Twenty-five years ago, the Boston Cannons took the field for the first time, launching an organization that would become a cornerstone of professional lacrosse in New England. This weekend, they return to Harvard Stadium with two crucial games ahead of them and a Friday night celebration honoring the franchise’s 25th anniversary – complete with a roster of alumni who helped shape the Cannons from the ground up.
Expected attendees include former Cannons standouts like Gerry Byrne, Kevin Buchanan, Bill Daye, Mitch Belisle, Jordan Burke, Josh Hawkins and more.
The Cannons began play in 2001 as part of the inaugural MLL season and have remained anchored in Boston ever since. Following the 2020 merger between the PLL and MLL, the Cannons transitioned into the PLL.
Throughout their evolution, the Cannons have maintained a strong connection to the city and its lacrosse community.
Foundations of a franchise
In the Cannons’ inaugural season, Byrne – a longtime college coach and one of the franchise’s original players – was one of the first players to suit up in the red, white and blue. At 39, he was older than most of his teammates and a father of three.
“I was in a different part of my life,” he laughed. “All these guys were 21 or 22, figuring out which bar to go to after games. My kids were running onto the field in replica jerseys.”
At the time, the team played at Cawley Memorial Stadium in Lowell, Mass., a venue Byrne remembers for its energy and location more than its polish.
“Lowell wasn’t really a hotbed for lacrosse at the time, but it was well situated for fans,” he explained. “You had people coming from New Hampshire, Maine, Boston and central Mass. The crowd was unbelievable.”
The atmosphere at Cawley Memorial set the stage for one of Byrne’s most vivid memories from his time with the Cannons.
In a late-season game against Bridgeport, the two teams were battling for their playoff lives. Whoever won would secure the last spot in the 2001 MLL playoffs.
“Greg Traynor scored the game-winner in overtime, and it turned into a full-on dogpile,” Byrne recalled. “That celebration … it was unforgettable.”
The City of Champions
A decade later, the Cannons won their first MLL Championship.
Buchanan, an All-Star midfielder who joined the team in 2010, was part of that championship run.
“We had a really balanced group,” Buchanan said. “We were super invested. We paraded that trophy around – went to the Red Sox game, got on the field. It was killer.”
Buchanan played eight seasons with the Cannons. For him, the team became synonymous with his professional career.
“When I think back on my pro days, I think of the Boston Cannons. I love the vibe. I love the players I played with. I have nothing but great memories,” he smiled.
“We always went into games expecting to win. Not in a cocky way, because we knew we had the pieces. We were always contenders.”
‘The fanbase in Boston was tremendous’
Over the course of 25 years, the Cannons played in several different venues, but Harvard Stadium holds a special place in the franchise’s history. It’s where they played for nearly a decade, and where they return this weekend to celebrate their roots.
“Harvard was a great spot for us,” Buchanan recalled. “The fanbase in Boston was tremendous. The front office did a great job engaging the local community.”
Byrne, now in his seventh season as the head coach of Harvard men’s lacrosse, sees the return to Harvard as more than symbolic.
Byrne’s been helping coordinate alumni receptions and tailgates, and looking forward to seeing familiar faces, including players he coached at Notre Dame who now suit up for the Cannons.
“Garrett Epple, Jack Kielty … you never get unconnected with guys you recruit,” Byrne said. “They’ll still reach out for advice and insight. That’s the best part.”
A new era at Harvard Stadium
Since joining the PLL in 2021, the Cannons have continued to grow. They posted back-to-back 7-3 regular seasons in 2023 and 2024 under current head coach and general manager Brian Holman. They also won consecutive Lexus Championship Series titles in 2024 and 2025.
This weekend, the Cannons return to Harvard Stadium for the second time as a PLL team with playoff implications at stake in front of a home crowd. For alumni like Byrne, seeing the team compete at this level and in a venue so tied to the franchise’s history is a meaningful reminder of how far both the Boston Cannons and the sport have come.
“To see the Cannons back to playing in front of thousands of people at Harvard and streamed on mainstream TV – it’s a testament to the effort that’s gone into building all this,” he said. “It’s a reflection of the growth of the game and the strength of the lacrosse community here in Boston.”
Buchanan is especially looking forward to sharing the experience with his family. His sons, born and raised in Massachusetts, have grown up around the sport. But this weekend offers something different – a chance to connect the dots between their dad’s playing days and the team they now cheer for.
“My boys have always seen me with a lacrosse stick,” he said. “Now they’re old enough to understand what it meant to me.”
Boston lacrosse roots run deep
For me, I grew up going to Cannons games at Harvard Stadium with my youth lacrosse team. Our coaches wanted us to see the best the sport had to offer, and those times in the stands – always with a lacrosse stick in hand – watching players like Paul Rabil and Mitch Belisle, are memories I look back on with a lot of fondness as to where my love for the sport began.
Now, I cover the team I grew up with. I coach middle school girls lacrosse, and I see firsthand how much the sport has grown in our community. My players constantly talk about Charlotte North of the WLL’s Boston Guard, and every single one of my attackers models their game after hers. When we ride the bus with the boys’ team, they’re just as engaged and enthusiastic, watching PLL highlights of guys like Matt Campbell and Ryan Drenner for inspiration.
Lacrosse in Boston is thriving. This weekend at Harvard Stadium is a celebration of that growth and a reminder of the foundation the Cannons helped build.
