Owen Grant may have been taken at No. 2 overall by the California Redwoods in 2023. But if his performance thus far with the Boston Cannons is any indicator of fate, I’d say the long-stick midfielder was always meant to be in red and blue.
After injuries stalled the start of his PLL career with the Redwoods, Grant became a trade chip. The Cannons saw more than that – they saw a player who could thrive in the right system if given the chance.
Yes, they paid a premium to get him – the third overall pick in the 2025 College Draft, which the Redwoods used to select Sam English – and received no shortage of criticism from the media and lacrosse fans. But in his short tenure with Boston, the return is already skyrocketing for the Boom Squad.
“He’s not a finished product, and that’s what makes him scary,” Cannons defensive coordinator John Odierna told me before the season began. “He can play fast, be aggressive, and do what he does best. That’s what we want to unlock.”
And so they have. Already matching the three games he played with the Redwoods from 2023 to 2024, Grant was one of the highlights of Boston’s loss to the Philadelphia Waterdogs last Friday. He launched a two-point goal in transition, along with recording an assist on No. 4 overall pick Coulter Mackesy’s first pro goal.
The week prior, with the game on the line against the reigning champion Utah Archers, Grant stripped Tom Schreiber in a one-goal game with less than two minutes remaining. Grant brings more than production to Boston’s defensive unit – the 6-foot-3 Canadian is a presence all his own.
I’ll admit, even I at first was hesitant to be excited about the trade for Grant. With two-time All-Pro Ethan Rall already holding things down, it especially seemed like a big risk to take to give up such a high draft pick when you already had a more-than-efficient LSM.
Though it’s still early in the season, I will happily accept my error in thought in stride.
Scott Ratliff, former Boston Cannon and seven-time All-Star LSM, sees the same thing.
“Owen’s combination of size, strength and skill makes him unique in the same way Graeme Hossack or Mike Ehrhardt are,” Ratliff said. “It’s rare to see guys that big and strong who can move that well in the open field and have the hands and offensive skill set to go with it.”
Grant has the frame to bully matchups, but his game is built on more than physicality. He’s instinctive in transition, confident with the ball and already showing signs of being able to control tempo – a trait Ratliff says separates the good players from the greats.
“Guys like Brodie [Merrill] and Mike were so good at knowing when to slow the game down and when to push pace,” Ratliff said. “We saw OG do that last week – a two-pointer, then an assist. He already has the skill set. If he marries that with elite conditioning and feel for how to dictate a game, I think we could see him win multiple Player of the Year awards over the next decade.”
If there was ever a perfect system for Grant to evolve his game in, it’s the Cannons’. Boston didn’t trade for Grant because it needed him to be a savior – it just needed him to be himself and provide that extra spark.
“He’s committed to being a professional lacrosse player,” Ratliff said. “That’s the difference. He’s not just talented; he’s locked in. And when you combine that with the right environment, you get a guy who can take over games.”
Odierna’s defense is built on clarity and trust, and the Cannons have given Grant exactly that. They didn’t ask him to live up to his lofty draft slot or the price they paid to get him this year. They asked him to show up, play his game and bring energy. So far, he’s done all of that and more.
