Top NLL Prospects: Joel Dalgarno, Toronto Rock draft from the West
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Joel Dalgarno (credit: OhioStateBuckeyes.com)
Featured today in our Futures Report is Joel Dalgarno, the No. 7 overall pick in the ‘09 NLL Entry Draft.
“Being drafted to the NLL was really special,” said Dalgarno. “After not being drafted to the MLL I have made it a personal goal of mine to get drafted to this league. I have heard nothing but good things about this league and I am really excited to be a part of it.”
The B.C. native is headed back to Ohio State University (OSU) to finish his last quarter of classes before graduating. Joel, who was a two-time NCAA D1 All-American at OSU, finished his collegiate Buckeye career in May as the team’s all-time leading goal scorer.
“My experience at Ohio State was unbelievable,” added Dalgarno. “I couldn’t have asked for a better university to go to. Everything from the guys on the team, the coaching staff, the facilities, and being at a Big 10 school was awesome.”
In two seasons of Senior ‘A’ lacrosse with the WLA Maple Ridge Burrards, the 6-foot, 180 pound forward has posted a solid 100 points in 23 games.
He was the first overall pick in the 2008 WLA Entry Draft.
The second and third overall picks from that WLA Entry draft, also belong to the Rock. Toronto picked-up Garrett Billings one spot ahead of Dalgarno in the ‘09 NLL Entry Draft and selected Tyler Codron second overall in the Portland Lumberjax Dispersal Draft.
Dalgarno and Codron, both products of Port Coquitlam’s Junior ‘A’ lacrosse program, also played-up in the Canadian Lacrosse Association (CLA) 2007 Mann Cup final with the Coquitlam Adanacs.
“My greatest lacrosse accomplishment would have to be making it to the Elite Eight with Ohio State,” offered Dalgarno on his overall lacrosse career. “It was the first time in the program’s history that we made it that far.”
“Dalgarno is fast,” added Rock’s GM Terry Sanderson, following the 2009 NLL Entry Draft. “He sees the floor well and is the kind of guy that wants the ball in big game situations.”
“I like to think that I bring a variety of things to describe my game,” concluded Dalgarno. “I really enjoy being a set up guy, but I also love scoring goals. With that being said, I am willing to step into any role that Toronto needs from me.”
The Toronto Rock, who inked five players to contracts this week, selected a total of six players in 2009 NLL Entry Draft including first-round pick Stephen Leblanc who played WLA ball this summer in Langley with Billings.
Will they Stay in T.O?
As reported in NLL Insider’s NLL Entry Draft Grades, Toronto’s first-round selections from the ‘09 NLL Entry Draft continue to be trade discussion particularly with the Western-based team, Washington Stealth.
Note: Codron, a two-sport star considered one of the NLL’s best pure defenders and a top Canadian Football League (CFL) prospect, injured his knee on one of the first plays of his collegiate football season and may miss some of the 2010 NLL season. More to follow.
An All-America at Simon Fraser and a decorated Jr. A player for Coquitlam, Kojima began covering lacrosse in 2003 and started working for Inside Lacrosse in 2007. Email him at steve.kojima@nllinsider.com or go to www.laxfuj.com.Rate This Story:
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