Cannons players, staff, fans face tough reality with merger

Boston Cannons players sign autographs after a 2019 game at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Quincy, Mass. (MLL photos)

As the members of the Boston Cannons walked off the field at Navy-Marine-Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md., on July 26, they carried the Steinfeld Trophy off with them. Winners of the 2020 Major League Lacrosse championship, there was plenty of reason to celebrate.

As 2020 drew to a close, however, the coaching staff and players would not be preparing to defend the MLL championship. After 20 seasons, Major League Lacrosse would no longer exist.

In a major announcement that will reshape the professional field lacrosse landscape, MLL announced Wednesday it would merge with the Premier Lacrosse League and operate under the PLL brand.

The league announced it would expand from seven to eight teams, rebranding the Boston Cannons as Cannons Lacrosse Club, the only MLL team to bridge the gap between the two leagues as of the announcement.