Phi-Lacross-ophy Podcast Ep. 37 - NLL & MLL Defensemen Brodie Merrill

Brodie Merrill - Decorated NLL and MLL Defensemen 02:32 Growing Up and Lacrosse Journey for Brodie -Physical education teachers for parents -Migrating west to Ontario from Quebec -Orangeville and playing lacrosse there -Turning to lacrosse in such a unique environment -How these small programs create such good players -Shane Sanderson as one of Brodies first coaches -Falling short in the 2000 Minto Cup -Journey to Salisbury 15:28 First Picking Up a Pole -Established stick skills before -U19 Team in 1999 had no poles and he stepped up -Gave experience and learned from other defensemen -Doesn't take long and is much easier to learn with a shorter stick first -Randy Staats and Jeff Teat using a pole 22:11 Playing for Coach Urick at Georgetown -Moral compass -Demanded respect without a lot of yelling or demeaning -Father figure of the program 24:38 Professional Career -Close calls for the final 4 in college -Winning cam easy in Baltimore first year in MLL -Players that he played with on that first Baltimore team -Not overthinking matchups -Learning from Mikey Powell 31:42 Stories About Dave Huntley -He always had the time for you -Similarities to coach Urick -Playing 5v6 so defense could back up shots -Outside the box thinking 36:59 Playin on the Expansion NLL Team - San Diego Seals -Coming to play for Brodie's brother -Fresh starts for everyone -Interesting dynamic of the team -Austin Staats and his ability 42:15 The Hill Academy School and Program -Building a healthy relationship between athletics and academics -Father putting so much on the line -The players that have come through -200 students 90 mens players and 20 girls players -Interaction between like minded people -How much training goes on at The Hill -Playing other sports in the winters -Taking the time to learn the field game -Measuring volume and intensity levels in everything they do -Advantage of American players coming up and playing 57:55 Future of the NLL and Opportunities for American Players -PLL will help provide more opportunity -Great growth in the NLL -Schedules of the different leagues finally coincide -Breakthrough for the career