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Atlanta Blaze

Atlanta Blaze
SportLacrosse
Founded2016; 8 years ago (2016)
LeagueMajor League Lacrosse
Based inAtlanta, Georgia
StadiumAtlanta Silverbacks Park
ColorsBlack, red, gold, white
       
OwnerAndre Gudger
PresidentSpencer Ford
Head coachLiam Banks
Division titlesNone
Websiteblaze.majorleaguelacrosse.com

The Atlanta Blaze were a professional men's field lacrosse team in Major League Lacrosse (MLL). The Blaze became the ninth team in MLL as an expansion team for the 2016 season and played its home games at Atlanta Silverbacks Park in Atlanta, Georgia.

Franchise history

On August 7, 2015, the MLL granted an expansion franchise to Atlanta, Georgia for the 2016 MLL season. The league had previously held several games there before including the 2014 and 2015 championship games which drew 8,149 and 8,674 people (the latter is a Steinfeld Cup record). The league suspended the Blaze for the 2020 season.[1]

2016 inaugural season

The Blaze hosted the first game in franchise history on Saturday, April 23, 2016 against the storied Chesapeake Bayhawks. Kevin Rice scored the first goal in franchise history only 44 seconds into the game, and Conrad Oberbeck scored 14 seconds later as Atlanta took a 6-0 lead to start the game. Despite the great start, the Blaze were not able to finish it out and lost 16-13 in front of 4,145 fans. After losing in Boston, the Blaze came back home on May 14 where they smoked the Denver Outlaws for their first win in franchise history by a score of 23-12.[2]

The rest of the Blaze's first year included some very questionable moves. On June 14, the Blaze traded their top draft pick, Myles Jones, to the Bayhawks after Jones had only played two games for the Blaze.[3] On July 21, the team released Hall of Fame head coach John Tucker and replaced him with assistant coach David Huntley after a 3-7 start. The Blaze finished their inaugural season in eighth place at 4-10, ahead of only the Florida Launch. Former Atlanta Hawks and Thrashers executive Jim Pfeifer was named the team's new president on December 29.[4]

2017 season

In 2017, the Blaze returned much more competitive. The team still had playoff hopes as they entered the second-to-last week of the regular season, but a loss to the Rochester Rattlers eliminated them. However, they were still able to post an improved 6-8 record. Highlights from the season included a 17-4 drubbing of the Florida Launch on July 1, playing in their first Fourth of July game in Denver, and Kevin Rice becoming the first Atlanta Blaze player to score 100 points in a Blaze uniform.

On December 18, 2017, Blaze coach Dave Huntley died at the age of 60.[5] Former MLL player Liam Banks was named the Blaze's third head coach.

Before the 2018 Collegiate Draft on April 18, MLL commissioner Sandy Brown announced the league had approved the sale of the Blaze to Andre Gudger, founder and CEO of technology and investment company Eccalon.[6] This came five months after former owner Peter Trematerra sold the team back to the league, a move that also included a lawsuit.[7]

2018 season

The 2018 summer season was the best season that the Blaze had since their inception, posting a 7-7 record. They were one win away from their first playoff berth, but lost to the Denver Outlaws on the final week of the season to be eliminated.[8]

2019 season and dissolution

During this season they had to move to Atlanta Silverbacks Park because their Grady Stadium was being renovated.

After, they ceased operations and were relocated to Philadelphia as the second incarnation of the Philadelphia Barrage.[9]

Attendance

Despite drawing near sellouts for the 2014 and 2015 Steinfeld Cup championship games, the Blaze have so far failed to draw similar numbers for their home games.[10]

Season Games Total Average Season High
2016 7 23,194 3,313 4,297
2017 7 14,259 2,037 2,811
2018 7 11,660 1,665 2,326

Season-by-season

Atlanta Blaze
Year W L % Regular season finish Playoffs
2016 4 10 .286 8th in League Didn't qualify
2017 6 8 .429 8th in League Didn't qualify
2018 7 7 .500 6th in League Didn't qualify
2019 8 8 .500 4th in League Semifinalists
Totals 25 33 .431 Total Playoff Record 0-1
Playoff Win % = .000

Head coaches

# Name Term Regular Season Playoffs
GC W L W% GC W L W%
1 John Tucker 2016 10 3 7 .300 - - - -
2 David Huntley 2016–2017 18 7 11 .389 - - - -
3 Liam Banks 2018– 14 7 7 .500 - - - -

Roster

2019 Atlanta Blaze
No. Name Nation­ality Position Height Weight College
3 Alex Woodall United States FO 6 ft 0 in 215 lbs Towson
6 Carlson Milikin United States DM 6 ft 0 in 195 lbs Notre Dame
10 Colton Jackson United States M 6 ft 1 in 200 lbs Denver
11 Chris Madalon United States G 6 ft 3 in 210 lbs North Carolina
12 Joe Reid United States M 6 ft 0 in 210 lbs Denver
21 Liam Byrnes United States D 6 ft 3 in 195 lbs Marquette
24 Brendan Sunday United States M 6 ft 5 in 200 lbs Towson
26 Christian Mazzone United States M 5 ft 9 in 165 lbs Rutgers
29 Brock Turnbaugh United States G 5 ft 11 in 195 lbs Johns Hopkins
30 William Nowesnick United States D 6 ft 5 in 200 lbs Salisbury
31 Chad Toliver United States M 6 ft 1 in 200 lbs Rutgers
32 Shayne Jackson Canada A 5 ft 9 in 175 lbs Limestone
33 Matt Whitcher United States M 6 ft 3 in 200 lbs York
41 Dylan Gaines United States D 6 ft 2 in 205 lbs Denver
43 Erik Evans United States D 6 ft 4 in 203 lbs Ohio State
44 Fred Freibott United States LSM 6 ft 0 in 200 lbs Ohio State
45 Leo Stouros Canada LSM 6 ft 1 in 185 lbs Colgate
55 Bryan Cole Canada M 6 ft 3 in 175 lbs Maryland
59 David Manning United States D 6 ft 3 in 210 lbs Loyola
83 Randy Staats Iroquois A 6 ft 2 in 200 lbs Syracuse
84 Tommy Palasek United States A/M 5 ft 11 in 185 lbs Syracuse
91 TJ Comizio United States DM 5 ft 10 in 165 lbs Villanova
99 Dylan Maher United States A 5 ft 10 in 180 lbs Dickinson

MLL award winners

Rookie of the Year

Defensive Player of the Year

David Huntley Man of the Year

Draft history

Collegiate Draft
Year Round Overall Pick # Player Position College
2016 1 1 Myles Jones M Duke
2016 2 10 Deemer Class M Duke
2016 2 15 Tyler Albrecht M Loyola
2016 3 19 Greg Danseglio D Maryland
2016 5 36 Warren Hill G Syracuse
2016 7 53 Case Matheis A Duke
2017 1 9 Jake Withers M Ohio State
2017 2 18 Garrett Epple D Notre Dame
2017 3 20 Christian Burgdorf D Denver
2017 3 21 Adam Osika M Albany
2017 4 36 Tate Jozokos M North Carolina
2017 6 47 Tom Moore A Binghamton
2017 9 74 Brian Masi M Sacred Heart
2017 10 83 Connor Hanson G Kennesaw State
2018 1 2 Connor Kelly M Maryland
2018 2 10 Kyle McClancy M Albany
2018 3 20 Austin Sims M Princeton
2018 4 32 Christian Cuccinello A Villanova
2018 5 38 Griffin Feiner M Hartford
2018 5 40 Hunter Forbes FO Jacksonville
2018 6 47 Erik Evans D Ohio State
2018 6 51 Will McBride M North Carolina
2018 7 56 Jack Korzelius M Dartmouth
Supplemental Draft
Year Round Overall Pick # Player Position College
2016 1 1 Jeremy Boltus A Army
2016 1 7 Josh Dionne A Duke
2016 2 10 Hakeem Lecky M Syracuse
2016 3 19 Michael Pellegrino D Johns Hopkins
2016 4 28 Patrick Resch M Duke
2016 5 37 David Planning M Ohio State
2016 6 46 Josh Amidon M Syracuse
2016 7 55 Johnny Rodriguez G Salisbury
2016 8 64 Matthew Poillon G Lehigh
2016 9 73 Geoff Snider M/FO Denver
2016 10 82 Chase Carraro M Denver
2016 11 91 Brendan Porter M Rutgers
2016 12 100 Brian Cooper D Maryland
2016 13 109 Drew Kennedy FO Johns Hopkins
2016 14 117 Rick Lewis M Ohio State
2016 15 123 Jonathan Gill D Lynchburg
2017 1 2 Callum Robinson D Stevenson
2017 3 20 Anthony Kelly M/FO Ohio State
2017 3 23 Gunnar Waldt G Bryant
2017 6 47 Adam Fullerton G Army
2017 7 56 Callum Crawford M Dowling
2017 8 65 Craig Bunker M/FO Colby
2017 9 75 Jessie King M Ohio State
2017 10 83 Henry Lobb D Duke
2017 11 92 James Pannell A Virginia
2017 12 101 Spencer Parks A Towson
2017 Aux. 109 Paul Bitetti D Detroit Mercy
2017 Aux. 112 John English M Adelphi
2018 1 2 Dylan Donahue A Syracuse
2018 2 11 Jack Bruckner M Duke
2018 3 20 Jason Noble D Cornell
2018 4 29 Chris Madalon G North Carolina
2018 5 38 Mike Begley M Marist
2018 6 47 Jeremy Noble M Denver
2018 7 56 Jeff George D Rutgers
2018 8 65 Ryan Kilpatrick M North Carolina
2018 9 74 Sam Linares A Hofstra
2018 10 73 Nicholas Gorman D Towson
2018 11 92 Ronnie Fernando G Adams State
2018 12 101 Matt Garziano M Albany
2018 Aux. 109 Stephen Ianzito M Syracuse

References

  1. ^ "MLL Announced It Will Cease Operations of the Atlanta Blaze". Major League Lacrosse. February 16, 2020. Archived from the original on August 3, 2020. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  2. ^ Atlanta Blaze Grabs First Franchise Win
  3. ^ "Blaze Trade No. 1 Pick Myles Jones to Bayhawks". Archived from the original on 2016-08-19. Retrieved 2016-08-07.
  4. ^ Atlanta Blaze Name Jim Pfeifer Team President
  5. ^ Blaze coach Dave Huntley passes away
  6. ^ "MLL approves sale of Atlanta Blaze to Andre Gudger". Archived from the original on 2018-04-21. Retrieved 2018-04-21.
  7. ^ Atlanta Blaze owner Peter Trematerra sued Major League Lacrosse
  8. ^ "Atlanta Blaze - Major League Lacrosse - team stats | Pointstreak Sports Technologies".
  9. ^ BizJournals
  10. ^ League Attendance
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