Atlanta Blaze

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.

Atlanta Blaze
SportLacrosse
Founded2016
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

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]

SeasonGamesTotalAverageSeason High
2016723,1943,3134,297
2017714,2592,0372,811
2018711,6601,6652,326

Season-by-season
Atlanta Blaze
YearWL%Regular season finishPlayoffs
2016410.2868th in LeagueDidn't qualify
201768.4298th in LeagueDidn't qualify
201877.5006th in LeagueDidn't qualify
2019 8 8 .500 4th in League Semifinalists
Totals2533.431Total Playoff Record 0-1
Playoff Win % = .000

Head Coaching History
# Name Term Regular Season Playoffs
GC W L W% GC W L W%
1John Tucker20161037.300----
2David Huntley2016–201718711.389----
3Liam Banks2018–1477.500----

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

MLL Award Winners
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