Making the Leap
In this series, we take a look at players who made a Major League Quidditch (MLQ) roster or practice squad for the first time this summer. We’ll look at players’ strengths and what their skill set would do for an MLQ team from their United States Quidditch (USQ) resume.
Shayla Ashley - Chaser - Boston University
Shayla Ashley was a breakout star for Boston University during the 2019-2020 USQ season, making the Massachusetts Quidditch Conference all rookie team as a chaser and the MLQ Boston roster summer 2020 (after her first year playing Quidditch was cut short by the pandemic). Ashley has a number of strengths, including a great understanding of where to position herself on offense, where to move to get open, and how to create scoring opportunities. One of Ashley’s most unique offensive qualities that will only improve in MLQ is her killer ability to make shots. This skill aided Boston University consistently on offense and will undoubtedly open up the field for whichever MLQ team she plays for, considering the increased distance between hoops. On defense, Shayla’s an active defender who demonstrates the ability to track the quaffle and cover during a mark defense will increase her defensive tackling as she masters two-armed tackling. To maximize her effectiveness, leadership should take advantage of her ability to move through the space she finds in opposing defenses, and give her a chance to be a scoring machine as she starts her first summer season on the MLQ pitch.
Thomas DeMouth - Beater - University of Vermont
Thomas DeMouth is a beater who hopes to make his playing Major League Quidditch debut this summer. During his last season playing (2019-2020 USQ season) DeMouth helped lead the University of Vermont to a successful promotion to the Division 1 ranks of the Massachusetts Quidditch Conference (MQC). One of UVM’s key players, DeMouth was recognized by the MQC with the award of MQC D2 player of the year. Never afraid to throw, DeMouth remained ready to initiate key defensive plays, often slowing down opposing offenses or shutting down drives altogether. Plays like these helped UVM end their season having given up two fewer goals than the national average. DeMouth was similarly proactive on offense, creating space and opening up no bludger opportunities for his chasers to take advantage of. For the 2019-2020 season, he led the MQC with 6 quaffle turnovers forced a game, opening up key opportunities for his team. For bludger turnovers, he averaged 3 turnovers a game, stemming from his willingness to engage in beater battles, winning them decisively with his long range snipes and ability to make tough catches.
CJ Carter - Keeper - University of Vermont (UVM)
Also making the leap to the MLQ this summer will be DeMouth’s UVM teammate, keeper CJ Carter. One of MQC’s lead scorers averaging 2.5 goals a game, Carter is a physical player who forces his way to the hoops through contact heavy drives and dunks. This was a staple of UVM’s offense in the 2019-2020 USQ season and should be something that translates to the MLQ style of play well due to CJ’s size. When he threatens a drive to the hoops, defenses often overcommit to him creating space for his teammates, a fact that he wisely takes advantage of by passing the ball off to open teammates. This size and play should benefit his MLQ team by creating spacing advantages for his team when he is on offense with the ball in his hands. If Carter is able to play with an effective beater pair or advanced wing chasers, it will be a combo that is hard to deal with.
Conclusion
All three of these players are ready to play in MLQ and make an impact right away. Each has a unique skill set which any MLQ team or observer should be eager to see in the league.
