Baltimore Blast News Release -- www.baltimoreblast.com
Thursday, October 11, 2012
BALTIMORE – Baltimore Blast President and General Manager Kevin Healey announced today that the team has re-signed 11 players from last year’s squad, pending league approval. The returning players are forwards Machel Millwood, Adauto Neto, Lucio Gonzaga, Adriano Dos Santos and J.T. Noone; midfielder Max Ferdinand and defenders Mike Lookingland, Pat Healey, Ptah Myers, Mike Deasel and Stephen DeRoux. The Blast will open the 2012-13 MISL season on November 3 against the Chicago Soul at 1st Mariner Arena.
Head coach Danny Kelly and assistant coach David Bascome will also return for their seventh season together as the team’s coaching staff. Millwood, a 2012 All-MISL Second-Team selection, becomes the team’s longest-tenured player as he prepares to return for his ninth season in Baltimore. Millwood was among the team’s scoring leaders last season with 26 goals and 16 assists for 71 points. Lookingland, the team captain and the 2012 MISL Defender of the Year, will be back for his eighth season with the Blast. A three-time champion, Lookingland led the Blast’s defensive core with 34 points in 2011-12. Ferdinand led the Blast with 72 points last year and was named First-Team All-MISL, just two seasons after being named Rookie of the Year in 2010.
“This group has a lot of offer, ” said Blast head coach Danny Kelly. “There's experience and youth, as well as guys that can change a game on both sides of the ball. With the willingness to prepare and put in the work, I believe this group can help us compete for an MISL Championship.”
Healey, the 2009 NISL Rookie of the Year, moved to a defensive position last season and led the team with 33 blocks. Neto, the 2006 MISL MVP who has won two championships with the Blast, is entering his sixth season in a Blast uniform. He ranked third on the team with 49 points last season and boasts 150 career goals. Gonzaga, who missed the entire 2011-12 season while recovering from knee surgery, will be back on the field for his fifth season in Baltimore.
Myers, a nine-year veteran, is back for his second season with the Blast after recording 11 points and 18 blocks last season. Dos Santos, is back for his third season in Baltimore, and Noone, DeRoux and Deasel, rookies last season, all are returning for another season. DeRoux was named to the MISL All-Rookie team after posting 10 goals and one assist for 22 points; Noone ranked sixth on the team with 33 points.
The Blast will open training camp on Monday. Season tickets, five-game mini plans and single game tickets are on sale now through the Blast office. Single-game tickets are also available at the 1st Mariner Arena Box Office and at all TicketMaster outlets including TicketMaster phone charge at 410-547-SEAT. Tickets cost $30, $22, $19 and $16 and can also be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com. For additional information, call the Blast at 410-73-BLAST.