Trade: Swarm Sends Suitor To Black Wolves For White

The Minnesota Swarm and New England Black Wolves have announced a trade with Minnesota sending transition player Andrew Suitor to New England in exchange for transition player Joel White and a second-round selection in the 2017 NLL Draft. The trade features a rare swap of team captains.

Suitor, 25, spent four-plus seasons with the Swarm, and was named the team’s captain in 2012. Over his career with Minnesota, the Orangeville, Ontario native appeared in 64 games and totaled 75 points (42+33), 428 loose balls and 87 forced turnovers. In 2012, Suitor was named the NLL Transition Player of the Year after posting career-highs in points (26), goals (15), assists (11) and loose balls (120).

“We’ve always talked about a key component – a will to win,” said Black Wolves head coach Blane Harrison. “Andrew Suitor is that component. He plays to win every game and we want to bring that into the locker room.”

Minnesota selected the 5-foot-11, 190-pound, righty transition player in the first round (fourth overall) of the 2010 NLL Draft. Suitor was a member of the 2011 NLL All-Rookie Team as well as the 2012 NLL All-Pro First Team.

“I’d like to thank Andrew for all of his contributions over the years both on and off the field,” said Swarm owner and governor John Arlotta. “Moves like these are never easy to make, but our record the past two seasons has not met the expectations of our organization. We’re excited to add Joel White to the Swarm organization; Joel is a talented, young player who has great leadership skills and has shown improvement during each of his four seasons in the NLL.”

White, 25, served as New England’s captain this season and is in the midst of his fourth year in the NLL. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound, righty transition player led the Black Wolves with 117 loose balls this season, which ranks fourth in the league. He also ranked first on the team with 16 forced turnovers. The Syracuse University product has excelled on the offensive end as well in 2015, registering a personal-best seven goals to go along with three assists in 10 games. The Cortland, N.Y. native has notched 29 points (10+19), 366 loose balls, and 54 forced turnovers in 49 career games. White originally started his career with Rochester in 2011, and was selected in the second round (10th overall) by the Knighthawks.

“We hate to lose an individual like Joel,” Harrison said. “He is a tremendous individual and phenomenal talent and in this case, we had to give up talent to get talent. We wish Joel the best of luck.”

The two teams will meet again this weekend in Week 14 with Minnesota hosting New England at Xcel Energy Center on Friday at 8:30 p.m. ET.