaches."
Last weekend, Danehy along with fellow coaches Mike Waldron and Kane Russell traveled to South Bend, Indiana with the ChicagoLax team to compete in the Notre Dame Tournament. At the tournament, the players were exposed to collegiate lacrosse coaches and will have the opportunity again when they travel to Philadelphia on July 22nd for the Evolution Tournament.
Standout players for the ChicagoLax team include Joe Morrison who was named MVP of the Notre Dame Tournament, Ryan Potkul, Bill Hiatt, Max Schram, and Alex Miller. All of the players on ChicagoLax are from the western suburbs of Chicago, including LaGrange, Hinsdale, and Orland Park.
The presence of solid lacrosse players like Danehy who are passionate about developing the sport as both a player and a coach are important to the growth of lacrosse in the Chicagoland area.
Danehy will take to the field this Saturday, July 29th when the Chicago Machine hosts the Los Angeles Riptide at the Sports Complex at Benedictine University.
For more information about the Chicago Machine, visit www.chicagomachine.com .
Major League Lacrosse Stories from July 26, 2006
- Chicago Machine defenseman guarantees team's first win - Chicago Machine
- Building Lacrosse In Chicagoland - Chicago Machine on the Local Scene - Chicago Machine
- Local lacrosse coach and professional player - Chicago Machine
- Barrage To Battle Bayhawks in Final Home Game in 2006 - Philadelphia Barrage
- Pride Head to Boston for Battle With Cannons - New Jersey Pride
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
