The K-W Kodiaks and the Brampton Excelsiors have completed a trade that sends the 3rd overall pick in the recent MSL draft Michael MacDonald and Jay Lindsay to the Kodiaks in exchange for Jayson Crawford, Connor Campbell & K-W’s 2nd round pick in the 2016 MSL Draft. Crawford and Campbell both played their final Junior A season with the Brampton Excelsiors but where unable to be protected by the club due to the amount of graduating talent. Despite having the first three picks of the 2015 MSL draft, Brampton still was unable to secure all their graduating talent, hence the reason for the trade.
The Kodiaks addressed their offence in the recent MSL draft, however they still lacked that impactful left handed shooter to pair with Buffalo Bandits star Ryan Benesch. In MacDonald the Kodiaks may have found just that. MacDonald did not suite up for his final season of Junior Lacrosse, however during the 2013 season he would record 69 points in 13 regular season games with the Halton Hills Bulldogs, before joining the Whitby Warriors Junior A club for their playoff and Minto Cup run. During MacDonald’s run to the Minto Cup he appeared in 18 playoff games for the Warriors, recording 28 goals & 29 assists for 57 points, showing he can produce just as potently at any level. MacDonald should be a top pick in the 2015 NLL draft, and a strong summer with the Kodiaks will only help his draft stock.
Lindsay spent three season with the K-W Braves Junior A squad, appearing in 36 games over that time frame, racking up 3 goals and 30 assists for 33 points, along with 38 penalty minutes. While Lindsay will have to fight tooth and nail to see playing time with the Kodiaks, adding more depth to the lineup is never a bad thing.
Connor Campbell and Jayson Crawford where both recently selected in the 2014 NLL draft by the New England Black Wolves, with Campbell going 28th overall and Crawford going 34th overall. While both where cut early on in training camp, both possess the skills to be able bodied defenders at the MSL level. Crawford has since joined the Barrie Blizzard of the Canadian Lacrosse League, while Connor Campbell was a 5th round pick of the Southwest Cyclops but has yet to see action with the team.
