The North American Lacrosse League has added two new teams to their league for the upcoming 2013 season. One of the new teams, the Rhode Island Kingfish, will join the league and play in the Boss Ice Arena at the University of Rhode Island.
The Kingfish didn’t previously have a rink they called home, forcing the team to play many games on the road in the past. Upon joining the NALL, the Rhode Island squad met with Tracy Picente, manager of the Boss Arena. “[The Kingfish] actually approached me [about playing at Boss Arena],” she said. “They didn’t have a home rink and played a lot on the road last year. We met several times and I thought it would be a great opportunity.”
Despite being new to the league, the Rhode Island Kingfish are ready to compete. Since they were an expansion team, the Kingfish were allowed to protect five players from free agency. Evan Roberts and Zach Smith were kept from the original roster, both to help solidify draw control and the transition game. Two attackmen were kept as well, Dan Hettler and Mike Nadler. The Kingfish decided to only grab one defensive player, however, and chose Zach Taylor. All five players have solid experience, some international as well, and will emerge as a strong core for the team.
Through the NALL supplemental draft, the Kingfish were able to complete their 2013 roster. In addition to their eighteen original draft picks, the Kingfish were awarded seven additional picks. With their first selection, and number one overall, the Kingfish selected Michael Maggio to add additional offensive depth.
As the Kingfish continue to prepare for their inaugural season, fans in the Rhode Island area, including URI students, can begin to buy tickets for the games at Boss Arena. Tickets are currently available on the Kingfish website, http://www.rhodeislandkingfish.com, and start at $11 for student tickets. General admission seating will run $15.50 per ticket, while premium seating is $21.50.
The Kingfish will kick off their season on January 6th, at their new home, Boss Ice Arena.