It’s official, the PLL is returning to The St James in Springfield, Virginia for the 2024 Championship Series. The event will take place from February 14-19, featuring round robin games for playoff placement before a semifinal and championship. The top four finishers from the regular season qualify. This year, that’s Archers, Cannons, Waterdogs, and Redwoods.
Last year, rosters for the event had 12 spots. With no poles allowed in the format and faceoffs only occurring to start quarters, most clubs opted to bring strictly attackmen and two way midfielders. Only a handful of converted poles (Jon Robbins, Gibson Smith, and Koby Smith) were rostered.
A challenge for this, February is smack in the middle of the NLL season. As a result, PLL players who also play indoors almost certainly won’t be available. Some who are on NLL practice squads, holdout lists, or have some other inactive designation will be able to play. Last year, Chris Gray, who is on NLL holdout for the Riptide, played for the Atlas. But safe to bet any gameday regular in the NLL won’t be available. It is NLL training camp time right now, so those rosters may shift a bit over the next month. That affects each team differently, and some much more severely than others. On top of that, all teams have pending free agents, meaning this is an opportunity to try and catch the eye of PLL coaches for next summer and push value up. The PLL allows for teams to sign players to the roster just for the Championship Series in the event they need to fill the 12 spots. Safe to assume two goalies and ten field players.
ARCHERS
Available Players:
Ryan Ambler, Midfield
Grant Ament, Attack
Ryan Aughavin, Midfield
Connor DeSimone, Attack
Reece Eddy, LSM
Connor Maher, SSDM
Matt McMahon, Defense
Matt Moore, Attack/Midfield
Kyle Pless, LSM
Jon Robbins, LSM
Nick Washuta, Goalie
NLL Players:
Tom Schreiber, Midfield (Toronto Rock)
Graeme Hossack, Defense (Halifax Thunderbirds)
Latrell Harris, SSDM (Toronto Rock, Injured List)
Mac O’Keefe, Attack (San Diego Seals)
Tre Leclaire, Attack/Midfield (San Diego Seals)
Challen Rogers, Midfield (Toronto Rock)
Reid Bowering, Attack/Midfield (Vancouver Warriors)
Warren Jeffery, Defense (Colorado Mammoth)
Cam Wyers, Defense (Buffalo Bandits)
Justin Inacio, Faceoff (Calgary Roughnecks)
Brett Dobson, Goalie (Georgia Swarm)
Piper Bond, SSDM (Georgia Swarm)
Connor Fields, Attack (Rochester Knighthawks)
Mike Sisselberger, Faceoff (Panther City Lacrosse Club)
Pending Free Agents:
Ryan Ambler, Midfield
Reid Bowering, Attack/Midfield
Connor DeSimone, Attack
Reece Eddy, LSM
Warren Jeffrey, Defense
Matt McMahon, Defense
Kyle Pless, LSM
Nick Washuta, Goalie
There’s a case to be made that a roster built of Archers who likely won’t be available for the Championship Series could actually win the Championship Series. Sisselberger is (somehow) on the Draft List for Panther City, so he could feasibly play in this event. That said, with games containing at most four faceoffs (barring overtime), using one of ten spots for field players. NLL is also just now kicking off training camp, so keep an eye on team updates to see if some of the younger guys or less experienced NLL players are moved to practice player spots or otherwise inactive, freeing them up for the Championship Series. O’Keefe is a name to watch, as San Diego still holds his rights, but a new deal needs to be reached. If he doesn’t sign a new NLL deal, O’Keefe can play in the Championship Series, and he might be the best player the Archers have for the format.
Nick Washuta got the call last year for Archers in net, they’ll need to add another netminder for the even though. Last year, the second netminder was Brendan Krebs, who has become a goalie of the future for the Whips.That alone is a testament to one of the best parts of the event. Reed Junkin played in the Championship Series a year ago, and having Sixes experience could be meaningful. Availability can always be tricky, but goalie as much as any other spot is a place to make an impact.
Most of that list of available players are great Sixes options. Ryan Ambler can be great in this format. Archers are the only team to return to the Championship Series this year, so they have experience and know the format at game speed better than most. They’ll also be a different looking team. Marcus Holman, Will Manny, and Jeff Trainor all play for a different team now. Connor Maher, who had an outstanding rookie season and has plenty of offensive/transition skills, is an exciting new player to see play some Sixes. Grant Ament spent more time this season moving between attack and midfield, both because he was working back from injury and because of the Archers attack personnel. Increased time out of the box, and experience with Sixes in the Championship Series, will both be major assets for guys like him and Matt Moore.
Archers free agent list is pretty short. And it’s likely only a few of them make the trip to DC. Ambler is a Championship Series lock if he’s available, as is Washuta. Connor DeSimone has the profile of a solid sixes player as well. But most of the poles likely don’t make the trip. Reece Eddy appeared in just one game for the Archers last season, Kyle Pless was signed week 8 and never player. Jeffrey will be playing for the Mammoth, and Bowering will be indoors as well. Matt McMahon isn’t typically much of a transition threat in the PLL, and you need to bring offensive skills to have value in sixes. Justin Inacio will also be moving into free agency despite havinga year left on his deal. He was inactive for 30% or more of eligible games, so he can opt out and test the market. While I’d expect most of the Archers regulars to re-sign with the club when free agency opens, I don’t think many on this list will be on field in DC.
CANNONS
Available Players:
Chris Aslanian, Midfield
Pat Aslanian, Midfield
Craig Chick, LSM
Ryan Drenner, Attack/Midfield
Bubba Fairman, Midfield
Adam Ghitelman, Goalie
Marcus Holman, Attack
Matt Kavanagh, Attack
Stephen Kelly, Faceoff
Jack Kielty, Defense
Mark McNeill, SSDM
Jake Pulver, Defense
Matt Rees (IR), Defense
Josh Stout, Attack/Midfield
Cade Van Raaphorst, Defense
Finn Sullivan, Defense
Asher Nolting, Attack
Max Wayne, Defense
NLL Players:
Jonathan Donville, Midfield (Panther City Lacrosse Club)
Jeff Trainor, Midfield (Albany Firewolves)
Matt Campbell, Midfield (Georgia Swarm)
Colin Kirst, Goalie (Las Vegas Desert Dogs)
Adam Charalambides, Attack (Vancouver Warriors)
Lyle Thompson, Attack (Georgia Swarm)
Ethan Rall, LSM (San Diego Seals)
Zach Goodrich, SSDM (Albany Firewolves)
Pending Free Agents:
Chris Aslanian, Midfield
Pat Aslanian, Midfield
Adam Charalambides, Attack
Craig Chick, LSM
Ryan Drenner, Attack/Midfield
Adam Ghitelman, Goalie
Zach Goordich, SSDM
Marcus Holman, Attack
Matt Kavanagh, Attack
Stephen Kelly, Faceoff
Mark McNeill, SSDM
Matt Rees, Defense
Finn Sullivan, Defense
Jeff Trainor, Midfield
Cade Van Raaphorst, Defense
Max Wayne, Defense
The Mammoth own Asher Nolting’s rights, but he has said he’ll be playing in the Championship Series. He’s not on the Mammoth camp roster, which basically confirms it. Some of those other NLL players should also be considered available as they are protected, practice, or other inactive roster guys. Elsewhere around the NLL, Jeff Trainor is on the Albany Firewolves training camp roster, and Matt Campbell is with Georgia. Both would be locks for the Championship Series if they aren’t playing NLL, we’ll have to keep a close eye on the next month of the NLL season and see what happens with them. Jonathan Donville is the type of player who’s built for Sixes, but he’s also one of the brightest young stars in the NLL, so it’s likely his Championship Series debut will happen some other year. Colin Kirst may also be busy with NLL duties, as he’s also a rising star in the box world. Adam Ghitelman would be a more than suitable replacement, his athleticism and laser sharp outlets are the kind of things you want your goalies to have in Sixes.
The available player list is pretty stacked with weapons. Marcus Holman has played in the Championship Series before, taking the field with Archers a year ago. Players like Ryan Drenner and Bubba Fairman are outstanding Sixes fits. Drenner because he’s a strong shooter, and an attackman converted to midfield. Fairman because he can effectively play both ends. The Aslanians are both easy picks for this, particularly with the shorter two point line. Cade Van Raaphorst makes a strong case as a converted pole to play as well, again with the two point line being tight, and because he runs transition so well. Ethan Rall has been with the Seals in training camp, but if he's available in February, he's another pole who could play converted to shortstick given his skillset between the arcs outdoors. Josh Stout was a serious offensive weapon at Utah and is well known to Coach Holman and others on the roster. This could be an opportunity for him to make a splash should the roster spots and availability work out. He’s a name I’m definitely watching.
On the free agent side of things, it’s a long list. But after last season, it’s difficult to imagine many of these players signing elsewhere. Hard to look at the Cannons 2023 summer and think that there’s a greener pasture than that. That group likely tries as best as it can to stay together, rekindle some of that magic, and run it back in 2024, this time as a heavyweight rather than an underdog. Most of the players who seem most likely to sign elsewhere - players who weren't gameday regulars - also likely won't be available for the Championship Series anyway.
WATERDOGS
Available Players:
Jake Carraway, Attack/Midfield
Matt Deluca, Goalie
Chris Fake, Defense
Charlie Hayes, SSDM
Alex Mazzone, LSM
Ben Randall, Defense
James Reilly, Faceoff
Chris Sabia, Defense
Christian Scarpello, SSDM
Mikie Schlosser (if healthy), Midfield
Michael Sowers, Attack
Jack Traynor (if healthy), Midfield
Zac Tucci, Faceoff
Matt Whitcher, SSDM
NLL Players:
Liam Byrnes, Defense (Philadelphia Wings)
Zach Currier, Midfield (Calgary Roughnecks)
Eli Gobrecht, Defense (San Diego Seals)
Jack Hannah, Midfield (Las Vegas Desert Dogs)
Connor Kelly, Midfield (Colorado Mammoth)
Charlie Kitchen, Attack (Albany Firewolves)
Kieran McArdle, Attack (Albany Firewolves)
Thomas McConvey, Midfield (Rochester Knighthawks)
Ryland Rees, LSM (Rochester Knighthhawks)
Ethan Walker, Attack (Albany Firewolves)
Dillon Ward, Goalie (Colorado Mammoth)
Jeff Conner, Midfield (Georgia Swarm)
Ryan Conrad, Midfield (Albany Firewolves)
Jake Higgins, SSDM (Colorado Mammoth)
Jake Withers, Faceoff (Halifax Thunderbirds)
Pending Free Agents:
Liam Byrnes, Defense
Eli Gobrect, Defense
Charlie Kitchen, Attack
Dillon Ward, Goalie
Jake Withers, Faceoff
Ryan Conrad doesn’t appear on the Firewolves training camp roster, so he won’t have an NLL conflict come February. The same is true for Jake Higgins. Notably Kieran McArdle doesn’t appear on the Firewolves roster either. McArdle led the Firewolves in assists last year, but if he is not playing box this season, he’ll be available for the Championship Series and a major boost to the Waterdogs offense. Jeff Conner is currently on holdout for Georgia, so he can play for the Waterdogs. Even with those few caveats to the list, it’s a sizable group. Like the Archers, the Waterdogs could probably put together a very competitive Sixes team comprised just of players who aren’t available. Notably, Waterdogs will need to add at least one goalie for the tournament. They had Jason Rose with the team at camp, and for a stretch of season when Dillon Ward wasn’t available, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them sign Rose for the CS.
For the players who are available, it’s a tricky list. Plenty of names there, the problem is the position they play. Of the 14 players, seven are poles or specialists. Two didn’t play last summer due to injury, and in the case of Jack Traynor, hasn’t played a PLL minute yet. Sixes can be a serious welcome to the pros moment; it’s how Roman Puglise got his first pro experience last February. The Waterdogs will have some weapons in Sowers and Carraway, the latter played a season ago for the Atlas and knows the format. Carraway is also one of a few players who can feast on the very tight two point line. Healthy Mikie Schlosser could also be a great player in the Sixes format if he’s able to go.
On the free agent side, there’s basically nothing to see here. All five of the Waterdogs pending free agents will be playing NLL ball and not on the field for the Championship Series. I’d also expect all these players to sign back with the Waterdogs in free agency.
REDWOODS
Available Players:
Arden Cohen, Defense
Anthony Demaio, Attack/Midfield
Romar Dennis, Midfield
Garrett Epple, Defense
Ryder Garnsey, Attack
Eddy Glazener, Defense
Jules Heningburg, Attack/Midfield
Jack Kelly, Goalie
Ryan Kennedy, LSM
Chris Merle, SSDM
Nakeie Montgomery, Midfield
Rob Pannell, Attack
Sergio Perkovic, Midfield
Kevin Rogers, Midfield
John Sexton, LSM
Brian Tevlin, Midfield
Ryan Tierney (Holdout List), Attack/Midfield
Tim Trouter, Goalie
NLL Players:
John Piatelli, Attack(Albany Firewolves)
Clarke Petterson, Attack (Halifax Thunderbirds)
Cole Kirst, Midfield (Halifax Thunderbirds)
Charlie Bertrand, Midfield (Las Vegas Desert Dogs)
Isaiah Davis-Allen, SSDM (Philadelphia Wings)
Wes Berg, Attack (San Diego Seals)
Ryan Lee, Attack (Colorado Mammoth, IR)
TD Ierlan, Faceoff (Toronto Rock)
Owen Grant, Defense (Vancouver Warriors)
Pending Free Agents:
Charlie Bertrand, Midfield
Isaiah Davis-Allen, SSDM
Anthony Demaio, Attack/Midfield
Romar Dennis, Midfield
Garrett Epple, Defense
Ryder Garnsey, Attack
Eddy Glazener, Defense
Jules Heningburg, Attack/Midfield
Jack Kelly, Goalie
Ryan Kennedy, LSM
Ryan Lee, Attack
Chris Merle, SSDM
Rob Pannell, Attack
Sergio Perkovic, Midfield
Clarke Petterson, Attack
John Piatelli, Attack
Kevin Rogers, Midfield
John Sexton, LSM
Ryan Tierney, Attack/Midfield
Tim Troutner, Goalie
If you’re a Redwoods fan, you love the breakdown of these lists. A video was posted of Nakeie Montgomery making a case that the Woods would be great at Sixes, it’s pretty easy to see why he feels that way. There are a few players who won’t be available that this team would love to have. For me, the most notable absence is Wes Berg. Berg played for Team Canada in Sixes in Birmingham at the World Games, he knows the format, he’s a lethal shooter, he blends the field and box concepts well, he’d be perfect for this. He’d even have two point range in the Championship Series. Cole Kirst and Charlie Bertrand are the other two major absences here, both are off to very promising box lacrosse careers.
For the players who will be there, the weapons are plentiful. Montgomery has been a 1st line offensive midfielder and a top pair defensive midfielder in his young PLL career. He can pass first, he can be shoot first, he can guard dodgers. The only stat that scares you with him from this past season is a dreadful shooting percentage; in Sixes any shot that doesn’t go in typically is a turnover. Ryder Garnsey’s creativity and ability to get a shot off from all angles, particularly with the reduced number and no poles, makes him a natural high level threat in Sixes, even more so than in field. Jules Heningburg has been an efficient and quality shooter for his career, and can shake shorties from any spot on the field. Those three players in particular I’m excited to see in the format. Kevin Rogers played for Chrome and won the Championship Series a year ago, he’ll bring valuable experience to this team and should make the 12 man roster. Brian Tevlin is another player who’s versatility makes him a great fit for Sixes, since he can do just about everything. An interesting player to watch will be Sergio Perkovic. Perkovic struggled last season to the point of being dropped from the lineup. But when you consider his skillset and what he’s done in the past, it makes it hard to leave him out. No poles, 13 yard two point line, slides are way less disruptive, it could be an excellent format for Perkovic to get his groove back, and build his free agent value as well. The question is which, if any, converted poles the Redwoods try and bring to the event. They have enough offensive weapons and SSDMs to likely not need to bring any, but three of the four clubs a year ago brought at least one converted pole. Of course, the Woods also have Romar Dennis, who spent the last Championship Series pulling up from the logo and feasting on the short field, lack of poles, and slower help defense that’s part of the format. He’ll be there and have all eyes on him from day one, looking for a repeat performance as the top scorer for the tournament.
Perkovic is one of quite a few free agent names on the Redwoods. Despite the list being that long, several players on it have already gone on record saying they don’t want to play for another club. Ryder Garnsey told the Sticks In podcast he wants to sign back with the Redwoods, Rob Pannell said at the end of the summer he’s only going to play for the Redwoods if he’s back on the field.
Snubbing Jared Conners! Man was one of the only poles to convert for the format last year and is committed to the Archers through 2024. I believe he's on the Knighthawks in the NLL, but didn't see him on their camp roster.