Two training camp weekends and one exhibition game before
the coaching staff would make their final roster decisions. Sure doesn’t seem like much time to evaluate
players new to the expansion Charlotte Hounds of the Major Lacrosse League!
For 31 year old Devan Spilker, it’s been months
of hard work in the gym. He lost 30
pounds and put game-shape back into a body more accustomed to the good
life than competition in recent years.
The train ride form Baltimore Maryland to Brooklyn New York
on Saturday April 21 felt way longer than it really was. He had made the exhibition game line-up so
had the chance to show his stuff against the MLL Long Island Lizards.
Hounds Head Coach Mike Cerino recruited
Devan to Limestone College in 2000.
Spilker piled up numerous scoring records, All Conference and All American
accolades during his stellar college career, while leading the Saints to NCAA National
Championships in 2000 and 2002. Cerino knew the type of player and human being
he had drafted 122nd in the MLL supplemental draft. What he didn’t know was whether Devan still
had the stuff to be a winner.
The game
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| Devan and Coach Cerino during Warm-up |
The Hounds coaching staff had Spilker running as the #4
attack on Saturday night. He was the
go-to relief for the three starters and saw some good field time. No points, but had one good ripper from the
outside and no mistakes. He was pleased
with himself.
"It felt like I was a
freshman again, playing in my first championship back in 2000. That was over 12 years ago”, said Spilker.
As he came back to the sidelines, he couldn`t
wait to hear his number called again. The Hounds won it 13 - 8.
Anticipating the news
The rest of the weekend was fretful. Devan didn`t sleep all that well on either
Saturday or Sunday night. He knew he`d
get the call sometime on Monday. Around
11 AM, an email arrived listing the 25 man roster for the Hounds inaugural
season. Spilker was in tears. At an age when many players retire, he was
now officially a professional and an MLL rookie. The hard
work had paid off.
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| Devan & Katie at an Orioles game |
His first phone call
was to his wife and best friend Katie. They
made a date to celebrate on Monday night.
The next calls were to his parents and his lacrosse playing brothers. Devan was so proud to tell them the news. It was especially sweet to hear the congratulations from older brother Brendan who he had idolized growing up and who he had followed to Limestone College.
The next calls were to his parents and his lacrosse playing brothers. Devan was so proud to tell them the news. It was especially sweet to hear the congratulations from older brother Brendan who he had idolized growing up and who he had followed to Limestone College.
The phone call from Coach Cerino came around 3 PM. Spilker was pumped as Cerino told him how
happy he was with his play, his conditioning and his attitude. Cerino said, "Devo, your best lacrosse is still
ahead of you."
Now what
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| Hounds gloves |
Not over 'til it`s over
As the MLL season unfolds and the Hounds find out how good
they are, the Devan Spilker story will be updated from time to time. Enjoy the moment Devo, you deserve it! Your family and friends are all cheering. Devan Spilker lives the Limestone Saints motto.
"If you couldn't play tomorrow, how hard would you play today"
#17
