NLL.com - The Official Home of the National Lacrosse League

CATCHING UP WITH BRODIE & PAT MERRILL

Merrill brothers are never far from the game

10/12/2009

Catching up with Brodie and Patrick Merrill

Copy by Neil Stevens

The lives of brothers Brodie and Patrick Merrill revolve around lacrosse. The Merrill's teach the nuances of the game at The Hill Academy, a school that attracts top teen student-athletes to its facilities just north of Toronto, and they play at the elite level.
They were among 55 hopefuls who recently tried out for the team that will represent Canada in the world field lacrosse championship in Manchester, England, next July.
For most of the year, the Merrill brothers are all over the map.
During the winter, Brodie, 28, plays transition for the Edmonton Rush and Patrick, 30, is a defenseman for the Orlando Titans. While Brodie has won more individual awards than Patrick, Patrick is up 2-0 in NLL titles after being part of two Toronto Rock championship teams.
``That hasn't come up but I'm sure that if push came to shove he'd go back to those,'' the six-foot-four younger brother replies when asked about sibling rivalry. ``But he's been a player who's had a lot of success in the sport. He's a great leader and a great character player. He's a guy you hate playing against but, you listen to what guys who've played with him say, he's a guy you want on your team.''
While they've won various championships as teammates, one thing the Merrills have yet to do is play together on Canada's world team. Patrick was at the 2006 world title game in London to watch Brodie help Canada win it all.
``I made it to the final camp last time,'' says Patrick Merrill. ``For me, this is really my last kick at the can to try and make Team Canada.
They'll never get rich playing lacrosse, and that's okay.
``It's a huge part of my life,'' says Brodie Merrill. `` I coach kids at The Hill and I just love playing the game.
``I've got a great deal of passion for it. There's a relatively small window to play the game so, while I'm healthy and able to, I'll pursue it. I feel fortunate that I'm able to do something I love to do. The salaries are not what you see in other pro sports but lacrosse is growing and has a great future. I'm making a decent living pursuing something I love and I couldn't ask for more.
``Any athlete would tell you, regardless of the pay, they play for the love of the game and it's no different in lacrosse. I'd take the same approach if I played in the NBA or the NHL.''

They have the distinction of being the only two brothers to both be drafted first overall in the NLL Entry Draft.