Know Your Nationals - Mike Poppleton

Mike Poppleton has established himself as the top faceoff man on the Hamilton Nationals this season. The former 34th overall pick out of Johns Hopkins University has played in nine games for the Nationals this season. He made his debut on June 1st against the Chesapeake Bayhawks, and scored his first MLL goal the following week against the New York Lizards. On Saturday, August 10^th, he broke the team record for faceoff wins in a game, after winning 24 against the Denver Outlaws. Nationals Digital Media Coordinator had the chance to sit down with Mike to talk about his lacrosse career.

Becca Luden: So how did you get into lacrosse?

Mike Poppleton: I first got into lacrosse in sixth grade. It was probably around fifth grade when my dad just bought a lacrosse stick. I think he just went to Dicks Sporting Goods and I think it was actually a woman’s lacrosse stick. He bought one or two, and at that time, my brother and I we were playing baseball. We went in the backyard and messed around with these sticks. It wasn’t until seventh grade when I was tired of staying out in the outfield that I decided to make the switch from baseball to lacrosse.

BL: What is your greatest accomplishment in Lacrosse?

MP: Probably playing for a program like Johns Hopkins. I was fortunate enough to have a really good high school career and I was able to commit and play lacrosse at Hopkins after my junior year. It was an awesome feeling. I loved the campus, I loved the school and I loved Coach “Petro” (Dave Pietramala). Just to play at a school, with so much tradition and so many great players, was definitely my greatest accomplishment and that’s what I love about it.

BL: Awesome. So who is your athletic motivation?

MP: I would probably just say my dad. He’s always motivated me in terms of work ethic and to do well in school, and to always put in your best effort. He instilled in me the competitiveness. It always helps growing up with an older brother to play games with and try and beat one another. So it’s between my family, my dad and my brother. They are definitely the two that made me who I am today.

BL: So are you guys still really close then?

MP: Yeah, my brother is three years older than me. He never played lacrosse. He played baseball and hockey growing up. I played hockey also. Everything from ping pong to shooting basketballs outside to you name it. We were competitive and it definitely helped out. You can see it translate over to the lacrosse field.

BL: That’s always a good thing to have …So do you have any weird superstitions?

MP: I don’t do anything weird. I do something like if I tape my stick a certain way or if I eat something before a game. I usually have a good game or if I have a good game I’ll always do it the next time too. So I’m superstitious that way, but I’m not tying my right shoe first before my left shoe or anything like that I’m not that superstitious.

BL: Haha. Alright, so then how do you prepare for a game?

MP: Usually just try to relax, try to get mentally prepared. For faceoffs you have to be calm and relaxed because if you’re too amped up before a draw, I’ve come to realize, that it never ends very well. So obviously stay away from all the energy drinks and stuff that makes you real nervous. You know that gets you real fidgety. You just have to be relaxed. Usually it’s just getting your mind right. Getting stretched out properly and then going out there and doing it. So, it’s not too much preparation.

BL: What is a song on your iPod that you wouldn’t want people to know about?

MP: Let me think about that. I would have to say just faceoff whistles. If you asked me like four years ago, I could give you a song. Ever since my laptop got stolen in my sophomore year, I don’t have any music on my iPod. I only have Pandora. So Pandora is my go to. Which station would I be embarrassed about? I have Michael Buble station. When I get lonely, I’ll listen to that. But that’s probably the most embarrassing station I would have on my Pandora.  I’m proud of it though.

BL:  Haha. As long as you’re proud of it! What’s your favorite movie?

MP: You know any movie that Denzel Washington is in? “Man on Fire”, “American Gangster”. You know I’m just a big fan of Denzel Washington. I just love and enjoy any movie that he’s in, so any movie that he’s in it’s got my attention.

BL: Alright, good choices. So what Ninja Turtle are you most like?

MP: That’s tough, which one is the one that eats a lot.

BL: Michelangelo

MP: He’s the orange one. Alright, so I need to go back and watch the “Ninja Turtle” episodes. I’d definitely say Michelangelo then. I’m always hungry and in the mood to eat. So, you know he’s my guy.

BL: Good choice. What social media network do you use the most?

MP: I would say Instagram. I just got an account probably half a year ago and I’ve always been a picture guy. I go on Facebook for pictures. I’ll go on Twitter for pictures for the most part. A picture’s worth a thousand words. I think that’s how the saying goes. I like pictures, so Instagram is right up my alley. I try and follow as many people as I know to get as many pictures as I can.

Know Your Nationals - Garrett Thul

Garrett Thul, the West Point product, was drafted in the third round by the Hamilton National. Thul had a career high night against the Boston Cannons on July 27^th, collecting six points from his five goals. This season, he has 13 points (10+3+0) in just five games. He made his MLL debut in Denver on June 8th, putting in three goals against the Outlaws. Hamilton Nationals Digital Media Coordinator Becca Luden had a chance to sit down with Garrett and talk about his lacrosse career.

How did you get started in lacrosse?

Actually I had a mentor. He’s 10 years older than I and is my dad’s brother’s son. He ended up going to West Point and was captain of the lacrosse team. He got me into lacrosse and I started playing when I was in second grade in a program for third and fourth graders. So, I started pretty early I guess. It was mostly because of the guy that I like idolized.

Did you play any sports other than lacrosse?

I played football for a little bit.

What has been your greatest accomplishment in your lacrosse career?

I’d say from a team perspective, beating Navy five times in my career. I never lost to Navy when I was at Army. My class, my senior class, is the only class in West Point lacrosse history to go undefeated against Navy.

How do you prepare for a game, do you have any weird superstitions at all?

I always do the same eye black on my face. It’s really the only thing that I can think of. I used to have a bunch of superstitions when I was younger, but they take too much energy so I just kind of do whatever.

What is your favorite part about coming to Canada?

It’s gotta be the postgame poutine.

So is there like no poutine in the States?

I’ve heard of poutine before, but I don’t know a single place in the States that sells poutine. I think I’m just going to open up a poutine stand in New Jersey or New York.

If you had a super power which one would it be and why?

That’s a good question. I don’t know if I really ever thought about that before. I’m probably going to go with the typical meat head response and go super strength. You could lift anything and knock anything down that’d be pretty badass.

Haha. That would definitely be pretty awesome. So what song is on your I-pod that you wouldn’t want people to know about?

I love all sorts of like really corny 90’s pop music. Like, it’s the best. I have SirusXM and I always have it on 99.9 and jamming to Hanson and I don’t even remember the names of half the bands, but they’re boy band songs.

So NSYNC or Backstreet Boys?

I’m going to have to go with NSYNC on that one.

What celebrity do people tell you that you look like the most?

I don’t know the actors name, but Cameron from "Ferris Bueller's Day Off".

Oh yah, I can see that for sure.

Yeah, I just don’t have a Detroit Red Wings jersey to make it perfect.

What is your favorite Disney movie?

I was just looking through my video cabinet and I saw a ton of them. But you can’t really go wrong with “Aladdin” or “Lion King”.

So how many Disney movies do you have?

Well, I have the standard collection; I have a sister so we’ve got like all of them

So you just blame your sister?

I’ll fess up to about half of them. I don’t know the exact number of how many though.

If you were to go on the show the “Amazing Race”, who from the team would you want to be your partner, and why?

That’s tough. Everybody’s got some good qualities for that. I’d probably have to go with Durkin.

Why?

He’s just an animal. I think we would tear it up. Two big meat sticks destroying everyone else.

Yah, I think you guys could probably win.

I think we would definitely win.

Hamilton Nationals - Q&A with Joe Walters

Joe Walters has been playing for the Hamilton Nationals for the past three years, and was recently named to the MLL All Star game. Joe Walters is the all time leader in assists, points, and goals for the Nationals. The past two weeks he has played a huge role for the Nationals leading in points 2 out of the three games. I had a chance to sit down with Joe and talk about his lacrosse career.

B: How did you get started in lacrosse?

J: I played basketball and I used to wrestle. One of my friends during the wrestling season asked what I was doing in the spring. And I was 8 years old so obviously nothing. He said I should come play lacrosse. Our parents talked and I went out for lacrosse and I loved it.

B: So what’s been your greatest accomplishment in lacrosse?

J: I guess just being fortunate enough to win championships at the professional level. I think sometimes you take it for granted. I came into the MLL in 2006, won in 2008 with the Rattlers and then with our team the year after (in Toronto). There are some guys that play that don’t have that feeling. So I think just winning championship has been the greatest part of my career. I mean that’s the reason you play. I’m just fortunate to be on great teams and play alongside great players.

I think the overall best and most memorable moment of my lacrosse career was winning the first Knighthawks championship last year. Winning the World Championship in 2012 with the Knighthawks is definitely the most meaningful. I’ve told this story a few times. I’ve played a bunch of big games with college and high school programs and pro championships and I’ve never cried after winning. And last year was the first time that I cried after winning. I think it was just for me picking up the indoor game has been a big challenge and it took three years to finally realize that I was going to have to play during the summer and try and improve my box game. I played with Brampton and we ended up winning a Cup and that really helped to go into 2012 with a fresh attitude. I really felt like I belonged and that’s really why I cried, just knowing how much effort and how much work I had to put into my indoor game. So, I think that’s kind of the main experience and most memorable out of my lacrosse career.

B: That’s a fantastic story, what advantage do you think that you get from playing both box and field?

J: I think it helps. I think it’s the way that lacrosse is going. Coaches in the states, especially at the top level, are looking for players that are multi-dimensional. You’re finding more and more in Canada going down to the states to play in college so I think that’s where the sport is headed. The skills in box lacrosse really help you in outdoor. You learn basic overall toughness, the two-man game, just being able to handle the ball in tight corners and being able to see the floor. Those really help your field game. Not only does playing with the Knighthawks help with the summer league, as far as skills, but you also have a stick in your hand all year round. You know it can be tough if you’re not playing all winter to start practicing and to start getting ready for the summer league without playing. That can be tough. Playing all winter and having the stick in your hands is an added bonus.


B: Who is your athletic motivation?

J: Clearly there’s my favorite athlete, but my father is definitely who really motivates me. My dad didn’t play lacrosse, but he’s probably my biggest lacrosse hero. He’s very hands on, went to every lacrosse camp and took me to a ton of lacrosse camps to get better and try and learn from the best. He was always there and traveled with me. He didn’t just drop me off, he stayed and took notes and tried to learn the game. So that when we were at home we could work on those skills together. Besides that the overall motivation that he gave me, he didn’t let me just sit around and hang out with my friends throughout middle school and high school, he encouraged me and made me to shoot around outside in the backyard and lift weights. Without him, I definitely wouldn’t be where I am today.

B: Are you guys still really close?

J: Oh yah. He’s defiantly one of my best friends. He is my best friend.

B: It’s good to still have that strong relationship:
J: He’s never missed a game. I mean he’s missed a couple because of work or if it’s somewhere really far that he might not be able to make it. He’s coming to Florida this weekend. He hasn’t missed many games, I could probably count on one hand how many games he’s missed through out my lacrosse career.

B: So you do a lot with the schools and talking to kids. What’s really the main message that you try and get across?

J: If I’m just talking to kids, I think the main message is that you have to work hard. Nothing in life is going to be easy and I look at my indoor career and give that example. I grew up playing lacrosse and I was pretty good at it and I excelled at the field game. I assumed the indoor game would be a cakewalk and I’d be good at it. But I realized that it was a completely different game and it took me a couple years to realize that I could either quit, which I thought about, or work hard and try to learn the game. I think that’s the overall lesson in life. Nothing in life is easy. If you want to excel at something it’s going to take hard work and being dedicated. If you put forth the effort, you will see results. Whether it’s your schoolwork, science project or math homework, the more you practice it, and the more effort you put into it, the better you’re going to get at it.

B: You just recently won the Elliot Cushing award on Tuesday, so just what are your thoughts on winning that?
J: I didn’t have to do a speech, but if I were to give a speech what I was going to say was that lacrosse has taken me to so many places and it’s been a huge part of my life. I’ve been able to travel to camps all over the place and I’ve gotten to play lacrosse in Canada, Rome and Hawaii. I’ve been all over the country and the world teaching the sport. Lacrosse is the fastest growing sport in our country and I think that’s really cool to say. Our sport is growing every year and it’s not declining. I think it’s important, and with my experience, it’s something I love to do and it’s a sport that’s taken me places. It’s really been my goal to be a leader and continue that trend and keep lacrosse growing. Hopefully, one day it can become a big time mainstream sport like it should be.

B: How do you prepare for a game? Do you have any weird superstitions?
J: Over the past bunch of years, I like to take a little nap. I don’t like to sleep too much, but I feel like if I don’t take a nap it’ll be in the back of my head so I try to lay down for a little bit. I’m not particular with food, but this goes back to when I was at Maryland, I like to have a diet Pepsi or a diet Coke throughout the day. I guess that’s my only quirky thing.

B: If you could have any superpower what would it be?

J: I’d love to be able to be in two places at once. The reason is that there are so many things to do and just a limited amount of time. Sometimes you’re so busy playing games and traveling, you just want to be home too. So there are a lot of things going on and we’re so busy that it’d be nice to be in two places at once.

B: What’s a song on your iPod you wouldn’t want people to know about?
J: I guess it’s kind of from last year but “Call Me Maybe.”

B: What’s something that you wish you had more time to do?
J: Travel. I love to travel and explore new places. I think that there are so many cool places to visit. I try and travel as much as I possibly can, but it’s something I wish I could do more of.

B: Where’s one place that you want to go that you haven’t been?
J: I plan on going, but I’d like to go to Vietnam. My mother is from Vietnam and met my father during the Vietnam War. She has not retuned since she’s been over here, so it’s been a long time. My goal is to go to Vietnam with my mother because I know it means a lot to her. To go back and see where’s she’s from…so it’s kind of No. 1 on my list.

B: What do you do in your spare time outside of work?
J: Well, I like to travel so if there’s any opportunity where I can take a little trip I like to do that. Besides that, I like to shop, shopping. I just like relaxing.

B: What is your favorite pair of sneakers in your collection?

J: I haven’t even worn them yet. They’re from 2001, Nike Air Jordan ones. B: Do you have a lot of shoes?
J: Yeah, I have a lot. I used to collect, but I don’t collect anymore. I collected rare and exclusive sneakers. I plan on wearing them soon.

Hamilton Nationals - Q&A with Kevin Crowley

Kevin Crowley was first overall draft pick in both the NLL and MLL drafts, and is in his second year as a National. 

This season Kevin Crowley has set a career high for goals against the Ohio Machine with 5, and then tied it with 5 goals against the NY Lizards. In the Home Opener on May 11th Crowley scored the game winning goal against the Lizards with just four seconds left in the contest. 

Not only does Crowley currently lead the MLL in both points and goals with 32 points nad 23 goals but he has also set a new record for the Nationals game point streak at 22 games. Nationals Digital Media Coordinator Becca Luden had the opportunity to chat with Crowley about his lacrosse career.

Becca Luden: How did you get started in lacrosse?

Kevin Crowley: My grandpa was a lacrosse player and he put a stick in my hand when I was probably 2 or 3 years old. I didn’t start playing organized sports until I was 5 , and that was organized lacrosse.

BL: Did you play any other sports as well, or were you strictly lacrosse?

KC: I played Hockey, I dabbled in Basketball, played a little bit of golf but mainly hockey and lacrosse. 

BL: Oh Nice.. So what has been your greatest accomplishment so far?

KC: Uh , geeze I think uh, going first overall in both drafts was probably my biggest accomplishment. I wish I had more of a team oriented one but I haven’t really won any big championships.

BL: And Who is your athletic Motivation ?

KC: Geeze, that’s a good one. I’d have to say Michael Jordan. The way that he’s conducted himself as a professional and his work ethic as admirable, it’s something I strive to copy.

BL: He’s definitely a great athlete. I know there are some athletes that have superstitions and weird pre game rituals or routines so what do you do to prepare for a game?

KC: I don’t really have any weird superstitions or anything like that. Normally it’s just the shoot around, lunch and then I have a big nap and then head to the game and eat something late. That’s really my pre game ritual I don’t really have any superstitions.  What are some of the other ones you’ve heard?

BL: Well some are just like certain meals or certain games or songs before a game.

KC: In Lacrosse it’s too hard to have a regimentied you have to eat this because of the way flights and stuff like that go. If you’re a very superstitious person like that chances are you’re going to get thrown off easily when it comes time to play, you know what I’m saying?

BL: Yah, for sure! So what are some of the songs on your Ipod that you wouldn’t tell anyone about?

KC: Uhhhh , Backstreet Boys. All three of their CD’s well they got more than that but I have three of their CD’s.

BL: What three do you have?

KC: Oh I don’t even know the names on them.

BL: Do you have a favourite song?

KC: Uh, What’s the one , oh boy sitting in the airport right now.. uhm I want it that way.

BL: Oh yah I deffinitly know that one. If you won the lottery what would be the first thing you would do?

KC: Take care of my family.

BL: So I take it you’re really Family orientated?

KC: No I hate them. Yeah no, I love them I’m a really family oriented person. Probably because I don’t get to see them a lot I’m not home all that much. So I’d have to take care of them.

BL: Aww, thats so nice. What was your favourite show when you were younger?

KC: Oh, I feel like I’d have to ask my mom on this one. Captain planet … I was a big captain planet fan.I couldn’t even tell you what it was about … probably saving the planet. I just had an action figure.

BL: Did you have captain planet sheets to go with it too?

KC: ahhh no , I was a Goosebumps fan too,  I had those sheets. And Ducktail set of sheets too.

BL: hahah, nice! So what’s your favorite book right now?

KC: Well Coach Hunts is making us read The Gold Standard by Coach K, and I’m enjoying that right now.

Hamilton Nationals - Q&A with Tucker Durkin

Tucker Durkin made his MLL debut on May 17^th with the Nationals against the Charlotte Hounds at Ron Joyce Stadium. Durkin played all four years of his College career at Johns Hopkins, and started in every game. In 2012 he was awarded the William C Schmeisser Award as the nation’s top defenseman, and was first team all American. Durkin was awarded the top defensive player again in 2013 and is the eighth player in college lacrosse history to win it twice.  Durkin was originally drafted to the Hounds (3^rd overall) and then later traded to the Nationals.

Becca Luden: How did you get into lacrosse?
Tucker Durkin: I started playing when I was in like fourth grade and I actually played baseball originally like as a kid growing up. My best friend Mike and my older brothers were all lacrosse players and I kinda wanted to play baseball but they made me switch and every since then I kinda ell in love with the sport. 

BL:  What have been your greatest accomplishments?
TD: Uhm, greatest accomplishment was probably playing for Johns Hopkins and getting recruited there. Just having the opportunity to play for that program for four years and uh under coach Petro and uh just the whole experience at Hopkins. Id say is my greatest accomplishment, being able to play there.

BL: So who is your athletic motivation?
TD: My athletic motivation , wow. Uhm I gotta think about this one. Uhm, like a person? Obviously.Well in high school one of my high school coaches was a denfensiman , Tony Resh and hes regarded as one of the best defenceman ever, best lacrosse defenceman ever and I kind of always you know looked up to him and respected him as a player and a coach and when I got serious in lacrosse starting in high school uhm so im gonna have to go with him.

BL: Superman or Batman?
TD: Im gonna have to go with Batman.
BL: Really ? Why ? 
TD: Yah I’m gonna go with batman because uhm, I just like his stealth image that he has that superman doesn’t have. Batman’s really mysterious and I really like that about him.
BL: Which ones your favourite one?
TD: uhh, the one with heath ledger whatever one that is. That might have been two times ago.

BL: Yeah , I think so .. What’s your favourite holiday and why?
TD: Uhm , Im gonna have to go Christmas just cause uhm, normally a lot of family comes in and its good to see family and friends. Christmas is kinda like the whole month of cdecember where the other holidays really last like a day or two. So it’s like a season and I kinda like that about it.

BL: And what is a song on your ipod that you wouldn’t want people to know about?
TD: uhm, wouldn’t want people to know about. Whats that song I love it that just came out?
BL: oh yah that’s a pretty good song, its really catchy I didn’t like it at first tho
TD: yah no im pretty much singing it all the time after I hear it. 

BL: Haha Same.. Justin beiber or one direction?
TD: oh my God. Uhm, im gonna go with beiber even though im not a huge fan of either. I do respect them, after I watched the beiber movie, I have a little more respect for him so im gonna say beiber.
BL: So you watched the Justin beiber movie?
TD: yeah I did watch 
BL: were you forced?
TD: yah .. I mean I didn’t watch it alone. 

BL: haha , What is your biggest pet peeve?
TD: My biggest pet peeve … probably be when like I see or hear about the amount of little kids playing video games and not being outside and doing outdoors type activities. I feel like video games should be illegal.