Brodie Merrill: Unfinished Business
PHOTO: COLLEEN GRIMES
“For him, it’s all about winning and it’s all about the team.” – Bill Greer
There have been very few that have played alongside as many teammates as Brodie Merrill has over his soon to be 16 seasons in the National Lacrosse League.
Prior to this upcoming 2021/22 NLL campaign, Merrill had played with 227 different teammates during stops in Portland, Edmonton, Philadelphia, Toronto, and like he will do for a third season very shortly, San Diego.
He’s played with four NLL Hall of Famers: Dallas Eliuk, Steve Dietrich, Colin Doyle and Josh Sanderson. He’s played alongside the entire San Diego Seals bench staff: Greer, Sanderson again, and of course, his brother, Pat Merrill.
Of all those players he’s battled beside, 41 have won at least one NLL Cup over their careers. There’ve been former teammates, like Taylor Wray (Calgary ’04), who won the title as a rookie, but never coming close again. Others played for the Cup in their first seasons too, like Kyle Buchanan (Washington ’13), but left empty handed and have yet to return. The HOFers listed previously have won it multiple times, Doyle even garnering Cup MVP honours in three of the six he helped secure. And the Seals’ staff, well, they’ve bagged a combined six between the three of them.
Some have been fortunate enough to be Cup collectors in this league. Others, like Merrill, have had illustrious careers, but could never clinch the NLL Cup. Fortunately for Merrill, who turned 40 earlier this year, he’s not done trying.
Although joining an expansion San Diego squad three seasons ago seemed like an unlikely spot to clinch that first Cup, Merrill is confident in what his brother Pat is building, confident in the Seals players that surround him this season, and confident that he is in the right situation as his career climbs to completion.
The Lax Mag checked in with Merrill on the cusp of arguably the most highly anticipated NLL season to date, for the fans, but likely him too.
TLM: There are only an extremely small handful of players that came into the NLL with anywhere near the same hype, pressure, and lofty expectations you had heaped on you. How difficult was your first NLL season?
Brodie: Yeah, it was interesting. At the time, I felt ready. I was always a late bloomer and didn't really kind of hit my stride until probably my junior year at Georgetown. Maybe being a little bit older, having more experience, and just feeling really confident with kind of where my game was at, I remember not really feeling nervous or feeling too much pressure. I just remember being really excited.
Ending up in Portland, a city I didn’t know, playing for an expansion team, I didn’t know (Head Coach) Derek (Keenan) at all prior to that; so, it was almost like I didn’t know enough about what I was getting myself into, and honestly, was more excited about it all than anything else.
TLM: One of those few players that was drafted with similar hype as you experienced, was Jeff Teat, who’ll be an NLL rookie this year. Do you see any similarities outside of that between you both? Any advice?
Brodie: Sure. Going through four years of college and playing in big games. I think a similar place just mentally, most likely. I'm sure he is just excited to play, right? I think he joins an expansion-like situation, well year two, with the Riptide, but it feels very new in New York with what’s gone on there. Personally, I think it’s an exciting situation to be going into. He's playing a primary role in building a franchise. How can you not be excited about that?
There's not much advice that would get him any more ready than I think he already is. You can see it in him. He's been playing for Team Canada at a young age, which is an invaluable experience. He's played in a lot of high-level college games, obviously had a great rookie year in the PLL, so he's ready to go. I think Jeff Teat is going to be extremely successful in this league.
TLM: Could the NLL ever go back and succeed in a place like Portland?
Brodie: I loved Portland. As I mentioned, I'd never been there before, but fell in love with the city, its culture, everything about it. Portland is just really unique. It's always been a great minor league baseball city. I know the MLS team does really well there, and obviously the Trail Blazers are an institution. In terms of what franchises have really taken off lately, you can definitely see some of that in Portland. It just needed more time.
TLM: You’ve played for a number of high-profile coaches in the NLL and elsewhere over your career. In San Diego, you’re playing for your brother. What’s that dynamic been like?
Brodie: It's probably a more familiar dynamic than you may think. I always kind of see a coach taking on that big brother role in a lot of ways. It feels very natural, and I've always looked up to him. He's been such a significant influence on me. From a very young age, you can see that he had these really unique leadership qualities. And even as far as I can remember when he was playing hockey, he was always kind of the captain on every team that he's been on, and throughout junior lacrosse too. Making that decision to go to San Diego, he was obviously the biggest factor.
It’s already very evident how loyal he is to his players; how protective he is of his players. He’s very strong willed & determined, and you can see those qualities take form in his young coaching career.
TLM: Although you’ve come close, you’ve still not claimed the NLL Cup. Does that frustrate you at all? Motivate you? Would not winning one negatively define your career in any way?
Brodie: It's hard to say. I think about it, for sure, how could I not? It's what everybody plays for and it's what everybody's chasing, year after year. I think there's two sides to it. There's lots that I can be at peace with and feel proud of, but at the same time, it feels like there’s unfinished business to take care of.
Reflecting on it now, there's so much that's kind of circumstances. I started in Portland for an expansion team, and then we folded. I got picked up by Edmonton, who during that time was always in last place and had an expansion vibe when I got there. Then I was traded to Philly, who were kind of in the same situation, right? It was the first year in Toronto where I felt like, wow, this team is legit. We had a veteran group that was built to win, which I hadn’t experienced in the NLL until then. Despite not winning the Cup, it was still one of the best teams I've been a part of in terms of the emotion & connection we experienced battling alongside one another.
I think, like anybody else, I'm chasing that. I’m chasing that feeling. I probably wouldn't still be playing if I wasn't still chasing that to a degree, but in the same breath, there's a lot to be proud of. And I feel, when you kind of take a step back and you have perspective, to be able to play as long as I have in this league, and have all the great experiences & opportunities, it's hard to really have many regrets.
TLM: The Seals this year have a real mix of old & new. What is this team capable of in 2022?
Brodie: We’re young in many ways, and we have some older guys too, but we have a bunch of players who are right in the middle - someone like a Wes Berg, who I think is going to have an outstanding season. I think we have a really good mix of old & young this year.
The expectations are high. I think that we, as Patrick likes to say, and Josh & Billy do too, this is kind of the year we've been building towards. We’re ready to break out.
It's funny to look back on our first year. We were so close. I think we were well positioned to have a good finish to the COVID year too. I think we’ve grown to a point where there’s much more continuity & familiarity in how we operate & work together. You can feel that amongst the core teammates that have been around since the start. There’s no more grace period, so to speak, that you get as an expansion team. We feel pretty good with where we're at.
TLM: You recently turned 40, but certainly don’t look it on the floor. Do you feel old though?
Brodie: I got over a bit of a hump in my 30s, where it's almost a bit of a mindset, where you talk yourself into feeling old. I think it's probably over 32 when you start being considered old, and so you hear it a lot. And it can become something that’s constantly in your head, where you’re questioning yourself. I just realized I had to get over it and not let it bother me. But you have to be realistic. You have to understand that the margins are just much slimmer for an older player. You just have to become more diligent in your preparation & training. You’ve got to adapt.
And if you can do all that, well, then you have the advantage of experience. Then there's certain areas of the game where you have a greater feel for things and that experience will give you more poise.
In the last few years, I've really just tried to focus on speed & athleticism in my training, which allows me to leverage the other areas of the game that come with experience. But sure, I'd be lying to you if I said I didn’t feel it. When you step on the floor, no one cares that you're 40, right? The game doesn't care that you're 40. You have to be ready, both mentally & physically.
TLM: When you’re playing days are behind you, do you have any aspirations of coaching in the NLL?
Brodie: Yeah, for sure. I think, that's always been more of a long-term goal of mine. I love the league; I love the game. I feel like I have a lot of experience. I’ve played for a lot of different coaches in a lot of different situations, both good and bad. I would need to ensure I could dedicate the time needed for coaching though. Some may say the NLL is a part-time league, but it doesn’t take long to realize, whether you’re a player or a coach, this league is a full-time commitment that has to be taken seriously if you want to succeed.
The idea of coaching has crossed my mind, but honestly, I’m just 100% focused on this upcoming season with the Seals. It’s going to be an exciting year.