NLL Insider

Both the Philadelphia Wings and Calgary Roughnecks confirmed additional cuts as both teams are virtually set with their finalized rosters heading into the upcoming season.

The Wings released both Wellington Aces defender and former Elora Mohawks stud Sean Turner, and San Francisco Dragons middie and high scoring Lynchburg grad Ryan Cranston. The team also moved American tender, Mickey Hover, to their practice roster.

Calgary ended up making some fairly high profile cuts yesterday, releasing the likes of Kyle Neufeld and Kerry Susheski, as well as draft picks and local products Joey Vetere, Joel Henry and Tyler Pridham.

“The biggest disappointment is not being able to put Kyle Neufeld into the line-up,” said Calgary President and GM Brad Bannister. “He’s probably the best conditioned athlete on the team, just with the new style of defence, he was having a hard time adapting.”

Neufeld has long been considered a pretty decent pro prospect, dating back to his playing days with the St. Catharines Atheltics, where Neufled played a beyond vital role with the team during two Minto runs in 2001 and 2003. Neufeld has spent the last three summers suiting up for the Calgary based DVN Oilfield Raiders of the RMLL and is also on the Calgary Raiders Jr. A coaching staff.

“He’s a great guy, and we wish him all the best,” added Banister.

With first round pick Curtis Manning sitting out the season, opting to finish his senior year at Simon Fraser instead, Calgary’s lone existing 2008 draft picks still in camp are NLL Insider All-Canadian First Team member, Cayle Ratcliff, and former Oakville Buzz defender and fifth round pick, Bryan Johnson, who has apparently looked very impressive in camp.

Johnson’s not a name that caught a lot of buzz leading up to the draft, but with good size, quick wheels and a killer work ethic, the former Founders Cup winner and Bellarmine middie looks like he could turn out to be one of the better steals from this past fall’s entry draft.

Check out the links below…

• More on Ontario’s win at the Brogden Cup, “We went in knowing it was Ontario versus Rochester, but thinking it was Canada versus the Americans.” : Barrie Examiner
• Even more Brogden coverage, two titles in three days, not a shabby stretch for KW’s Matt Hummel: The Record
• New OLA Jr. C Cavs look to help slumping lacrosse scene in Kingston: The Whig Standard
• Brampton Jr. Excels ace Cameron Flint lands on Denver’s 2009-10 class: Denver University

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