A Good Sign

It was a good sign of some normalcy in the lacrosse world. The Western Lacrosse Association conducted the 2021 Draft on Thursday evening. The night was highlighted by a blockbuster eight-player deal. The oddity is that deal broke down to seven for one proposition. Frank “The Tank” Scigliano was shipped for seven, yes seven! players.

Trades

Here is the statement from the WLA. Compensatory picks gave all seven teams the chance to add a top player before the draft order became all jumbled up because of the previous year’s trades.

Tre Leclaire went to Langley as the top compensatory pick, then the Burnaby Lakers, Nanaimo Timbermen, Maple Ridge Burrards, and Victoria Shamrocks chose NLL players or draft picks Ryan Martel, Zach Manns, Anthony Kalinich, and Nathan Kozevnikov respectively.

The first trade came early in the night when the Langley Thunder, who were in need of a goaltender, acquired Frank Scigliano from the Burrards in exchange for four top-15 draft picks, James Rahe, Aiden Milburn, and Dan Lewis. The trade now sets the Thunder up with the best goaltender in recent years. This is to match with their potentially potent offense. The offense includes the likes of Dane Dobbie, Garrett Billings, Curtis Dickson, and Connor Robinson.

The Thunder kept the trades going by sending Brad McCulley to the Shamrocks to get Kozevnikov. The Adanacs jumped in on the trade game by stealing Ryland Rees from the Lakers in exchange for the third and sixth picks.

Another trade on the evening was between the New Westminster Salmonbellies and the Timbermen. In this swap, the 12th pick, Ethan Ticehurst, and a 2021 2nd round pick were sent to Nanaimo for defender Drew Belgrave.

A Good Sign with Draft Selections

Here are the first three rounds of selections, starting with:

Protected/Compensatory Picks

1- Coquitlam Jalen Chasten (PROTECTED)
2- Langley Thomas Vaesen COMPENSATORY)
3- Burnaby Austin Madronic (COMPENSATORY)
4-Nanaimo Will Johansson (COMPENSATORY)
5- New West Will Malcolm (PROTECTED)
6-Maple Ridge Dylan McIntosh (PROTECTED)
7- Victoria Nick Scott (COMPENSATORY)

Round 1

1- Coquitlam-Thomas Semple
2- Maple Ridge- Nate Faccin
3- Burnaby- Connor Watson
4- Nanaimo- Clinton Lidstone
5- Nanaimo- Caleb Kueber
6- Langley- Caleb Pearson
7- Victoria- Max Wilson

Round 2

8- Victoria- Will Clayton
9- Langley- Erik Mass
10- Burnaby- Rhys Blake
11- Langley- Cal Slate
12- New Westminster from Nanaimo Brody Harris
13- Maple Ridge- Brendan Szabo
14- Langley- Aiden Ellis

Round Three

15- New West- Connor Evers
16- Burnaby- Brayden Brown
17- Burnaby- Sekanwanes Baker
18- Maple Ridge- Jake Stott
19- Nanaimo- Tee McComber
20- Maple Ridge- Mitchell Nolet
21- Victoria- Cameron Dunkerley

The draft was a good sign of things to come. Stay tuned for more lax news by clicking here.

Kevin Neibauer

Kevin has followed and promoted the game of lacrosse since May 19, 1974.
The same day the Philadelphia Flyers won the Cup, the Philadelphia Wings were introduced to Neibauer and Philadelphia.

Kevin has covered many sports, including baseball, football, basketball, and.. lacrosse. A former licensed football referee and baseball umpire, Kevin brings a unique insight to his game coverage.

A published writer in JustHockey Magazine, Kevin covered the American Hockey League as well as a monthly story on a pugilist where Kevin used the pen name, The Rink Rat. Neibauer turned his attentions to lacrosse for a few years and does his part, whether podcasting or writing to grow the game. Kevin branched out to his roots and currently provides insight for all Philadelphia teams for Edge of Philly as well as his full-time duties with LaxPhilly.

Trades