Players to Watch: Week 6
After the season’s mid-summer break, MLQ is back in action with two exciting matchups. We open Saturday with our Series of the Week in Michigan, where the Detroit Innovators are taking on the Chicago Prowl. Last season the series came down to a game three to determine who would eventually win the division. In the East, the Charlotte Aviators are heading up the coast to take on the New York Titans. The Aviators are carrying momentum having just beat the Washington Admirals in a thriller. Meanwhile the Titans look to wrap up the division with a series win. With four teams playing this weekend, here are some players to watch.
Detroit Innovators: Neil Peterson (#64)
Since the move to Chicago, the Prowl have been able to catch against all their divisional opponents, except the Detroit Innovators. Last season, seeker Neil Peterson took away two of the opportunities to break this streak. In 2024, he caught in games one and two against Chicago, and ended up finishing tied for second in catches league-wide. Peterson now makes his 2025 debut this weekend in Detroit’s first home series of the year. Look for Peterson’s impact to be felt after twenty minutes.
Chicago Prowl: Nojus Ausra (#16)
Nojus Ausra has become a centerpiece for the Chicago Prowl beaters over the past couple seasons. Last summer they stepped up in a major way for the Prowl beaters against the Detroit Innovators. Ausra led the series with a plus/minus of +14, and led the Chicago beaters with five stops. They were also one of two beaters in the series to record an average dodgeballs greater than 1.5. Also look for them to add to the Prowl’s seeking game and challenge this talented Innovator seeker squad. Ausra has yet to play this summer and their impact will be felt immediately on Saturday when they take on Detroit.
New York Titans: Annika Kim (#1)
Annika Kim has solidified herself as a vital part of the Titans offense this summer. Against the Boston Forge, Kim’s well timed cuts and excellent finishes at the hoops provided a major swing in momentum that ultimately led the Titans to take game one and later the series. She was one of the Titans top five scorers in the series and came up with a pair of key stops in a defensive battle between two powerhouse teams. Coming off one of her best performances of the season, expect Kim to build off her success and continue to be a critical piece of this strong Titans machine.
Charlotte Aviators: Zachary Thompson (#73)
For the Charlotte Aviators to carry their momentum to New York, Zachary Thompson will need to continue his stellar play. Against the Washington Admirals, Thompson had arguably his best performance since he’s been in the league. He put up 90 points and six assists, both career highs since his time in Charlotte. He also led the Aviator chasers on defense with five stops across the series. This weekend Thompson faces his toughest test, but will still make an impact against the division favorites. Last summer, he led the Aviator chasers in stops and tied for goals against the Titans. Expect him to play a leading role once again.