Charlotte Hounds facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Charlotte Hounds

Sport	Lacrosse
Founded	2012
Folded	2019
League	Major League Lacrosse
Based in	Charlotte, North Carolina
Stadium	American Legion Memorial Stadium
Colors	Royal Blue, Tan
Head coach	Joe Cummings
General manager	Mike Cerino
Mascot	Blue the Plott Hound
Image:Lacrosse current event.svg Current season

The Charlotte Hounds were a professional field lacrosse team. They played in the Major League Lacrosse (MLL) league. The team started playing in the 2012 MLL season and stopped operations after the 2018 season. Their home games were held at American Legion Memorial Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Team History

How the Hounds Started

In January 2011, the MLL decided to add new teams in Charlotte and Columbus, Ohio. Wade Leaphart was one of the first people hired for the Charlotte team. He helped create the team's look, sell tickets, and manage operations.

The team asked fans to help choose the name. This was done through social media, especially Facebook. First, fans suggested names and locations like Charlotte or Carolina. Fans then voted for "Charlotte" as the location. Next, the team picked six possible names and logo ideas. Fans voted again, narrowing it down to three: Hounds, Legion, and Monarchs. In the final vote, "Hounds" won by just 21 votes over "Legion."

On June 21, 2011, the team was officially named the Charlotte Hounds. Their colors were chosen as royal blue and tan. Later, Mike Cerino was hired as the head coach on September 29, 2011. Assistant coaches J.B. Clarke, Chris Phenicie, and Brad Touma joined the team on February 10, 2012.

First Games and Broadcasts

The Hounds made a special deal on February 7, 2012. WMYT (MyTV12) Charlotte agreed to broadcast 7 of their 14 games. This was the first time a local TV station in the U.S. broadcast MLL games. Radio station WFNZ also aired all home games.

The Charlotte Hounds played their first game on May 12, 2012. They won against the Ohio Machine with a score of 18–15. This exciting game took place at American Legion Memorial Stadium.

2013: A Strong Second Season

The Charlotte Hounds had a great second season in 2013. On August 3, they secured a spot in the playoffs. They beat the Hamilton Nationals 14–11 to make it to the postseason.

In the semifinals on August 24, Charlotte faced the Denver Outlaws. The Outlaws had an amazing perfect season, winning all 14 regular games. But the Hounds surprised everyone, beating Denver 17–14. This was their first playoff win ever and sent them to the championship game.

On August 25, the Hounds played against the Chesapeake Bayhawks for the Steinfeld Cup. It was a very close game, but the Hounds lost 10–9. The Bayhawks won their fifth league championship.

2014-2015: Tough Times

The 2014 season was difficult for the Hounds. They started with only 1 win in their first 5 games. However, on June 7, they once again defeated the Denver Outlaws 18–15 at home. This loss ended Denver's impressive 25-game regular-season winning streak. Charlotte finished the 2014 season with 4 wins and 10 losses. This was their worst record in three years.

Things did not get better in 2015. The Hounds had an even tougher season, winning only 3 games and losing 11. This was the worst record in the league that year.

Road to Recovery and Playoffs

Before the 2016 season, some changes were made. Head coach Mike Cerino became the general manager. Jim Stagnitta was hired as the new head coach. The team started the 2016 season with three home games. They played against the Boston Cannons, Rochester Rattlers, and Florida Launch. The Hounds won all three games, starting the season 3–0 for the first time in their history.

On August 6, the Hounds made an amazing comeback. They were down 11–6 against the Chesapeake Bayhawks but won 15–13. This win helped them reach the playoffs for the second time. It also gave them their first winning record in team history, finishing 8–6. However, their season ended on August 13. They lost 16–10 to the top-seeded Ohio Machine in the semifinals.

2017-2018: Final Seasons

The 2017 season started slowly for the Hounds. They lost their first three games, including two against the defending champion Outlaws. They managed to win five of their next eight games, putting them in the top four. But they couldn't finish the season strong. Charlotte ended 2017 with 6 wins and 8 losses, placing seventh in the league. A highlight was drafting Matt Rambo, who helped the Maryland Terrapins win their first NCAA championship since 1975.

The Hounds began the 2018 season at home against the Boston Cannons. Charlotte had an incredible start, scoring 16 of the first 17 goals. They set many team records in a 25–7 win. These records included most goals in a game and largest win margin. Head coach Jim Stagnitta became the team's all-time winningest coach on June 9. This happened after a 19–13 victory over Atlanta.

Despite the strong start, the Hounds struggled later in the season. Their last "home game" was on June 30 against the Atlanta Blaze. It was played at MUSC Health Stadium in Charleston, South Carolina. They lost that game 16–10. Charlotte played their final game of the season against the Cannons and lost 14–7. The Hounds were eliminated from playoff contention that week. The team stopped operations after the 2018 season.

Season Records

Head Coaches

Award Winners

Coach of the Year

• Jim Stagnitta: 2016

Rookie of the Year

• Joey Sankey: 2015

Most Improved Player

• Mike Chanenchuk: 2016

Draft Picks

First Round Selections

• 2013: Tucker Durkin (Johns Hopkins, 3rd pick); Mike Sawyer (Loyola, 8th pick)
• 2014: Michael Ehrhardt (Maryland, 7th pick)
• 2015: Will Haus (Duke, 3rd pick)
• 2016: Dylan Donahue (Syracuse, 2nd pick); Ryan Brown (Johns Hopkins, 4th pick)
• 2017: Matt Rambo (Maryland, 3rd pick)
• 2018: Connor Fields (Albany, 3rd pick)