Nine Virginia Lacrosse Alums Make PLL Opening Weekend Rosters

The 2023 Premier Lacrosse League season begins this weekend in Albany, New York. Nine Virginia men's lacrosse alums cracked the opening weekend PLL rosters and a few more former Cavaliers are expected to return to the field at some point this summer. 

As the 2023 PLL season kicks off, here's a team-by-team look at all of the former Wahoos suiting up to play professional lacrosse this summer.

Waterdogs

The defending PLL Champion Waterdogs have three former Wahoos on their roster, but only one made the gameday roster for opening weekend. Ryan Conrad is beginning his fifth season in the PLL and fourth with the Waterdogs coming off of a 2022 campaign that saw him play a pivotal role in leading the Waterdogs to the PLL Championship. The Waterdogs also picked up two Cavaliers who just concluded their collegiate careers, drafting Thomas McConvey in the first round of the PLL College Draft and claiming Jeff Conner off waivers as an undrafted free agent. McConvey is currently on the "Unavailable to Travel" list and will likely remain unavailable for the next few weeks as he goes through the process of obtaining a P1 visa to work in the United States as a Canadian citizen. Conner did not make the Waterdogs' 19-man gameday roster for opening weekend. If the Waterdogs do not list Conner on the gameday roster for three-consecutive weeks, then he will return to the Player Pool and will be available to be picked up by a different PLL team.

Game 1: vs. Chaos on Sunday at 1pm (ABC)

Archers

The Archers lost one former Wahoo in the offseason as goalkeeper and 2011 National Champion Adam Ghitelman signed with the Cannons in free agency, but they still have two other former Cavaliers. After winning two national titles together in their time at Virginia, attackman/midfielder Matt Moore and long-stick midfielder Jared Conners will look to lead the new-look Archers to their first PLL championship. 

Game 1: vs. Cannons on Saturday at 3:30pm (ESPN+)

Redwoods

The second PLL team to have two former Cavaliers on their opening weekend active roster is the Redwoods. Midfielder Charlie Bertrand is back for his third professional season after making multiple appearances on SportsCenter Top 10 for incredible highlight goals last summer. In his second season in the PLL, short-stick defensive midfielder Chris Merle looks to make his professional lacrosse debut this weekend in Albany. 

Game 1: vs. Atlas on Saturday at 1pm (ABC)

Atlas

With the 11th overall pick in the second round of the PLL College Draft, the Atlas selected Xander Dickson, who broke the single-season program scoring record in his final season at UVA. The Atlas are very excited about the prospect of lining up Xander Dickson on attack along with Chris Gray and Jeff Teat and with good reason. Expect Dickson to put up some serious numbers as a rookie with those two star attackmen feeding him the rock. The Atlas also have Dox Aitken on their roster, but he is currently on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list as he recently received an invite to participate in the New England Patriots' rookie minicamp. No information has been reported on the outcome of that tryout, but there's a good chance Aitken may rejoin the Atlas at some point this summer. 

Game 1: vs. Redwoods on Saturday at 1pm (ABC)

Cannons

As previously mentioned, the Cannons signed Adam Ghitelman this offseason, adding one of the most experienced goalies in the sport to their roster. The Cannons also had former UVA attackman Mark Cockerton on their roster, but was released when they made their cuts during training camp. Cockerton begins his 10th season of professional lacrosse in the Player Pool and is available to be picked up by another PLL team at any time. 

Game 1: vs. Archers on Saturday at 3:30pm (ESPN+)

Whipsnakes

The Whipsnakes have three former Cavaliers on their roster, but only one is on the gameday roster on opening weekend. In desperate need of a faceoff specialist, the Whipsnakes selected Petey LaSalla with the 14th overall pick in the second round. It'll be a trial by fire for LaSalla, as he begins his rookie season as the only faceoff man on the Whipsnakes' gameday roster in week 1. The Whips also picked up Grayson Sallade, who earned a spot on the team's 25-man roster in training camp, but he is not on the opening weekend 19-man roster. Like Jeff Conner and the Waterdogs, if the Whipsnakes do not list Sallade on the gameday roster for three-consecutive weeks, then he will return to the Player Pool and will be available to be picked up by a different PLL team. Finally, Zed Williams begins the season on the Unable to Travel list, which seems to be an annual occurrence as Williams is yet again participating in the playoffs of the National Lacrosse League (indoor box lacrosse) with the Colorado Mammoth. When the Mammoth finish their playoff run, Williams will turn his attention back to the Whipsnakes and the PLL. 

Game 1: vs. Chrome on Sunday at 3:30pm (ESPN+)

Chaos

One of the most athletic two-way midfielders in college lacrosse, Evan Zinn was picked up by the Chaos as an undrafted free agent and unsurprisingly, Zinn impressed enough during training camp to make the week 1 gameday roster. Look for Zinn to display his end-to-end capabilities in his rookie season for the Chaos, who are looking to return to the PLL Championship Game for the fourth-consecutive year. 

Week 1: vs. Waterdogs on Sunday at 1pm (ABC)

PLL Opening Weekend Schedule

Tom & Mary Casey Stadium in Albany, New York

Saturday, June 3rd

1pm: Redwoods vs. Atlas (ABC, ESPN+)

3:30pm: Cannons vs. Archers (ESPN+)

Sunday, June 4th

1pm: Chaos vs. Waterdogs (ABC, ESPN+)

3:30pm: Whipsnakes vs. Chrome (ESPN+)

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