Category: 2016 17 Offseason

The 2013 Boston Whitecaps: Where are They Now.

11/4/2016

Photo by Kevin LeClaire; UltiPhotos. Retrieved from Boston Whitecaps Facebook page.

There have only been two teams in professional ultimate history that went undefeated in a season. One was a team full of superstars, the other was a team with players that had been playing together for years, the 2013 Boston Whitecaps.

In the inaugural season of the MLU, no one expected the dominance to come from the Whitecaps. They ended putting together one of the most impressive championship runs in professional ultimate history. In honor of the 'Boston Sweep' at Club Nationals, where the city of Boston won the men's, mixed, and women's divisions, here is a look back at the championship team.

Eight of the MLU Champions won the Men's Club National Championship with Boston Ironside this year. Five won the Mixed Club National Championship with Boston Slow White.

Of the 27 players on the 2013 roster, 13 of them also played on the Whitecaps second championship team in 2015, and eight were on the roster last season. Just under half, 14, still play on professional ultimate teams, while of the remaining 13 players only two* do not play club ultimate.

Still on/ with the Whitecaps:

Jack Hatchett: Has played all four seasons for the Whitecaps including winning their second championship in 2015. Hatchett has been one of the Whitecaps leaders on the D-line, playing on 338 defensive points in his career. He averages more than a block per game and is third all-time on the MLU blocks list. In the 2013 MLU Championship, Hatchett had a team-leading three blocks completing their undefeated season. In 2014 he was named the Defensive Player of the Year in the Eastern Conference. In 2015 he also added two blocks in the championship game, tied for the most on the team. Despite only playing two games this season, he added three goals, an assist, and four blocks to his career total. Hatchett is also a member of the top Men's club team in Boston, Ironside. Career stats: 28 goals, 18 assists, 47 blocks, 84.5 percent completion percentage.

Jake Taylor: Has played all four seasons for the Whitecaps, including winning their second championship in 2015. Taylor is one of the "new faces" of the Boston franchise that has been there for their entire history. In 2013, he played primarily as the defensive handler before moving to the O-line in 2014 and then became the primary handler for the team this past season. His numbers do not necessarily reflect his on-field value, but he is third in the league all-time in hockey assists (throw before the assist) with 58. He also plays on Boston Ironside. Career stats: 10 goals, 31 assists, 11 blocks, 93.2 percent completion percentage.

Terry Roth: Has played all four seasons for the Whitecaps including winning their second championship in 2015. Roth may be one of the most athletic players the team has ever had. His prowess has been featured on ESPN twice this past year, once for a basketball backflip on three point swish and then the second for an incredible layout grab against the Washington D.C. Current. Roth's career stats: 30 goals, three assists, 17 blocks, 93.6 percent completion percentage.

Eric Stevens: Has played all four seasons for the Whitecaps including winning their second championship in 2015. Stevens is another member of the dominant Boston defense. He plays tight defense and has gone against handlers and cutters. After a turn, he is either the first or second initial cutters to start the offense. While his playing time went down (88 points played, lowest by 48), he had one of his best seasons. Second most assists of his career, best throwing percentage, best defensive scoring efficiency, best defensive turnover scoring efficiency, and highest TPOP with 0.926. Career stats: 20 goals, 48 assists, 15 blocks, 91.4 percent completion percentage.

Mike Miller: Won Second Championship in 2015. The only two seasons he has played, Boston won the championship. Right now Miller has transitioned to be an Assistant Coach for Whitecaps, which he did before the 2016 season. Miller also plays with the Mixed team Slow White as a player/coach. Career stats: one goal, six assists, three blocks, 88.5 percent completion percentage.

Alex Cooper: Has played in three seasons for the Whitecaps (did not play in 2015). By far, Cooper's most impactful season was the first, when he was a handler on the O-line. His consistent throws allowed the rest of the team to flourish and do what they do best. In the 2013 Championship game, Cooper went 31 of 31 on his throw attempts, leading the game. His success from 2013, has been quieted after the success of Josh Markette in recent seasons and his decline in performance. Cooper has the record for most hockey assists in a season (23) in 2013 and the most in a game (nine). In club this season he played on the Nationals underdog Boston Dig. Career stats: 26 goals, 35 assists, 10 blocks, 92.4 percent completion percentage.

Jon Hirschberger: Has played in three seasons for the Whitecaps (did not play in 2015). Hirschberger did not play much during the 2016 season after missing the year before. During 2013 and 2014, he was an integral member of the D-line playing a total of 254 defensive points those seasons. When he did play, it was on the D-line. He still plays club with Ironside, where he is also a starter for the defensive unit. Career stats: 16 goals, 16 assists, 21 blocks, 83.5 percent completion percentage.

Shaun Doherty: Has played all four seasons for the Whitecaps including winning their second championship in 2015. Currently, Doherty is a member of the mixed Boston club team and National Champion, Slow White. During his tenure with Boston he has been a integral role player for the team. He has never been the star or even worked himself to the top D-line, but is strong defender that always consistent with the disc in his hands. Doherty's career stats: 25 goals, six assists, 23 blocks, 90.9 percent completion percentage. He also has one of the more impressive Callahan's that the MLU has seen:

New Professional Team:

Brandon Malecek: After the 2014 season, Malecek moved to Texas and was a key player for the club team Austin Doublewide. It gave Malachek a break from the professional game until the Dallas Roughnecks were formed this season. Helping the team win the AUDL championship in 2016, he is one of the few players in ultimate history that has won a championship in both the MLU and AUDL. With the Whitecaps, Malecek was one of the most dominant players on the roster with an incredible foursome of Prial, Markette, and Graham that might never be duplicated. He had an incredible 2013 championship with a goal, two assists, and going 25/26 on throws. With the Roughnecks this season he was second in assists (36), first in completions (506), and first in points played (359). Quite honestly he is one of the best professional ultimate players ever. MLU career stats: 26 goals, 51 assists, one block, 90 percent completion percentage.

Alex Simmons: Won Second Championship in 2015. Before this season began, he (re)joined the AUDL movement and signed with the Toronto Rush. While on the Whitecaps, he was a strong D-line player, progressing every season while with the team. In 2015 he was a D-line starter that helped the team get their second championship. His championship stats are nearly perfect: two goals, three assists, two blocks, and 32/34. On the Rush, he continues to be a star on the defensive line and was tied for fifth on the team in assists in only seven games played (14 game regular season). He remains on Boston Ironside and was a part of the National Championship team. MLU career stats: nine goals, 25 assists, 18 blocks, 94.3 percent completion percentage.

Will Neff: The former Callahan winner joined the Toronto Rush with Simmons and 2014 Whitecap Rusty Ingold-Smith this season. Before 2016, Neff took a break from the professional game in the two years in between. With the Whitecaps, Neff was a D-line starter in all eight games he played where he realed off 11 blocks. Making the travel to play with Toronto, Neff only saw action to five games this season but still managed to get seven goals, nine blocks, and eleven assists. He still plays club with Ironside and was a part of the championship team this year. MLU career stats: two goals, six assists, 11 blocks, 84.7 percent completion percentage.

Brian Zid: Won Second Championship in 2015. Moved to the West Coast for a job at UC San Diego and is now on the San Diego Growlers. The inaugural season was by far his best, production wise, on the field. With 23 goals as an O-line starter (alongside Malechek, Graham, and Prial), Zid was expected to continue the trend the next several years despite his age nearing 40. With the Growlers he has continued to thrive as one of the older players on the field with 12 goals and 10 assists. MLU career stats: 40 goals, 16 assists, two blocks, 95.3 percent completion percentage.

Misha Horowitz: Before Zid went west, Horowitz moved out to California due to his medical residency and joined the San Diego Growlers this past season. However, Horowitz only played in two games for the Growlers. On the field he is a handler but does not limit himself and often cuts deep both on offense and defense. Like many of the Whitecaps, he played in the inaugural season of the AUDL with the Connecticut Constitution. He is with the regionals level mixed club team San Diego Dorado. MLU career stats: two goals, five assists, 91.3 percent completion percentage.

Seth Reinhardt: Reinhardt made the 2016 Club National Championship, not with Ironside though, but with their opponents, San Francisco Revolver. A weird experience for Reinhardt, seeing his former teammates that suffered heartbreak over many seasons and then they beat his team for the title. He was yet another dominant D-line player for the Whitecaps in 2013, and saw limited action in 2014 with only three games. Being in the bay area he also plays professional with the San Jose Spiders and has done so for two seasons. MLU career stats: 11 goals, one assist, four blocks, 100 percent completion percentage.

Retired/ Break from Pro Ultimate:

Jeff Graham: Won Second Championship in 2015. Graham has been the face of the Whitecaps during their entire existence. He has the most impressive trophy case in the MLU with two Championship MVP awards, the 2014 Offensive Player of the Year Award, the 2015 MVP Award, along with his two championships. Graham is fourth in scoring all-time with 132 points and in Championship games he has scored five goals, thrown three assists, recorded a block, and has gone a perfect 47/47 throwing. This past season is the only year Graham has missed but he made up for it to the Boston faithful by scoring the final goal that sealed Ironside's National Championship. Career stats: 76 goals, 56 assists, 22 blocks, 94.6 percent completion percentage.

Josh Markette: Won Second Championship in 2015. Alongside Graham, Markette has been the other face of the Whitecaps organization for their first three years. A sure, future MLU Hall of Famer (if one were to be created), and meant so much to the league as much as the Whitecaps. In championship games no one has been better than Markette, he has a perfect 60/60 completion percentage combined in both championships. This includes witnessing the birth of his child, hours before the 2015 championship then flying to Philadelphia for the game. In the 2013 title game he was the highest scoring player with four goals and six assists. He has finished fifth in the MVP voting twice (2014 & 2015) and is third in assists all-time with 85 while missing this past season. Markette also added the 2015 Offensive Player of the Year Award to his accolades. He still gets the job done with Ironside and in the Club National Championship game he continued his success with two assists. Career stats: 39 goals, 85 assists, 10 blocks, 93.0 percent completion percentage.

Peter Prial: Won second championship with the D.C. Current in 2016. The only MLU player to win a championship with two separate teams. Prial moved to D.C. for graduate school and instantly fit into the Current's system becoming the final pillar to create the championship team. Easily, it was the biggest free agent signing ever on the East Coast. Prial had the longest personal winning streak in league history with 22 games (missing the Current's only loss in 2014) and not losing until May 9th, 2015. He is fourth in goals all time with 77. In the 2013 Championship Game he had three goals, two assists. Career stats: 77 goals, 48 assists, 20 blocks, 89.1 percent completion percentage.

Teddy Browar-Jarus: Won a second championship in 2015 with the Whitecaps. In 2015, he lead the team in the championship game with five assists and added a goal. He also played on Boston Ironside and the US Men’s Beach National Team in 2015, which won gold. Currently Browar-Jarus is under investigation for illegally recording female roommates, here is the latest information from Ultiworld. Career stats: 14 goals, 35 assists, 10 blocks, 85.7 percent completion percentage.

Miles Montgomery-Butler: Won Second Championship in 2015. Montgomery-Butler was a good player on an incredible roster in 2013. As each season progressed, and more of the superstars left the team, Montgomery-Butler developed into a starting offensive handler for the Whitecaps in their second championship season. He is one of the players that has hit the 30-year plateau, and it is uncertain if he aspires to be on another professional ultimate roster. This past summer he did play with Slow White. Career stats: four goals, 18 assists, 10 blocks, 91.4 percent completion percentage.

Danny Clark: Played in 2014 with the Whitecaps in his final season with the team. Still a member of Boston Ironside and was on the 2015 US Mixed Masters National Team that won the gold medal in Dubai. While he still resides in the area and competes at a high level, it does not appear the 35-year-old will be back playing the professional game.

Brent Anderson: Perhaps most famous for this highlight that professional ultimate onto Sportscenter. That however was during his Connecticut Constitution days. Anderson only played his lone MLU season with the Whitecaps. Right now he is still playing in Massachusetts, this past club season he played on the men's team Dark or Light as a captain. Career stats: five goals, 17 assists, three blocks, 87.2 percent completion percentage.

Matt Heath: Won Second Championship in 2015. If there is one player that you would not recognize on this roster, odds are Heath is that guy. In his three year career in Boston he played in only 11 games, and only one playoff game (2015 ECF). Despite these numbers, he is one of the select few ultimate players that has two league championships. Right now he on the 2015 Elite Mixed team, Boston Wild Card. Career stats: two goals, two assists, three blocks, 100 percent completion percentage.

Robin Meyers: A little-known player that led the Whitecaps defense in 2013. Meyers played on 154 defensive lines, the most on the team that season, but only reflected in two blocks. One of those players that coaches love to have. In 2014, he only played in four regular season games before leaving the team altogether in 2015. Meyers rarely turned the disc over when his team was on offense but appears that his pro ultimate days may be behind him. The past two years he has played with the Boston area teams Ironside and Wild Card. Career stats: six goals, eight assists, three blocks, 95.9 percent completion percentage.

Casey Terp: A defensive oriented player that was relatively unknown on the dominant Boston D-line. With only one year of MLU experience for Terp, with solid numbers, it was a surprise to not see him on the roster the past several years. He is still in the Boston area, playing with Wild Card. Career stats: four goals, one assist, one block, 100 percent completion percentage.

Dave Truesdale: Only played in five games in 2013, two were playoff games, but they were quite the performances given his playing time. In 76 points he had one turnover, 37 completions, and scored or assisted in over a tenth of the points he played. No longer on the Whitecaps but currently plays club with Slow White. Career stats: five goals, five assists, one block, 97.4 percent completion percentage.

Chris Waite: A huge factor in the famous Boston D-line in 2013. Saw an ample amount of action as a part of their second defensive unit in his only season. Since 2013 he has not played with the Whitecaps but is still in the Boston area, winning a championship with Slow White. Career stats: four goals, five assists, two blocks, 84.0 percent completion percentage.

Tim Spittle: No mention of Spittle anywhere in stats or MLU records but listed on the 27-man roster for the 2013 season. Last ultimate endeavor was with the now defunct club team, Garuda in 2014.

It was a special season for professional ultimate, whether an MLU fan or an AUDL fan. Boston became the first undefeated champion of either league and pushed the scope of the sport to new heights. There is a special story to every team's championship and this one might be the most impressive.