The National Lacrosse League (NLL) held there expansion draft on Tuesday night, in which the expansion team from Fort Worth was going to pick one player from each of the other thirteen teams to build a foundation for their 2021/21 team.
With such a wide variety of unprotected players to be had, knowing that they were going to be a quality team wasn’t the issue. Were they going in a veteran direction, with instant credibility? Would they go with mostly youth, and have them grow together as a team? Would they find a good balance of both?
Just after 7pm (ET) all the speculation was over when the first player in the team’s history was selected…Matt Hossack of the Saskatchewan Rush.
Charlie Kitchen, Liam Byrnes, Connor Kelly, Sam Clare, Liam Patten, Phil Caputo, Ryan Benesch, Chris Wardle, Scott Dominey, as well as goalies Nick Damude, and Kevin Orleman rounded out the rest of the picks.
After the draft Panther City announced four trades…
1. Trading their second round draft pick in the 2021 entry draft to the Toronto Rock for Taylor Stuart and their second round draft pick.
2. Trading Scott Dominey to the New York Riptide for Dawson Theede.
3. Trading Chris Wardle to the Colorado Mammoth for Will Malcom, and Jordan Trottier.
4. Trading their first round draft pick, and a conditional third round draft pick in the 2023 entry draft to the Georgia Swarm in exchange for Connor Sellars and the 11th overall pick in the 2021 entry draft.
General Manager Bob Hamley, Head Coach Tracey Kelusky, and Assistant Coach Dan Teat put together a solid base of veteran leadership mixed with youth, building a strong foundation in Fort Worth that should keep them competitive for years to come. Combined with the 2021 entry draft selections, should make the Panther City Lacrosse Club an exciting team to watch once the season begins in December.
The future shines bright for the National Lacrosse League and their franchises, who are all chomping at the bit to come back after the Covid pandemic stronger than ever.
Gary Groob has been involved with Lacrosse for the majority of his life, whether playing, coaching, or covering the sport for the media.
An avid fan, with a real drive about helping to “grow the game”, Gary became part of podcasts about the game in 2010. Through the podcasts, Mr. Groob was given an opportunity to write about lacrosse, and the rest as they say, is history.
Through many miles (flying and driving) Gary has made inroads with the National Lacrosse League, Major Series Lacrosse League, the Ontario Lacrosse Association, as well as the Arena Lacrosse League, covering the leagues, their teams, and players, working for, and in concert with all of them.
In the year 2020, Mr. Groob was made the media person for the Arena Lacrosse League, voted onto the board of directors of the Brampton Excelsiors Lacrosse Club, as well as being made administrator of the Lacrosse page “Global Lacrosse” with a membership of 9000 members in over 90 Countries. Gary was also made an administrator of Lacrosse History Past Present and Future in 2022.
Mr. Groob co-hosts a weekly Lacrosse show on Spanglish Sports World, and ZingoTV channel 250, as well as writes a weekly lacrosse column for La Portada Canada News (both in print, and online).
Gary also hosts a Lacrosse talk show and podcast for The Edge of Philly Sports Network, seen live Sunday nights at 9pm (ET), and archived on the Edge of Philly YouTube page, as well as Spotify.
Mr. Groob’s other sports interests include Hockey, Football, Boxing, Wrestling, and Baseball, competing competitively in Boxing and Wrestling for many years.
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