Dox Aitken, a 2024 All-Star and second-team All-Pro, is returning to the New York Atlas after being removed from the team’s holdout list on Wednesday and placed on their 25-man roster.
Atlas head coach and general manager Mike Pressler said he could not be more thrilled to work Aitken back into the team’s lineup for the second half of the 2025 season.
“When Dox was at his best for us, it all started and ended at the faceoff,” Pressler said. “He was the guy. He created so much with Trevor [Baptiste] and our LSMs in that 32-second shot clock faceoff win. He brings value to everywhere in the field.”
In 2024, New York ranked first in offensive efficiency after faceoff wins. This season, the Atlas have dropped to third despite leading the league in faceoff percentage at 62.5%.
Aitken led all New York midfielders last season with 15 goals to go along with one assist and 16 ground balls.
Beyond his on-field impact, Pressler believes that Aitken’s locker room presence will be the biggest factor that he brings back to New York.
“He’s so humble,” Pressler said. “He’s such a team guy for the locker room. … Obviously, we have a lot of Virginia guys in our locker room, so another Wahoo comes back, but Dox is Dox — always [puts] everybody first, so selfless, great work ethic and cares about one thing: winning.”
Aitken will be at practice for New York on Thursday ahead of the team’s game against the California Redwoods on Friday, but he will not be on the 19-man gameday roster. Pressler plans to bring Aitken back the following week against the Maryland Whipsnakes in Salt Lake City, depending on his performance in practice.
