The 2013 NLL Entry Draft was largely dominated by Canadian talent, with just seven players from south of the border being chosen. Despite these low numbers, the Minnesota Swarm were able to open some doors with their final pick in the draft, 52nd overall selection Nicholas Jonas.
An alumnus of the University of Minnesota, Jonas was a member of the Golden Gophers lacrosse team competing in the Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association (MCLA). The 6’4, 240 pound defender played 44 career games for the Golden Gophers, earning an Honorable Mention All-Conference nod in his junior campaign.
Jonas is not the first MCLA representative to receive NLL attention. Chapman University star Connor Martin cracked the Colorado Mammoth’s roster in 2011 as a free agent off the strength of a solid rookie season with the MLL’s Denver Outlaws and a string of YouTube videos from his alter-ego Con Bro Chill. However, Jonas’ journey to the brink of professional lacrosse has been decidedly different from Martin’s.
The St. Louis Park, Minnesota native did not play organized lacrosse until his sophomore year of high school, where he was part of a group that pushed for the school to adopt the sport as a varsity team.
“I was a member of the inaugural team, playing midfield my first year then transitioning to defense” said Jonas. “We started it and within a year we had won a state championship.”
While in university Jonas had the opportunity to play under Swarm Assistant Coach Aime Caines, who also is an assistant for the Golden Gophers, beginning what would be an inspiring chain of events for the then senior.
“In the spring we had an optional practice with the Swarm every Wednesday where guys could go shoot around, mostly three-on-three type stuff” said Jonas.
After impressing Caines with his adaptation to the indoor game Jonas reached out to the Swarm’s owners, the Arlotta family.
“I asked them what the next step would be and they mentioned heading down to Toronto for the combine,” said Jonas. “I saved up all summer, worked out really hard all summer and took a chance. It was a lot of training, it was grueling and at times I didn’t think it was worth it, but it all paid off.”
Moving forward, Jonas acknowledges the possible impact his selection will have on the U.S. indoor game as well as the MCLA.
“It’s huge, I’m just excited that the game is growing” remarked Jonas, who plans to continue his training program in preparation for Swarm training camp.
More than anything, Jonas is excited to see the growth of Minnesota lacrosse. From entering a high school without a lacrosse team to leaving college a potential NLL prospect, Jonas is a role model for young Minnesotans looking to succeed in the sport and has nothing but optimism regarding the future of lacrosse in the state.
“The Swarm youth box league is expanding to high school now, which a big step for Minnesota lacrosse, I think Minnesota is the next lacrosse hotbed.”
