Killen top prospect for Mammoth
Hopes to make good impression at training camp, cracklineup
From the first time he picked up a lacrosse stick, Kyle Killen dreamed of playing professional lacrosse.
The Peterborough minor lacrosse product is one training camp away from realizing that dream with the National Lacrosse League’s Colorado Mammoth.
The NLL club announced on Wednesday they’ve signed Killen to a two-year agreement. Those agreements are not guaranteed so Killen still has to secure a roster spot when camp opens next month.
But, as the Mammoth’s first choice in last month’s draft in the second round, Colorado did not own a first-round pick, Killen is their top prospect heading into camp.
Being a Peterborough native and a former junior A Lakers assistant coach, Mammoth GM Dan Carey knows Killen well and described him as a dynamic offensive player.
“The way we look at the draft is any chance we get to add more competition to what we currently have is best for us,” Carey said.
“Kyle is going to do that. He’s going to come in and fight for a spot on the team and push other guys. He’s a quick player who has a good shot and has some good touch inside. We had the 22nd pick overall and we had him ranked a little bit higher.
“Our decision was to go with who we thought was the best available player at that time and a guy who could potentially fight for a spot.
“He’s a good kid who has scored a lot of goals in his life and we need to score more goals.”
Jeremy Noble, Stephen Keogh and Jacob Ruest are established right-handed shots up front and Killen will battle Ryan Lee and Mike Triolo for a spot.
“There is some competition there and that’s what we’re looking for,” Carey said.
“It’s the first step in the process,” Killen said, of reaching an agreement with the Mammoth.
“I’m just looking forward to getting down to camp and earning my spot and working hard. They told me they know what I can do and there is a big opportunity ahead for me.
“It was an unreal feeling hearing my name called. It was pretty surreal. To be their first pick means a lot to me.”
Killen was a standout midfielder at the Rochester Institute of Technology where he’s currently finishing up his studies. In his final year of NCAA eligibility last season he played in all 23 games finishing third on the team in scoring with 55 points on 32 goals and 23 assists. He received USILA Honourable Mention All-American honours.
Killen was protected by the Century 21 Lakers in the 2017 Major Series Lacrosse Draft but was traded to the Cobourg Kodiaks in a deal that brought Corey Small to Peterborough.
“In his rookie MSL season, Killen led the Kodiaks in scoring and finished 16th in the league with 35 points on 15 goals and 20 assists in 13 games.
The silver lining to be dealt to Cobourg is he got a greater opportunity to play and showcase himself to scouts than he was likely to get with the Lakers.
“Obviously, being a lacrosse kid in Peterborough growing up you want to put on that Peterborough Lakers jersey,” Killen said.
“But, giving me the opportunity to go to Cobourg and getting more playing time and more touches with the ball and having a bigger role there than I would in Peterborough means a lot.”
It gives him confidence heading to Denver.
“I want to show them what I can do and not be too nervous. It’s going to be a big stage and a big opportunity,” he said.
“I want to go out and have some fun and play the way I can play.”