Boston to host MLL All-Star Game

[Sonny]

Boston, MA - Major League Lacrosse (MLL), the premier professional outdoor lacrosse league, announced today the 2007 Major League Lacrosse All-Star game will take place on July 8, 2007 at 12:30PM ET at Harvard University’s Harvard Stadium according to MLL Commissioner David Gross.

The game will be broadcast live on ESPN2 and once again the Bud Light Skills Competition will take place at halftime. Tickets are on sale NOW and are available by phone at 888-847-9700 and online at www.bostoncannons.com. Tickets are affordably priced at $25 and $20 with group discounts available.

“The 2006 All Star Game was a huge hit in Boston last year and we felt bringing it back for another year was an obvious choice,” said Gross. “We had a Nickerson Field-record crowd of 9,234 and it was an amazing event.”

For the first time ever the All Star format will pit the Eastern Conference versus the Western Conference. In 2006 MLL expanded with four teams out west and it was an unqualified success both on and off the field. Three of the four expansion teams finished .500 or better and two made the MLL playoffs. The Denver Outlaws set records for single-game attendance, season average and made it to the championship game.

“We’re thrilled to host the 2007 All-Star Game at our new home Harvard Stadium. Cannons fans as well as MLL fans across the country will have the chance to take in one of the league’s marquee events at a venue that is ideal for lacrosse entertainment,” said Boston Cannon General Manager Jason Chandler. “Hosting this event is a great opportunity for our organization and our great fans. We look forward to watching the MLL’s best players battle it out in Boston on July 8.”

A favorite part of past All Star games is the Bud Light Skills competition held at halftime and it will return on 2007 and be featured on ESPN2. The Fastest Shot, Most Accurate and FreeStyle will all be back and Chris Fiore, Ryan Boyle and Mikey Powell will all be back to defend their titles.

The Fastest Shot competition is the first event and six players, one representing each team, will each get two attempts to shoot as hard as possible from thirty feet away. The speed of each shot will be determined by a radar gun on the field. This year’s contestants will be trying to unseat Boston Cannons midfielder Chris Fiore, who won the contest for the first time last year with a shot of 108 miles per hour. Former Cannon Dave Evans set the record with a shot of 109 miles per hour.

In last year’s game midfielder Kevin Cassese scored two goals, including a two-pointer, and added an assist as the United States National Team earned an 18-10 victory over the Major League Lacrosse All Stars. The MLL All Stars trailed 9-4 at the half but early in the second half went on a 4-1 run to cut the deficit to two points, 12-10. The U.S. team scored the game’s final six goals to extend its lead to 18-10 and clinch the victory. Michael Powell scored all three of his goals during the stretch to lead the team. Overall, 21 of the 23 members of Team USA played in the MLL.