Ten former Syracuse lacrosse stars to suit up in MLL, but not Nick Mellen

Former Syracuse lacrosse players are well represented for the upcoming MLL season, but Nick Mellen is not on the Boston Cannons’ roster.

Major League Lacrosse (“MLL”) will hold an abbreviated campaign amid the novel coronavirus pandemic starting later this month, and 10 former Syracuse lacrosse players made their respective teams’ rosters, according to a cuse.com announcement.

Notably missing, though, is Nick Mellen, one of the country’s top cover defenders during his Orange lacrosse career. The MLL’s Boston Cannons had selected the 5-foot-9 Mellen with the fourth pick in the first round of the MLL Draft, held in early May, and subsequently signed him to a rookie contract.

Per a press release from the Cannons on its Web site from July 7, Boston has finalized its 25-man roster for the upcoming 2020 term, and Mellen isn’t part of the line-up. The Cannons note in their statement that this roster features 15 returning players and 10 new guys.

According to an MLL media release, the league will start its season on July 18 in Annapolis, Md. The 2020 campaign will run for one week and include all half-dozen MLL squads. A final-four playoff to determine the 2020 champion will take place July 25-26.

Cuse.com says that former Syracuse players are on five of the MLL’s six teams.

Brendan Bomberry, Nick Mariano and Nate Solomon are suiting up for the Chesapeake Bayhawks, the defending MLL titleholder. The Connecticut Hammerheads, a newly created crew, includes Bradley Voigt and rookie Andrew Helmer.

The Philadelphia Barrage, a “new geographical addition” according to cuse.com, has Tim Baber and Tommy Palasek on its roster, while Nicky Galasso is the sole former Orange player on the New York group.

Finally, competing for the Cannons are Dom Madonna and Randy Staats.

Mellen, by the way, ended his tenure on the Hill this past spring as a two-time All-American. He hails from Central New York and went to West Genesee High School in Camillus, N.Y.

Although Mellen got chosen in the MLL Draft, he didn’t get picked in the Premier Lacrosse League Draft that occurred in mid-May.