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| Charlotte Hounds MLL |
Another first class training camp weekend for Devan Spilker,
in his quest to play pro lacrosse with the Major Lacrosse League Charlotte Hounds.
It’s one thing to get your break
fresh out of college when your physical conditioning and your skills are at their
peak. It’s quite another to be 31 years
old and playing club lacrosse for the love of the game. Your skills are pretty good or maybe the
phrase is “good enough”. Same can be
said of your conditioning.
Since being
drafted in the later rounds by the expansion Hounds, Devan has had to work his
butt off in the gym, literally. He’s
back in peak condition and so is his game.
He wants this!
The Friday night practice
Head Coach Mike Cerino and his staff pushed these guys
hard. That’s to be expected. Anyone who played for Coach Cerino in their
college days knows how tough he can be.
What impresses Spilker is the reaction of the Hounds players to the
coaches and to each other, “I’ve never seen a team where a bunch of guys meet
for the first time and we all know it’s for one goal, an MLL Championship.” Devan felt great about his practice performance
and so apparently did the coaches.
The Spilker thrill
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| American Legion Memorial Stadium |
He will not forget Saturday April 14, 2012. The Hounds hosted the 3rd annual ESPNU Warrior Classic at historic American Legion Memorial Stadium in downtown Charlotte North Carolina. It’ll be their home field. Built in 1934 and officially opened in 1936,
it was the site of a major depression era speech in ‘36 by then President
Franklin Delano Roosevelt. It’s a city
owned facility, seats 21,000 and the city staff has it ready for the pros.
The Warrior Classic featured games between NCAA Division I
rivals, Syracuse vs Rutgers and University of North Carolina vs Hofstra. The pro Hounds were decked out in Hounds gear
right down to the shoes. In Spilker’s
words, “we were like rock stars”. The
turnout was more than expected with around 9,000 fans in the stands. Between each half of each game, the Hounds
players were on the field running mini clinics for youth teams from the
Charlotte area. They were also up in the
stands signing autographs. They spent
the afternoon talking lacrosse with parents, kids and other fans.
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| Devan and a Young Lacrosse Fan |
Hounds ownership and management were happy too. They sold a ton of seasons tickets. Support for the game and the team in
Charlotte was obvious. Even guys who
have played for other MLL franchises were impressed.
Back to work
Lacrosse is known as the fastest game on two feet. When played with speed and precision, it’s a
beautiful thing. Ball possession and the
transition game from defense to offense are critical components to success. Lose the ball in the offensive zone and the transition
to defense must be just as well played.
That’s what the coaching staff had them doing. Up and down the field. The best lacrosse teams brilliantly execute
the basics of the sport.
What’s next
Saturday April 21, at Poly Prep in Brooklyn New York, the
Hounds play their first exhibition game against the Long Island Lizards. Based on practices and expectations, the
coaches selected the traveling squad for this first go. Devan got the call on Monday. He got all choked up! He's going to New York.
Spilker has done what's necessary so far, to earn the chance to prove his value in
game conditions. The former All American and Limestone College Saints great has a dream to play pro
lacrosse and it's very much alive. The next step is a big one.
