March 3, 2010
Kastrud on a mission for a good cause
by Staff Report/
Mark Kastrud, the Cannons’ general manager, is planning to run the Boston Marathon as part of a personal mission to help the American Liver Foundation in the fight against liver disease. “What started for me as a desire to check ‘marathon’ off my Bucket List, has become so much more as I learn about liver disease and hear the stories of families who have been affected,” said Kastrud, who has a fund-raising goal of $5,000.
Kastrud has been posting a training blog on Wednesdays at BostonCannons.com. Cannons fans who want to support Kastrud can go to www.liverteam.org — and click on “sponsor a runner” — to help him reach his goal.
The Cannons’ first player move of 2010 involved four players and draft picks, with the Cannons shipping John Christmas, Ray Megill and Mike Levin to the Washington Bayhawks for midfielder Kevin Buchanan and three draft picks.
Following the Jan. 28 deal, the team was back at it on Feb. 9, acquiring midfielder Brad Ross from the Toronto Nationals in exchange for a third-round draft pick and an exchange of second-round picks.
“Buchanan is a real athletic midfielder that has shown he can play in this league,” said Bill Daye, the Cannons head coach. “We were looking to add depth to our midfield this season and Kevin does this for our team. The draft picks we also acquired allow us to add more youth to our team over the next two seasons.”
Buchanan, 23, played in six games last season for the Bayhawks, averaging more than two points per game in 2009, when he scored seven goals and six assists. Buchanan was the fifth overall pick in the 2008 MLL Collegiate Draft by Los Angeles, and scored eight goals and five assists in that year with the now-defunct Riptide. Buchanan graduated from Ohio State University in 2008 and was Great Western Lacrosse League Player of the Year as a senior; he registered 175 points during his four-year Buckeye career.
In addition to Buchanan, the Cannons received the Bayhawks’ third- and fourth-round picks (No. 14 and No. 20 overall, respectively) in the 2010 Collegiate Draft, giving the team six of the top 21 selections. The Cannons also received the Bayhawks’ second-round collegiate pick in 2011.
Ross, 24, was drafted by the Nationals in 2009, picked in the second round, 15th overall. He played in three games, scoring twice — both times against the Cannons — and collecting six ground balls. Ross was a three-time All-American at Duke University, playing in an NCAA record 72 wins over five years for the Blue Devils, amassing 76 goals and 26 assists. Ross has ties to the Boston area, as he is currently an assistant coach for Brown University in Providence, R.I.
The Cannons will conduct auditions for the Cannons Dance Team on Sunday, March 7 at 9 a.m. at the Boston Athletic Club. The Cannons Dance Team is a professional, volunteer dance team that performs at all Boston Cannons home games and MLL events at Harvard Stadium, including the 2010 MLL All-Star Game on July 8. The team performs on the field at all Cannons games, and also participates in game-day fan activities and on-field promotions. In addition to game days, Dance Team members participate in various community service events and Cannons promotional events throughout the year.
Candidates must be at least 18 years of age, and must bring a $20 registration fee, a 5x7 photo, a dance/performance resume and the completed registration form and waiver. For more information and to download the registration form and waiver, please visit www.bostoncannons.com/team/danceteam and click on the auditions line.
The Cannons open their 10th anniversary season against the Denver Outlaws at Harvard Stadium on Saturday, May 15 at 7 p.m.
Season tickets, starting at $126, are on sale now to see all 6 Cannons home games plus the 2010 MLL All-Star Game.
For more information on Cannons tickets, visit BostonCannons.com or call 617-746-9933.
