What happened and will happen to the 2005 Minnesota Swarm?

June 15, 2008

In the first season of Minnesota Swarm lacrosse, 31 players played for the team.

1. Mike Attwood
2. Ryder Bateman
3. D�arcy Berthiaume
4. Brock Boyle
5. Jayme Bryde
6. Scott Campbell
7. Craig Conn
8. Ryan Cousins
9. Chad Culp
10. Matt Disher
11. Neil Doddridge
12. Ray Guze
13. Kelly Hall
14. Jon Harasym
15. Tony Henderson
16. Travis Hill
17. Teddy Jenner
18. Riley Kemp
19. Michael Kilby
20. Andrew Martin
21. John McLellan
22. Shawn Nadelen
23. Eric Pacey
24. Nick Patterson
25. Sean Pollock
26. Trent Smalley
27. Jon Sullivan
28. Shawn Summerfield
29. Kerry Susheski
30. Jamie Taylor
31. Ryan Ward

Seven players did not make it to the end of the 2005 season:

• Jayme Bryde � released
• Craig Conn � traded to Arizona
• Neil Doddridge - retired
• Jon Harasym - released
• John McLellan � traded to Colorado
• Shawn Nadelen � traded to Philadelphia
• Trent Smalley - released

Five players did not make it to the start of the 2006 season:

• Scott Campbell � picked by Edmonton in expansion draft
• Ray Guze � traded to Portland
• Teddy Jenner � traded to Edmonton
• Andrew Martin � traded to Portland
• Kerry Susheski � traded to Edmonton

Three players did not make it to the end of the 2006 season:

• Ryder Bateman � traded to Portland
• D�arcy Berthiaume - released
• Tony Henderson - released

Two players did not make it to the start of the 2007 season:

• Mike Attwood- signed off practice roster by Arizona
• Shawn Summerfield - released

Two players did not make it to the end of the 2007 season:

• Kelly Hall � traded to Portland
• Jamie Taylor � traded to Toronto

Three players did not make it to the start of the 2008 season:

• Brock Boyle � traded to Boston
• Matt Disher � traded to Edmonton
• Michael Kilby � traded to Portland

Nine players still remain from the first season of Minnesota Swarm lacrosse as of now:

• 12-Eric Pacey
• 17-Sean Pollock
• 19-Chad Culp
• 23-Jon Sullivan
• 44-Ryan Ward
• 47-Travis Hill
• 50-Ryan Cousins
• 77-Riley Kemp
• 93-Nick Patterson

There has always been at least two or three players from that original team who end up elsewhere each season. I really rather not see any of the original nine leave anytime soon but it probably is inevitable.

So who of the original nine do you see not with the Swarm in 2009?

Since I asked, I should put up and not shut up.

What is tough is that except for Kemp who was on injured reserve for all of 2008, the other eight did pretty well in 2008 and make a strong case for staying in 2009. Three of them (Ward, Cousins & Patterson) made the All-Star team. Pollock scored 60 points or more for the second straight year. Travis Hill played the most he ever has in 2008 and led the team in loose balls and beating up opposing players. Both Pacey and Sullivan set individual single season records for points and loose balls in 2008. Culp came back strong from a disappointing 2007 to record 23 goals and 55 points which were season highs for him in a Swarm uniform. Don�t forget Kemp, he will be back in 2009. His rehab is going well and Marty is really anticipating his return to the line up.

The following six players are already signed for 2009 after signing two year contracts to begin 2008:

• Ryan Cousins
• Travis Hill
• Eric Pacey
• Sean Pollock
• Jon Sullivan
• Ryan Ward

Of course, Kemp may not return to the form he was before he was injured in 2007. Marty is definitely looking for size on offense especially on the left side which may make Culp vulnerable. With Darren Halls returning from injury and Marc Jackson making a big impression during practices this past season, that could effect T. Hill or Pacey chances of coming back on defense.

That is pure speculation on my part on a Sunday with very little for me to do. To tell you the truth, I figure Marty has complete confidence in these nine players after building a strong bond with each of them for the past four years. That is why my gut says they all will be back but past transaction history of the team is against at least a couple of them.