Usually the weekend before the draft is a little quiet, and if it’s not it may have to do with trading a few picks etc. But when you look at what the Wings did, its enough to make your head spin. Between Sept 13 (Fri) and Draft Day 16th, Wings walked out with 8 new players.
Here is how it went down….
1—Trade Drew Westervelt and the 32nd overall selection in the 2013 Entry Draft to Colorado for Ryan Hotaling, the 12th and 18th overall selections in the 2013 Entry Draft, their first round selection in the 2015 Entry Draft
2—The Wings solidify there goaltending in a trade with Minnesota.. Evan Kirk to the Philadelphia Wings in exchange for their first round selection in the 2015 Entry Draft and their first round selection in the 2017 Entry Draft
3—Then they re-acquire Luke Wiles from Buffalo in exchange for 2 second round selections in the 2014 Entry Draft.
Now if that isn’t enough, Draft Day arrives….
The Philadelphia Wings made both the offense and defense stronger in the draft by adding transition player AJ Masson, forwards James Delaney and Rob Pannell, defender Tucker Durkin, and goalie Don Alton.
With their first selection in the draft (round 2) number 12 overall (Westervelt trade), the Wings selected A.J.Masson out of the University of Vermont. This past summer Masson registered 15G/19A for the Oakville Rock of Major Series Lacrosse. Masson played four seasons for the University of Vermont Catamounts where he was named a member of the 2013 NEILA senior scholar athlete team.
The Wings owned back-to-back picks at 18(Westervelt trade) and 19 overall drafting James Delaney and Tucker Durkin.
Delaney(18) was a midfielder at Seton Hill University in Greensburg, PA and plays forward for the Nanaimo Timbermen (14G/16A) of the Western Lacrosse Association. In 2013 Delaney was voted to the USILA All-America first team and Most Outstanding Midfielder. Delaney was a big story at the NLL Draft combine this past weekend where he had 11 points and jumped up the depth charts.
Tucker Durkin(19), a local product from Huntingdon Valley where he attended LaSalle College High School, was a defender at Johns Hopkins University. Durkin earned USILA All-America honors three times and was twice awarded the Nation’s Top Defenseman while at Johns Hopkins. This past summer he played for the Hamilton Nationals of the MLL and will be reunited with teammates Brodie Merrill, Kevin Crowley, and Jordan Hall on the Wings.
The final two selections the Wings selected Goaltender Don Alton at # 33 overall and Forward Rob Pannell with pick 50 overall.
Alton has spent the last two years with the Six Nations Arrows of the Ontario Lacrosse Association Junior A league. He posted a .791 save percentage and allowed just 5.81 goals per game in 2013. Alton has a lot of potential to make it in the league, and will have a lot to learn.
Rob Pannell was a forward at Cornell. Pannell earned USILA first team All-America honors three times and won the 2013 Tewaaraton Award for most outstanding American college lacrosse player. Last summer he played for the New York Lizards of the MLL where he won Rookie of the Year honors for the 2013 season. In ten games Rob registered 25G/17A. Some out there have said Pannell is box ready, just a little tune up here and there and he is good to go
So is it safe to say the fans of the Wings are happy with the draft, as well as the acquisitions prior to? I think so!
By not having a first round pick, you cant give the an A for the draft, But you can give them a very strong B+ for not only their draft, but how they made certain trades to strengthen much needed areas which helped draft the stronger players for other positions.
Camp in a couple months…cant wait to see what our draft picks show, as well as the newest members via trade. Should be a fun season.
