Roughnecks ready for NLL draft
With four selections in the top 15, Calgary club looking to get younger
Once the National Lacrosse League draft is done on Monday night, there’s a good chance your Calgary Roughnecks will look much different from the 2014 team.
“We can get two very good players we expect would be able to step into our lineup,” said Riggers GM Mike Board. “That’s the philosophy and the hope right now.”
The NLL draft, set for Monday ( 5 p. m.) at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre, is considered one for the ages and, luckily for the Roughnecks, they have two picks in the first round ( Nos. 4 and 7) and two in the second ( 13th and 15th overall). That should translate nicely from paper to floor.
“I think it’s a draft that has a lot of options in it,” said Board.
“It’s not top- heavy on offensive players, it’s not top- heavy on defensive players. There’s a lot of opportunities for teams to make a choice. This one is really balanced, offensively, defensively, righties and lefties. That’s why GMs and organizations are looking forward to this draft.
“Because of that depth, there will be some debate at all draft tables. You might have two players at different positions and do you take the best player? Then you move onto positional need. There’s three picks in front of us, ( so) when we get to four we’ll take the best player. At that point, we’ll decide which player fits our needs best.”
Already, the Roughnecks will have a bit of a different feel from the 2014 season, which saw them begin 0- 6, then come together to make it to the West Division final.
Free agent forward Daryl Veltman has signed with the Buffalo Bandits, Travis Cornwall inked a deal with Vancouver, Jeff Moleski returned to the Stealth, Sean Pollock hasn’t decided to keep playing and transition player Geoff Snider is exploring other options.
As well, there haven’t been talks with veteran defender and team captain Andrew McBride.
“We’re looking to get young guys to slide in and play,” said Board. “At this point, there’s probably room on the right side and the left side offensively. You always look for topnotch defenders because they’re always at a premium.
“We’re not jumping into anything until we know what we get from the draft. By Wednesday, Thursday next week we’ll have a better idea.”
The top pick goes to the Georgia Swarm, formerly the Minnesota squad that’s now in Atlanta. Georgia has four picks in the first round, which means that team will get better when Tuesday rolls around.
Lyle Thompson, out of the University of Albany, is a possibility to go No. 1, as are Wesley Berg ( Denver), Graeme Hossack ( Lindenwood), Jesse King ( Ohio State) and Randy Staats ( Syracuse).
Board doesn’t believe there is a consensus first pick.
“Certainly Lyle Thompson is a fabulous talent and he can electrify crowds,” he said.
Besides the brand new faces, Calgary also has a handful of recent draft picks who have yet to make an impact, including Tor Reinholdt, Patrick O’Meara and Tyson Roe.
“Everyone focuses on the current draft, but we have some players who are still with us that are chomping at the bit to get in,” said Board. “So we have some depth within the organization, too. As other players depart, it opens up opportunities for some of the younger kids. They’ve hung with us and patiently waited for a chance and we want to give them a good look at training camp.”
The NLL awards ceremony will be held on Tuesday, with Roughnecks’ Shawn Evans up for Most Valuable Player and Wingman of the Year, while sophomore Karsen Leung is vying for Transition Player of the Year.
QUICK STICKS: Evans and Curtis Dickson of the Roughnecks celebrated another world indoor lacrosse championship as they helped Team Canada beat the Iroquois Nationals 12- 8 on Sunday. Dickson scored four times, while Evans notched two tallies as Canada ( 23- 0 all- time in the event) won its fourth- straight title.