The Boston Cannons have made an intriguing move on the faceoff front, announcing the signing of faceoff specialist Tommy Burke to a one-year deal.
The news comes just days after Zac Tucci – Boston’s faceoff specialist for the last two seasons – re-signed, signaling an incoming internal competition at the stripe come training camp.
Burke’s resume is one of the most impressive in University of Vermont lacrosse history – regardless of position. As Vermont’s go-to faceoff man from 2021 to 2023, the Florida native made history. In 2022, he posted a 61.4% win rate, becoming Vermont’s all-time career faceoff wins leader with a record 269 draws and 102 ground balls. In his final year at UVM in 2023, he won 63.8% of draws (201 total), the second-highest single-season mark in program history and third in the nation. Additionally, he also led the team with 111 ground balls.
In his final season of eligibility in 2024, Burke transferred to Ohio State. While his numbers were down playing in a new conference, dropping to 55% at the stripe, many were still surprised no PLL teams called for him. That is, until now.
With his first opportunity to prove himself at the professional level, Burke brings elite win percentages at the stripe and a knack for controlling possession – something the Cannons desperately need. The Cannons ranked second-to-last in faceoff percentage in 2025 (42.3%), sixth in 2024 (42.2%) and dead last in 2023 (16.3%).
With Tucci back for another stint with the Cannons, this will be the first time in his three seasons with the team that the New Hampshire native will be competing for his role against another proven faceoff specialist. Burke’s entrance threatens a shakeup at the faceoff spot.
It’s also worth noting the significance of the move in terms of the 2026 College Draft: Despite holding five picks within the top 20 in the 2026 draft, this all but confirms that head coach and general manager Brian Holman does not intend to use one of those spots on a faceoff specialist. Investing in another faceoff man during the player movement window mitigates the need to spend a draft pick on the position, allowing Boston to allocate its top picks to other areas.
Holman said his plan is to largely build his 2026 team using those draft picks, with a particular focus on improving a defense that allowed the most scores in the league in 2025. The Cannons are set to return close defensemen Garrett Epple and Jack Kielty and long-stick midfielders Owen Grant and Ethan Rall, but they lost defenseman Bryce Young to retirement.
