Mitch Belisle Announced Retirement from League

After nine storied seasons in the National Lacrosse League, Mitch Belisle has decided to hang up his cleats. Belisle last played for the Georgia Swarm – spending the past five years with the team – and raised the Champion’s Cup this last June.

Belisle was drafted 13^th overall in the 2007 National Lacrosse League Entry Draft by the New York Titans. He then spent three years with the Boston Blazers before joining the Swarm in 2012. His tenacious and energetic playstyle quickly made him a fan-favorite anywhere he played.

A leader and professional on and off the floor, Belisle’s legacy will be that of a stalwart defenseman and a stabilizing member of any team he was on. The seasoned veteran was not only revered for his defensive and playmaking skills, but also his intelligence, determination and work ethic on the floor.

A product of Cornell University, Belisle also represented the United States in international competition and won the 2007 William C. Schmeisser Award, which is given to the NCAA’s most outstanding defenseman in men’s college lacrosse.

Belisle states, “That although I could keep playing, I felt the time was right to retire.” Belisle looks forward to spending more time with his wife and new-born son, as well as focusing on growing the game of box lacrosse in the young ranks across the nation.