After missing the entire 2017 season and a portion of 2016 due to a hip injury and a torn PCL, cutter Brad Scott will be back in a DC Breeze uniform for the 2018 season. Scott and 10 other key returning players have been signed so far for the upcoming season.
Scott was huge x-factor for the Breeze in 2015 and 2016, especially whenever the result was in the balance. The team is excited to have him back. All 10 of the other players on the list played key roles for the 2017 Breeze squad that made it to the Eastern Division Final, several of them already having returned from big 2016 roles that got us to the postseason.
This first wave of signings solidifies the return of four O-line starters and three D-line starters. There is a balance of youth and experience, with some players returning to build on their success and others still wanting to prove themselves on an AUDL field after an impressive start to their professional careers in 2017.
Second-year handlers Lloyd Blake and Nathan Prior are two familiar faces who can orchestrate the offense. Together they threw 44 assists for the offensive unit. Additionally, they will have the top two goal scorers from 2017 in Max Cassell (40 goals) and Jeff Wodatch (34 goals) to throw to throughout the season. Wodatch also led the team in his rookie AUDL 2016 season with 45 goals. It was the second most goals ever scored in a single season by a Breeze player. Fourth year veteran cutter Matt Kerrigan is also a key returnee for one of the best offensive units of the league.
Entering his fourth season, Scott will expect to play alongside talented second year playmaker Delrico Johnson on the defensive line. A year ago Johnson had 19 blocks as an AUDL rookie and is certainly heading into 2018 looking for many more. With 31 games played to date resulting in 38 goals, 26 assists and 35 blocks, Scott, 25, will be another key component to an already a talented roster returning from the 2017 squad.
On the same line with Scott and Johnson will be David Shields who played the fifth most defensive points in 2017.
Marcus Thaw is entering his third year in the league, the second with the Breeze after playing for the Pittsburgh Thunderbirds in 2016. Ryan Swift and John Walden both return after their rookie seasons that saw them play 179 and 95 points, respectively.
The 11 players bring 18 seasons of AUDL experience to the table combined, and all are very familiar faces for head coach Darryl Stanley. The team is expected to announce another few players prior to the February 24 Open Tryouts, which will bring the signings to approximately 15 of the 35 or so extended roster spots available for 2018.