If the NLL draft was based on talent and talent alone Mark Cockerton would have been the first overall pick in the draft. Edmonton Rush Head Coach Derek Keenan was quoted in saying “He’s the most talented player available in the draft” and he would know having coached Cockerton to a 2011 Minto Cup Championship with the Whitby Warriors.
Cockerton is such a dynamic player, he’s got elite level speed, an absolute rocket of a shot, that is as accurate as it is hard, to go along with great vision and a high level lacrosse IQ. Cockerton has the ability to anticipate the play and see plays develop so well that he’s often a step a head of defenders, when he is on his game he is one of the best young players the lacrosse world has to offer. Cockerton will bring versatility to the New England Black Wolves lineup, as he has been a transition player at various times throughout his Junior career with the Whitby Warriors as well as in a pure offensive role with the Warriors and most recently the Brooklin Redmen of the MSL. In my opinion Cockerton will have thing biggest impact on the NLL in year one of any NLL rookie. He’s such a potent offense threat, he can be your number one option or a depth option, he can be your scorer or your set up guy, he can play on the power play or penalty kill, his versatility will get him on the floor a boat load. In his five year junior career spanning the 2008 through the 2012 season with the Whitby Warriors, Cockerton appeared in 76 regular season games, scoring 147 goals & 141 assists for 288 points.
His best season statistically came in his final season of Junior A Lacrosse (2012), where he scored 45 goals & 50 assists for 95 points in 18 games. Cockerton exceled come playoff time as well posting, 58 goals & 67 assists for 123 points in 36 games. Cockerton was named a OLA Jr. A 2nd Team All-Star in 2012 after finishing 4th in league scoring. Potent offensive numbers are something of a trend with Cockerton as he also excelled during his four year NCAA career with the Virginia Cavaliers. Appearing in 65 games over four seasons at Virginia Mark Cockeron racked up 124 goals & 32 assists for 156 points. Cockerton’s Junior and Senior season’s where his most productive individual Season’s while at Virginia, while he was able to capture an NCAA title in his Freshmen season in 2011.
Following his four year NCAA career, he joined the Rochester Rattles of the MLL, where his assault on defenses and goaltenders continued. Cockerton has able to tally 24 goals in just 9 games for the 1st place Rochester Rattlers. The Rattlers did end up losing in the MLL final to a veteran Denver Outlaws squad. Considering Cockerton’s winning pedigree it would be now shock to any if his contributions throughout his NLL rookie season help lead the New England Blackwolves to the Playoffs and possibly the NLL Championship. Cockerton has excelled in his brief time at the MSL level with the Brooklin Redmen, where he faces off against numerous current NLL players, if his success at that level is any indication of what we can expect from Cockerton in 2015 we should see him hit the 30 goal and 30 assist plateau by seasons end.
