Chromepost

Training Camp Preview: Chrome LC

By PJ Penders | Jun 1, 2022

The Chrome enter the 2022 season with plenty of room for improvement.  Coming off a weak 2-7 campaign, head coach Tim Soudan looked to rejuvenate the culture by adding #1 overall draft pick and National Champion Logan Wisnauskas.  Wisnauskas will be playing alongside fellow Maryland Terrapin Colin Heacock to create one of the most explosive offenses in the PLL.

Looking to put the 2021 season in the rearview mirror and start the 2022 summer hot, the Chrome face off against the Archers for their season opener in Albany on Sunday June, 5th at 3:45 ET.

Here’s everything to know about the 2022 Chrome and the case for their run to a PLL Championship.

2021 finish: 2-7

2022 Championship odds: +1000 on DraftKings Sportsbooks

Off-season transactions: 

Additions: Jeff Henrick (Player Pool), Pat Aslanian (Player Pool), Cole Williams (Player Pool), Mike Messenger (Player Pool), ​​Brendan Nichtern (College Draft), Ryan McNulty (College Draft), Owen McElroy (College Draft), Logan Wisnauskas (College Draft)

Departures: Tommy Palasek (Player Pool), Eric Rubak (Player Pool), Donny Moss (Player Pool), Jordan Wolf (Retired), Ned Crotty (Retired), John Galloway (Retired)

MVP Candidate: Logan Wisnauskas

The National Champion, Tewaaraton favorite, and all-time points leader at Maryland is almost certain to have an all-star level impact as soon as he joins the Chrome.  Wisnauskas tallied 203 goals and 133 assists in his illustrious college career, and the Chrome will need each and every point from their future cornerstone.     

Replacing future Hall of Famer Jordan Wolf is no easy task, but his retirement opens the door for Wisnauskas to take the reins of the team right away.  Being able to dish the ball to the likes of Heacock, Jackson Morrill, and fellow rookie Brendan Nichtern will allow for defensive stress to be evenly distributed, providing plenty of open looks for Wisnauskas as well as a slew of assist opportunities.

Wisnauskas looked virtually unguardable at the college level, being able to quarterback Maryland's record-setting offense.  With a very explosive Chrome attack line, look for Wisnauskas to take a similar role in his rookie season, which makes him a very intriguing prospect for the MVP honors.

Camp Battle to Watch: Sean Sconone vs. Owen McElroy vs. Nick Washuta

Following the retirement of goalie legend John Galloway, two-time MLL Goalie of the Year Sean Sconone has found himself in a threeway camp battle with USA Lacrosse Magazine first-team All-American Owen McElroy, and former Denver Outlaw Nick Washuta.  Sconone only played in one game last season filling in for Galloway, allowing for 16 goals in net against the Atlas.  Washuta is yet to see game action for the Chrome, but came to the Outlaws as one of the best college prospects from Vermont.  The Chrome invested a coveted 4th round draft pick in McElroy this year, who Soudo said he was planning on drafting in the third round but luckily fell to them in the fourth. The former Georgetown Hoya looks to anchor down a struggling Chrome defense in 2022.  

The case for a Chaos championship run

 The Chrome invested heavily into the 2022 college draft, gaining some promising young talent in Logan Wisnauskas, Brendan Nichtern, Ryan McNulty, and Owen McElroy.  The key to the Chrome's offensive success this season will rest heavily upon the shoulders of Wisnauskas, and his ability to create opportunities for Heacock and Morrill.  Defensively, JT Giles-Harris, Jesse Bernhardt, and Mike Manley will have to prove that they are one of the toughest and most technically sound units in the PLL.  The Chrome will go as far as their rookies do this season. The talent that Tim Soudan brought in certainly gives the Chrome a shot for a title this year.