For the first time in his 12-year professional lacrosse career, Will Manny found himself in an unfamiliar situation this past May. 

Released by the Maryland Whipsnakes during training camp, Manny was without a team for the first half of the 2024 PLL season. But as the famous quote goes, he reminded himself that “everything happens for a reason.”

It was a homecoming for the veteran on Monday morning, as he signed a one-year deal with the Boston Cannons – the same team he was drafted to back in 2013. 

"I think the word 'grateful' is number one," said Manny, who played his first 4 1/2 pro seasons with Boston in the MLL. "Just being able to have an opportunity. It’s been a long two months here, watching week to week. But I’m grateful and excited to be somewhere where I’m wanted and be a part of a team that has like-minded goals and mindsets that I’m familiar with. I know that I can just do my job and fit right in."

Certainly, there’s a lot of familiarity on the Cannons for Manny. Reunited with his best friend Marcus Holman, whom he played with on the Archers for four seasons, Manny also has a close relationship with head coach Brian Holman. Despite those connections, the transition to the Cannons was no snap decision.

Manny had multiple extensive conversations with Coach Holman before making the move official.

“It was a really cool experience talking with Brian in that way,” the eight-time All-Star explained. 

“Obviously, we have a relationship, but this is different right now. He’s the coach and general manager, and I’m the player. So being able to talk about what I can bring, what he’s looking for and what he would need out of me – it’s all just about realigning with one another. Those kinds of asks and getting on the same page was fun, because I know the type of person he is as a mentor, a coach and a leader.”

Coach Holman shared the mutual respect and careful consideration that went into Manny’s signing.

“It was a really trying time for Will after being let go by the Whipsnakes, so my first priority was to help him through that process the best that I could by just being there for him,” he said.

For Coach Holman, he wanted to make sure Manny was in the right headspace before making anything official. 

“He could’ve had the ‘woe is me’ mentality, but he didn’t,” Coach Holman remarked. “He can choose to not like the way it was, but it’s how you react to it, and he reacted to it as a true professional, and that’s what encouraged me the most. … At the end of the day, what convinced me was that he just said, ‘Coach, I want to be a part of something special, which is the Cannons, and I’ll do whatever it takes and whatever the team needs of me,’ and that was what I was hoping to hear.” 

A fierce competitor, Manny doesn’t need any extra motivation, but his release from the Whipsnakes undoubtedly lit even more of a fire under him. 

“When it comes down to it, a lot of professional players bet on themselves,” he said. “I know how much time and effort I put into this. I’ve been doing this for 11-plus years, and I spend four months a year getting ready for training camp. I bet on myself and made sure to stay ready, and now it’s all become worth it.”

With their dynamic style of play and strong team culture, Boston was always Manny’s top choice once he entered free agency. With best friend Marcus on the team, Manny’s watched every Cannons game for the last two years and has become very familiar with the style of offense Boston plays.

“It’s almost like positionless lacrosse in a way,” Manny explained. “The brand of lacrosse that they play is how I played in college: tough-nosed, blue collar. It’s not always going to be pretty, but like Coach Holman always says, you find a way.”

Of course, it wasn’t just a team playing good lacrosse that Manny was looking for. He wanted to find somewhere he would be at home, on and off the field. 

“The Cannons were my No. 1 landing spot not just because I like their offense and how I think I can help the team, but the outside factors, too,” he said. “How that team goes about their business, how they spend time together off the field, and the foundation Coach Holman’s built there is what he’s done everywhere he’s gone. I’m very happy to be a part of it.”

In the two years he’s been at the reins, Coach Holman has undoubtedly built a culture in his locker room that every one of his players buys into and preaches. “Cannons culture,” as they call it, is all about selflessness and operating like a family, on the field and everywhere else. 

When asked what Manny brings to this team as a leader, Coach Holman highlighted his commitment and team-first mentality. 

“He absolutely loves the game of lacrosse. It’s part of his fabric,” he said. “I always want guys that are committed to the game, and he brings that, and you know, he’s in the latter stages of his career and just wants to win. It’s not about ‘I’m ninth or eighth on the scoring list’ – he just wants to win and wants to be a part of a winning culture, so he’s going to bring that mentality to us to do whatever it takes."

Manny is joining a Cannons squad that boasts the PLL's second-best record and second-best score differential (behind the New York Atlas in both) but is missing some important offensive pieces with rookie attackman Pat Kavanagh on injured reserve and midfielder Jonathan Donville out for the season.

"If his role is to score goals, great," Coach Holman said. "If it’s dish assists, great. If it’s not even to play but to help on film study and scout, great. He’s going to bring all that to the table.”

No matter his role, the 32-year-old is thrilled to be coming back to Boston.

“Having a little bit of a homecoming rally for the tail end of my career is something that I think will rejuvenate me and maybe give me a couple more years,” Manny beamed.

A University of Massachusetts alum who was then drafted by Boston, the Bay State became like a second home for Manny in his early pro years. As a rookie, he played alongside lacrosse legends like Paul Rabil, Ryan Boyle, Matt Poskay, Kevin Buchanan and Stephen Berger, an experience he says helped mold his love for the professional game. 

As he looked back fondly on his early years in Boston, it all seemed to make sense.

“There’s just a lot of branches off the tree that bring me back to that idea that, you know, this is probably where I’m supposed to be,” Manny said.

As Manny puts on the Cannons uniform once again, the lacrosse world will be watching to see how this chapter of his storied career unfolds. His resilience, experience and unwavering dedication to the game promise an exciting journey ahead in the twilight of his career with Boston.