Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 12/3/11
From Press Release
The Philadelphia Wings of the National Lacrosse League (NLL) began their quest for a league-record seventh NLL Championship today, opening official team training camp at Bucksmont Indoor Sports Center in Hatfield, Pa.
Wings players and coaches participated in two separate two-hour sessions during the afternoon and evening, where the team worked on drills including transition offense, loose balls, one-on-one and shooting.
“We’re very pleased with the progress we’ve made thus far at our rookie training camp and veteran training camp,” says General Manager and Head Coach Johnny Mouradian. “We chose to go with a shorter camp this year and we have had a laser focus on implementing our strategies, principles and tactics. We feel that we’ve already got the team in place and I couldn’t be more pleased with the organization and focus of our players, coaches and staff.”
This season’s Wings squad looks drastically different than the team that finished 5-11 last season. After making several offseason moves, the Wings are poised to return to the playoffs in search of their record seventh NLL Championship. Today’s sessions were open to the public and offered fans the first opportunity to see new Wings Dan Dawson, Brodie Merrill and Kevin Crowley.
Dawson, a standout forward and the 2010 NLL MVP, was acquired from the Boston Blazers with the first overall pick in the team’s dispersal draft. Merrill, who led the league in loose balls recovered last year as the 2011 Transition Player of the Year, was acquired from the Edmonton Rush in an offseason trade that sent Athan Iannucci to Edmonton. Crowley was the number one overall draft pick in the 2011 NLL Entry Draft out of Stony Brook University and figures to bolster the Wings offensive attack.
“It’s been a great start so far. It seems like a great group of guys,” says Merrill. “We’re starting to establish a great team chemistry and excited to prepare for our exhibition game next week against Rochester. I’ve been really impressed by how athletic and fit the players in camp have been.”
The Philadelphia Wings will open the 2012 season against the Rochester Knighthawks at Wells Fargo Center on Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 7 p.m.
Call 215-389-WING (9464) or visit WingsLAX.com to order Season Tickets for the upcoming 2012 Philadelphia Wings Season.
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