NLL Insider

Futures Report

NLL Entry Draft: Hello My Name Is… Ray Hodgkinson

Five-year BCJALL goaltender Ray Hodgkinson

We mighta spoke too soon in previous weeks, saying the hardest Junior to NLL gig to land was a starting everyday O spot.

Cuz hands down, and the numbers don’t lie, the position that almost never goes to a junior level player… the keeper. The last junior aged tender to land a regular spot in the NLL (even as a backup)? Hell, you tell us, cuz there sure aren’t many or any in recent seasons.

Six Nations Arrows’ grad Grant Crawley spent a year as Rochester’s backup in ‘06, but few kids still 21 or under have even had that kinda impact on the position in the pros.

Over the next week, we’ll check in with three of this year’s top available keepers, starting today with BC stud tender, Ray Hodgkinson. READ MORE »

Futures Report, NLL

NLL Entry Draft: Gajic brothers and Matt Beers highlight early entries in ‘09 draft

Ilija Gajic, currently gunning for his first Mann Cup win, officially threw his name into the '09 entry draft.

As NLL Insider reported earlier this summer, former Denver University middie and current New Westminster Salmobellies post-season MVP, Ilija Gajic, has officially entered his name into this year’s draft class, originally slated to only be available in the ‘10 Entry Draft, now available this summer after an early departure from DU.

Gajic, just days away from suiting up for the Salmonbellies at this year’s Mann Cup for the second straight year, is considered to be a likely top five pick in this year’s pro draft, some feel good enough to go first overall due to his dominating play in the WLA for the past two years. READ MORE »

Futures Report

NLL Entry Draft: Hello My Name Is… Kiel Donahue

Calgary Mounties two-way stud Kiel Donahue.

Considered by many to be the most well rounded, multi-faceted ball player in the Alberta junior loop, Calgary Mountaineers’ two-way worker, Kiel Donahue, has made a huge impact on the Jr. A game since landing in Calgary two summers ago.

Coached by former NLLer John Kilbride (Calgary Roughnecks) with the Jr. Mounties, Donahue has built a rep for himself as a big, mobile, fast, skilled ball player that can hold his own at either end of the court, landing a spot on NLL Insider’s Honorable Mention list in our ‘09 Junior of the Year rundown.

After the jump check out one of this summer’s top RMLL/Alberta Jr. A prospects, who’s willing to do anything and everything to impress at an NLL camp this winter, no matter what it takes. READ MORE »

Futures Report

NLL Entry Draft: Hello My Name Is… Dan Hardy

Syracuse & Denver middie Dan Hardy

Although skill, a loaded resume and the game-tools needed for the box game are things National Lacrosse League GM’s and scouts are always looking for when analyzing prospective NCAA American studs, there’s one thing above any of that that is a total must-have…

… the right attitude.

We’ve seen countless top US college names get drafted and then never show up to NLL training camps (for whatever reason), infuriating fans, players and coaches with “what could have been”.

Even though he was late showing up to the San Jose Stealth’s camp last season, we were fortunate enough to see Paul Rabil commit to the pro indoor game. This year, we’ll definitely have another one in MLL rookie of the year and former Syracuse middie, Dan Hardy. READ MORE »

Futures Report

NLL Entry Draft: Hello My Name is… Shaun Dhaliwal

Burnaby Lakers forward Shaun Dhaliwal

A couple weeks back we mentioned how much tougher it was for junior-to-pro prospects to make the massive jump to being an everyday offensive contributor in the National Lacrosse League.

With that said, there are a few out there this year that might have the chops to make a serious go as early as this winter.

One guy that has shown some legit potential in making that jump and already has a number of pro GM’s penciling his name onto their draft wish list… the Burnaby Lakers’ Shaun Dhaliwal, who also spent a bit of time with both the WLA’s New Westminster Salmonbellies and Langley Thunder (post-season practice) in ‘09. READ MORE »

Futures Report

NLL Entry Draft: Hello My Name Is… Ryan Learn

Burlington Chiefs forward Ryan Learn

‘09 was far and away the Burlington Chiefs most successful summer in the team’s 17 year history (post Bengals era).

Their third place regular season finish was their highest ever ranking, topping their ‘98 placing of fourth. The only teams ahead of them were Orangeville and Brampton, both currently preppin’ for the Minto.

This past season was also the first time the team had ever won a post-season series, taking out the Peterborough Lakers in five. Although they’d qualified eight times previous to ‘09, this year’s squad was the first to ever to win four games in the second-season. The team’s O leader that led the charge? Ryan Learn, one of this year’s top O pro prospects available in the junior ranks. READ MORE »

Futures Report

NLL Entry Draft: Hello My Name Is… Garrett Werschke

Calgary Raiders defender Garrett Werschke

A couple weeks back, we mentioned how impressive the crop of draft eligible aggressive,  two-way defenders is this year coming out of the BCJALL leading into the ‘09 National Lacrosse League Entry Draft.

With that said, move a province over, and you’ll find some of the country’s most athletic transition type players anywhere around. Alberta may not have hauled in a Minto yet, but they are producing some great lacrosse players, period, and the theme is definitely guys that can take care of business at either end of the floor.

One of the RMLL’s most impressive D first, two-way capable ball players this year? The Calgary Raiders’ meat and potatoes, hard-nosed defender Garrett Werschke, whose athleticism combined witha balls to the wall work ethic, could see him making some noise on draft day. READ MORE »

Futures Report

NLL Entry Draft: Hello My Name Is… PT Ricci

Loyola long stick middie PT Ricci (Todd Love)

After attempting to check in with some of the more high profile, box ready American NCAA studs, it’s a pretty safe bet that this year’s Entry Draft won’t be smashing any US based records like guys did in ‘08 when Paul Rabil, Kevin Huntley, Matt Danowski, Kevin Buchanan and Joe Cinosky all went in the first round a year ago.

In fact, Colgate’s Brandon Corp, an attacker a number of NLL GM’s told NLL Insider they’d have ranked even ahead of Cornell’s Max Seibald, told NLL Insider earlier this summer that he’s happy just playing field ball, and has no intention of making the transition to the NLL.

One ball player that is super amped about the NLL? Loyola’s gritty long stick middie and defender, PT Ricci. READ MORE »

Futures Report

NLL Entry Draft: Hello My Name Is… Sean Reid

Edmonton Eclipse forward Sean Reid

Last night, with the Calgary Raiders up 2-1 in the RMLL Jr. A final, the Edmonton Ecilpse’s Sean Reid posted one of this summer’s most impressive and explosive O post-season performances, assisting on seven Edmonton goals, potting two himself, and pulling the Eclipse even with the Raiders in a dominating 15-6 win.

Alberta, often over looked and still looked down on by lax snobs throughout the country, has been producing some top level junior talent over the last few years, showcased in Alberta’s super competitive Jr. A loop, which looks primed to have maybe their most successful Minto Cup ever in a couple of weeks.

One player that fits the bill above is most definitely the Eclipse’s Reid, who finished second in regular season scoring this past season and also landed an honorable mention in NLL Insider’s JOTY finalists. READ MORE »

Futures Report

NLL Entry Draft: Hello My Name Is… Jon Diplock

Nanaimo Timbermen forward Jon Diplock

The Nanaimo Jr. A Timbermen joined the BCJALL ranks in 2005.

They went 0-21, and as their record would suggest, sat dead last in the league, way outside of a post-season spot, emphasis on way.

Fast forward a summer later, and recent Jr. A grad Jon Diplock led the team to a historic OT win, giving the young squad their first ever win in the loop (more on that after the jump).

About a month back, after qualifying for the post-season for their third straight year and making steady climbs as an organization, the T-Men exited this year’s playoffs, their final goal of the ‘09 season coming off of who else but Jonny Diplock’s stick, his last as a Jr. A lacrosse player. READ MORE »