Boston, MA.- Major League Lacrosse (MLL) has announced each team's 23-Man Protected Roster for 2010. Teams were required to submit their protected rosters to the league offices by 12:00 PM ET, Monday, September 28. The rosters appear at the bottom. Among the names not protected for 2010 were several long-time MLL veterans, causing speculation that some of these long-time players may be contemplating retirement.

The Boston Cannons elected not to protect veteran midfielder Kevin Cassese. Cassese, a seven year veteran, began his career with the Rochester Rattlers in 2003. In four seasons with the Rattlers, he collected 152 groundballs, and went 180 of 363 on face-offs. He then spent the next two seasons in Philadelphia, winning the MLL Championship with the Barrage in 2007, before joining the Cannons in 2009. In 62 regular season appearances, Cassese has scored 64 goals, 12 of which were two-pointers, and added 28 assists for 104 points. He also has 9 points and 15 groundballs in 6 postseason appearances.

In Denver, veteran defenseman Tom Garvey, and midfielders Josh Sims and Jeff Sonke were among the players left unprotected by the Outlaws. Garvey had announced his plans to retire shortly after Denver's loss in the 2009 MLL Championship Game to the Toronto Nationals. Garvey began his career in Boston in 2005. He would spend the next 4 seasons in Denver. Garvey has appeared in 48 regular season games, collecting 51 groundballs, and also played in a total of 8 postseason games, 7 of which were as a member of the Outlaws, collecting 10 groundballs.

Josh Sims has played in the League since its inception in 2001, and was one of the three original players assigned to the Baltimore Bayhawks. Sims spent his first five seasons with the Bayhawks, before joining the Outlaws in 2006. He won two MLL Championships with Baltimore. As a member of both the Bayhawks and the Outlaws, Sims has appeared in the MLL postseason in each one of his nine years in the League. His 16 playoff appearances are more than any other player in League history. His 29 goals in the playoffs lead all players, and he is tied with Roy Colsey for most points score in the postseason with 36. ; In 80 regular season games, Sims has scored 116 goals, including 15 two-pointers, and added 57 assists for 188 points.

Like Sims, Jeff Sonke also began playing in 2001 and also spent the first five seasons of his career in Baltimore. He is seventh all-time in regular season games played with 97. In that span, he has scored 144 goals, including 24 two-point goals, which places him third all-time for two-pointers scored in the regular season. Sonke also has 58 assists and 226 points in the regular season. Sonke is second only to Sims in total postseason appearances, having played in 14 playoff games, where he has scored 18 goals, three two-pointers, and 5 assists.

Four players who appear in the top eight in terms of all-time regular season games played, goalie Brian Dougherty (105 games), defenseman John Gagliardi (96 games), attack Tim Goettelmann 110 games), and midfielder Blake Miller (100 games) were all left unprotected by the Long Island Lizards.

Dougherty has played for the Rochester Rattlers, the Long Island Lizards, and the Philadelphia Barrage over the course of his nine year career. Winning Championships with the Lizards in 2003, and back-to-back Championships with the Barrage in 2006 and 2007, Dougherty also was named the Warrior Goaltender of the Year in each of those three seasons. Dougherty earned a record of 60-42 in the regular season, with a 12.85 GAA and a .578 save percentage.

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2009-09-29