❌ AMENT RULED OUT FOR WEEK 2

The Archers face a familiar predicament in Week 2.

Star attackman Grant Ament (left hamstring) has been ruled out for tonight’s game against Chrome. Ament dealt with a left hamstring injury last year, too, although Archers beat writer Zach Carey reports that this injury “doesn’t appear to be as severe” as the one that cost him multiple games in 2022.

Last year, TLN documented Ament’s injury and grueling rehab in “The Get Back,” which you can watch here:

Ament had a goal and two assists in last week’s win over the Cannons. One of those assists was to former Penn State teammate Mac O’Keefe, who joined the Archers in free agency this offseason. Many fans are rooting for a rekindling of that connection, but those hopes are put on hold with Ament on the sideline.

In 2022, the Archers had veterans Marcus Holman and Will Manny to lean on in Ament’s absence. Holman is now with the Cannons and Manny is with the Whipsnakes, so the pressure is on Connor Fields and company to keep the attack afloat until Ament’s return.

Ament was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 PLL Draft and won Attackman of the Year in 2021. Now, for the second straight season, one of the best players in the league is missing time with a hamstring injury.

🐶 Waterdogs Turn To Rookie at FO

The Waterdogs escaped with an overtime win over Chaos last week, but it was clear that the team needed a change at the face-off dot. Second-year pro Zac Tucci went 4-for-14 (29%), forcing midfielder Zach Currier (1-for-3) and LSM Ryland Rees (0-for-1) into some reps down the stretch.

Enter Mr. Irrelevant.

James Reilly, the last pick (Round 4, No. 32 overall) in the 2023 PLL Draft, was told that he will start at face-off against the Redwoods tonight, according to Waterdogs beat writer Wyatt Miller.

Reilly faces a tough first test in Redwoods FO athlete TD Ierlan, who has a 58% win rate for his career and went 10-for-26 (with a goal) against reigning league MVP Trevor Baptiste last week.

Reilly took over 1,600 face-offs at Georgetown from 2019-2023 and finished his career with a .571 FO%.

🐍 Whips in Unusual Position at 0-1

For the first time in the history of their existence, the Whipsnakes have an 0-1 record after losing to Chrome by one goal last weekend.

The Whips won the first two PLL Championships and appeared in the third, before going 9-1 last season and falling to the Waterdogs by a goal in the Semifinals. Is this year’s 0-1 start a sign that their window is starting to close?

The good news for the Whips is they play another 0-1 team this week in Atlas, who have never defeated the Whipsnakes in PLL history. That game will air on ABC on Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. ET.

The Whipsnakes may need more out of former league MVP Matt Rambo this weekend. Although he had a team-high three assists in the loss to Chrome, he was held without a goal on just one shot.

📺 PLL Broadcast Information

Here’s the full slate for this weekend in Charlotte, N.C. (all times Eastern):

Friday, June 9
6 p.m. — Chrome vs. Archers (ESPN+)
8:30 p.m. — Waterdogs vs. Redwoods (ESPN+)

Saturday, June 10
3 p.m. — Whipsnakes vs. Atlas (ABC)
5:30 p.m. — Chaos vs. Cannons (ESPN+)