The 6 Major Series Lacrosse franchises protected two players apiece for the upcoming MSL draft that takes place this Sunday (January 25th). While there was some fairly easy protections made, in the cases of Johnny Powless, Quinn Powless, Reilly O’Connor, Shane MacDonald, Turner Evans & Danny Lomas, a couple teams had tough decisions to make on players. The Brampton Excelsiors in particular had the toughest decisions to make , with the protection of Shane MacDonald and Connor Sellars the Excelsiors left Matt Bennett, Jayson Crawford, Connor Campbell and Tyler Ferreira unprotected. All of the aforementioned players where NLL draft picks in the 2014 draft and in Bennett’s case, he is currently listed on the Buffalo Bandits active roster, despite not appearing in a game to date. Meanwhile despite the relatively easy choice to protect Johnny Powless and Quinn Powless, the Six Nations Chiefs did expose the likes of Wenster Green, Ian Martin and Zach Williams.
Brooklin Redmen
The Redmen decided to protect 2014 OLA Junior A scoring leader Reilly O’Connor and tenacious defender Tyler Gilligan. In protecting O’Connor the Redmen bring yet another potent offensive threat to a club that already boasts the likes of Shawn Williams, Shayne Jackson, Mark Cockerton, Kyle Aquin and Mike Teeter.
O’Connor as mentioned led the OLA Junior loop in scoring in 2014, but also finished 3rd in scoring in 2013 and 2nd in scoring in 2012. Over the course of his five year Junior A career, O’Connor recorded 104 goals and 299 assists for 403 points in just 98 games. O’Connor added another 204 points in 79 playoff games, giving him a grand total of 607 points in 5 years of Junior lacrosse. The 6’1 lefty is also a highly decorated player, having won 2 Minto Cups with the Whitby Warriors in 2011 & 2013 and was recently named the OLA Junior A’s MVP and Most Outstanding Player for the 2014 season. O’Connor is NLL draft eligible for the 2015 draft as he is currently completing his Senior year at Georgetown University.
Tyler Gilligan, the 5’10, 160 defender from Whitby, Ontario played just two full season of Junior lacrosse. While he did see limited action with the Whitby Warriors in 2011 (2 games) & 2012 (6 games), Gilligan’s impact on the Warriors roster was made throughout the 2013 & 2014 seasons. Gilligan was an integral part of the 2013 Minto Cup winning Warriors squad, appearing in 19 regular season games and all 21 playoff games. Throughout the combined 40 games in the 2013 season, Gilligan racked up 3 goals & 11 assists for 14 points. This past season with the Warriors, Gilligan appeared in 20 regular season games and 14 playoff games, recording 9 goals & 8 assists for 17 points combined. While Gilligan may be slightly undersized from a defensive standpoint, he brings a great work ethic, great speed, a tenaciousness and an uncanny ability to scoop up loose balls in traffic. His transition ability will fit in well with the speedy Redmen, although he may have a hard time cracking an extremely deep defense core, depending on who returns for the 2015 season.
Brampton Excelsiors
The Brampton Excelsiors had the toughest decision of any team when it came to choosing who they would protect. The easy choice was Shane MacDonald, the tough decision was picking one of Matt Bennett, Tyler Ferreira, Jayson Crawford, Connor Campbell and Connor Sellars. The Excelsiors ultimately decided they’d protect 6’3, 215 pound righty Connor Sellars. While it was an interesting decision, you can see the Excelsiors looked to add some size to the right side of their offense, as Mike Burke and Joe Resetartis where the only Excelsiors in 2014 to crack the 6 foot mark. With Chris Attwood, Brandon Benn, Stef Diachenko and Joe Resetartis all playing in 8 games or less, the Excelsiors also look to add some stability to the lineup with the addition of Sellars, who is a Brampton Native.
Connor Sellars, as mentioned Sellars stands 6’3 and weighs in around 215 pounds, he split his junior career between the Halton Hills Bulldogs Junior B club and the Brampton Excelsiors Jr. A club, winning a Founders Cup Championship in his rookie season (2010) with the Bulldogs. While never a potent point producer, Sellars is a righty with impressive size who does have finishing and distribution skills. His most potent offensive season in Junior lacrosse, was the 2011 season, where he recorded 15 goals & 32 assists for 47 points in 20 games with the Halton Hills Bulldogs. In 59 games at the Junior A level, Sellars amassed 64 points on 24 goals & 27 assists. Sellars is also entering his Junior year at Belmont Abbey College, where he led the team in scoring during the 2014 season.
Shane MacDonald, the 6 foot, 205 pound left from Elora, Ontario began his Junior career in 2010, where he split time between the Elora Mohawks Jr. B club and the Orangeville Northmen. MacDonald had a breakout season in 2012 after a trade sent him from Orangeville to Brampton. In 20 games with the Excelsiors, MacDonald recorded 37 goals & 61 assists for 98 points, which places him 3rd in OLA Junior A scoring. The following season, MacDonald suffered a near disastrous injury, as a piece of farm equipment fell on his foot, breaking it in 7 places, limiting him to just 4 games. However this past season MacDonald responded well, picking up 55 points in 17 regular season games, and another 16 points in just 3 playoff games. MacDonald also saw his name called surprisingly early in the 2014 NLL draft, as the Minnesota Swarms selected him 5th overall. MacDonald had an impressive training camp with the Swarm, showing his excellent outside shot, and finishing ability. That led to him cracking the opening night roster, where in his NLL debut, he potted 2 assists. Although MacDonald has since been relegated to the Swarm’s practice roster, he will undoubtedly help strengthen a rather weak left side for the Excelsiors, behind Pat Saunders and Kevin Ross.
Kitchener-Waterloo Kodiaks
The K-W Kodiaks made a couple relatively easy decisions when deciding who to protect from the 2015 MSL draft, when they protected Kyle Jackson and Eric Guiltinan. Jackson was the KW-Braves second leading scorer last season and Guiltinan was arguably their top defender. While the Kodiaks could certainly use and injection of size up front, especially on the left side of their offense, protecting the highly skilled, but diminutive Jackson was in their best interest, as they have the option to add size through the draft and trades. The addition of the 5’10, 200 Guiltinan brings size, toughness and transition ability. Three things the Kodiaks defense core is known for.
Kyle Jackson, the 5’9 160 pound Jackson is a native of Sarnia, Ontario who had spent his entire 5 year junior career with the K-W Braves, captaining the team this past season. Jackson reached career highs in statistics during the 2014 regular season, where he 28 goals & 49 assists for 77 points. While the 77 points was a career high, Jackson’s career high in goals came during the 2012 season, when he found the back of the net 43 times. Jackson is a diminutive, but highly skilled, slippery and hard to check offensive threat, that possess excellent floor vision, playmaking skills and finishing ability. In addition to being a highly skilled Box Lacrosse player, Jackson has thrived with the University of Michigan, finishing 2nd in team scoring as a sophomore last season. Look for Jackson to provide excellent depth scoring behind the likes of Ryan Benesch, Jordan Critch and Dylan Goddard.
Eric Guiltinan, the native of London, Ontario began his junior career with his hometown London Blue Devils, where he stared in an offensive role with the club through his first two seasons. In his rookie year Guiltinan recorded 11 points and 60 penalty minutes. It was in his sophomore campaign that he broke out offensively, potting 20 goals and 14 assists for 34 points in 20 games, also again racking up 60+ penalty minutes. In the summer of 2013, Guiltinan joined the K-W Braves Junior A squad, where he took on a defensive/transitional role with the club, appearing in 14 games, recording 3 points. It was this past season that Guiltinan really showed his transition ability for the Braves, potting 12 points in 20 games. Guiltinan will bring size, toughness, speed and transition ability to the Kodiaks, and should fit in well with the core the team has already constructed on their backend. Guiltinan was a 4th round pick of the Minnesota Swarm, 29th overall in the 2014 draft, and performed fairly well during training camp, although the speed of the game was an adjustment for him.
Oakville Rock
The Oakville Rock are building something special, while its been a process, the former Ajax-Pickering Rock franchise is nearing their first playoff birth since the MSL returned to its 4 team playoff format. The Rock missed the playoff by 6 points this past season, although where right there until the very end. With such a young, athletic and talented roster being built this team has all the potential to become the next MSL dynasty. The Rock have protected lefty offensive threat Danny Lomas and left shooting transition player Bryan Cole. Both players suited up with the Rock’s Junior A affiliate the Burlington Chiefs. With Shayne Adams, Stephan LeBlanc and Mike Mawdsley being the only pure offensive threats on the Rock roster, adding another pure offensive lefty in Danny Lomas will only strengthen their left side. Bryan Cole fits the mould of what the Rock are doing at the backend, and will also be able to contribute in a transitional role to the left side of the offense.
Danny Lomas, the 5’10, 180 pound lefty from Burlington, Ontario is coming off back to back 80+ point seasons for the Burlington Chiefs, with this past season, seeing him record 46 goals, which placed him 5th overall in the OLA Junior loop in that category. Lomas has always been a point producing player, having begun his junior career with the Oakville Buzz in 2010. Throughout his 4 year junior A career with the Burlington Chiefs, Lomas amassed 247 points on 126 goals & 121 assists, showing his balance and ability to be both a finisher and a distributor. Lomas is shifty and hard to defend, works the pick and role well and can thrive in a depth role. All of the aforementioned attributes should make him immediately effective in whatever role the Rock have planned for him.
Bryan Cole, standing 6’2 and weighing in around 180 pounds, the Oakville, Ontario native should have no problem physically adjusting to the MSL style of game. Cole began his junior career in 2010 with the Oakville Buzz, where in 17 games he was able to record 35 points. The following season Cole made the jump to Junior A, suiting up for the Burlington Chiefs. With the Chiefs the past four seasons, Cole has thrived in a transition role, recording 191 points in 62 games. With the way the Oakville Rock play, pushing the ball up the floor threw transitional players like Jordan MacIntosh, Damon Edwards and even Ethan O’Connor, the style of play that Cole brings to the club fit in quite well, allowing his transition to be an easy one, and the club to excel from his addition.
Peterborough Lakers
The Peterborough Lakers in recent years have protected the likes of Shawn Evans, Matt Crough, Josh Gillam, Nick Weiss, Robert Hope and Mark Farthing. All players who have had an impact on the teams success in recent years, the Lakers tend to trade a lot of their draft picks away, so retaining top talent from their Junior affiliate is a way on top of bringing in players, that they’ve stayed competitive. This year the Lakers protect another Evans in Turner Evans, as well as Peterborough Jr. A Lakers 2nd leading scorer Josh Currier. The additions of Evans and Currier add another offensive threat to both the left and right sides. With the uncertainty surrounding John Grant Jr.’s return to Peterborough and Tracey Kelusky retiring that technically opens up a position on both the left and right side of the offense. While those positions may end up being filled with the return of John Grant or other additions made prior to the season, Currier and Evans are both capable of not only playing, but exceling in the Lakers offense.
Turner Evans, Evans has long been a top talent in his age group, recording 67 points as a rookie with the Jr Lakers. Evans went on to tear up the Junior A loop over his 5 year career, racking up 90+ points on two occasions. In total Evans recorded 111 goals & 271 assists for 382 points in 90 regular season junior A games. He would add another 164 points in 40 Junior A playoff games. Evans has tremendous floor visions and play making ability, but is also a very sound goal scorer with elite finishing ability. While he may be slightly undersized standing just 5’9, Evans is tough as nails, and certainly isn’t shy to mix it up. Evans is currently entering his Senior year at Ohio State University, where he has also excelled at the NCAA level. Evans will likely be a first round talent in the 2015 NLL draft, expect him to produce quite potently with the Sr Lakers this summer.
Josh Currier, Currier spent four seasons with the Jr. Lakers, appearing in 71 games. The 2014 regular season was Currier’s best at the Junior level, as it saw him rack up a career high in assists (33) and points (69). Throughout his Junior Lakers career, Currier has never been the number one option offensively, although he has always found a way to produce. Currier despite showing the ability to be a capable distributor, is a pure goal scorer, having racked up 124 goals in his Junior career, with his career best coming in 2011 when he potted 38. While the likes of Shawn Evans, Scott Evans, Aaron Wilson, Matt Crough, and Mark Steenhuis currently patrol the right side of the Lakers offense, expect Currier to step in whenever needed and provide offense. Currier will obviously play in a depth role with the Senior Lakers, however the transition from Junior to the MSL should be a seamless one for him.
Six Nations Chiefs
The defending Mann Cup Champs find themselves in a position to protect quite possibly the best junior player ever. Johnny Powless has been playing up with the Chiefs for three seasons already, and was an integral part to their Mann Cup Championship this past season. The second player the back to back champs protected was Quinn Powless, another junior aged star, who was recently selected 8th overall by the New England Black Wolves in the 2014 NLL draft. Quinn Powless has made a seamless transition to the NLL and should undoubtedly do the same at the MSL level. Although with the depth of the Chiefs offense, he may have more trouble cracking their every day lineup, then he did cracking the talented New England Black Wolves lineup.
Johnny Powless, what can you say about Johnny Powless, he’s won 3 NLL championships, 2 Mann Cups, a Minto Cup, was the Minto Cup MVP in 2014, the OLA Junior A MVP and Most Outstanding player in 2013, has been an OLA first team All-Star on two occasions and a 2nd team All-Star on one occasion, and OLA Junior A rookie of the year in 2010. To say Johnny Powless is a decorated lacrosse player is undoubtedly and understatement, and what’s best is he is just 21 years old. Powless racked up 195 goals & 166 assists for 361 points in 74 Junior A regular season games, another 282 points in 64 playoff games, and has totaled 156 points in 53 NLL games. Powless is extremely smart on the floor, has excellent floor vision and playmaking ability, works the pick and role extremely well, has tremendous finishing ability, a bullet of an outside shot, that is also as accurate as can be, and to top it all off, he’s tough as nails as well. Powless has the ability to become one of the most dominating lacrosse players to ever pick up the stick, so in closing, I think he’ll fit in okay with the Chiefs on a full time bases in 2015.
Quinn Powless, how do you follow up that recap. Well Quinn Powless is extremely skilled in his own right, after spending two seasons with the power house Six Nations Rebels, Powless made the jump up to the Junior A level in 2012. Though Powless was stuck behind some talented players during the 2012 and 2013 seasons, he broke out offensively last year, recording 26 goals & 46 assists for 72 points in 20 regular season games with the Arrows. Powless would add another 42 points during the Arrows 13 game playoff run that led them to the Minto Cup, which they eventually captured. Powless is fairly decorated as a lacrosse player himself, winning a 2011 Founders Cup with the Six Nations Rebels, after recording 27 goals & 44 assists for 71 points through the regular season, playoffs and Founders Cup. A of course the aforementioned 2014 Minto Cup, that saw him record 7 goals and 15 assists for 22 points, which was 2nd behind only Johnny Powless in tournament scoring. Powless should make a seamless transition to Major Series Lacrosse, as he’s made a seamless transition to the NLL. However he will find himself fighting for floor time behind the likes of Stephen Keogh, Tom Montour, Craig Point, Randy Staats and Rodd Squire Jr.
