MLL Announces Warrior Challenge, Draft
from press release
BOSTON – Major League Lacrosse (MLL), the
premier professional outdoor lacrosse league, today announced that
the 2010 Warrior Major League Challenge and Collegiate Draft will
be held at Yale University in New Haven, CT on Sunday, June 6th,
2010 in conjunction with Yale University, US Lacrosse and CONNY
Youth Lacrosse.
The Warrior Major League Challenge is an all-star exhibition game
that will feature top college seniors playing against the US Men's
National Team. The game will take place at 2:30 PM ET at the Yale
Bowl. Following the game, MLL teams will make their selections in
the 2010 Collegiate Draft. The Draft is slated to begin at 7:00 PM
ET in the Lanman Center, situated inside the Payne Whitney Gym on
Yale's campus in downtown New Haven. The Draft is open to the
public.
"Major League Lacrosse is very excited to partner with Yale
University and CONNY Youth Lacrosse for our Warrior Major League
Challenge and Draft," said MLL Commissioner David Gross. "Fans will
have the opportunity to come see Team USA and the best graduating
seniors battle on the hallowed field of the Yale Bowl. We look
forward to a successful event as we welcome a new generation of
players into Major League Lacrosse."
"We are excited to be a part of showcasing of the next class of
superstars in the MLL," adds Yale Men's Lacrosse head coach Andy
Shay. "Further, the Yale lacrosse program specifically is honored
to be a part of this one-of-a-kind event. I think the competitors,
coaches and fans will find the Yale bowl to be a great venue for
lacrosse."
Each season, Major League Lacrosse invites approximately 40 of the
nation's top graduating seniors to participate in MLL Draft day
activities. Players are invited based on a number of factors,
including the recommendations of MLL and college coaches and
overall collegiate performance. The game provides one final chance
for MLL personnel to evaluate the players. Most years, the seniors
are split into two teams playing against each other – this
season, however, they will be facing off against Team USA in
preparation for the 2010 FIL World Championships in Manchester,
England. Team USA will also take on the best of current MLL players
– the MLL All-Stars – later in the summer at the 2010
Major League Lacrosse All-Star Game in Boston, MA on Thursday, July
8th.
"We're thrilled for the opportunity to scrimmage the MLL's College
Stars," stated US Lacrosse Director of National Teams Nathaniel
Badder. "Not only do these young guys represent the best and
brightest stars of the college lacrosse world, but you can bet they
will be in great shape and – because they're essentially
auditioning for the MLL that day – they'll be hungry. No
doubt they will give us a run for our money, which will be an ideal
tune-up as we prepare for training camp before heading to
Manchester for the FIL Championship."
Throughout Draft day on the surrounding fields of the Yale Bowl,
CONNY Youth Lacrosse will be hosting one of its tournament
jamborees as well, creating a unique lacrosse festival atmosphere
for CONNY participants and other fans to enjoy.
"The combination of the CONNY Tournament on eighteen fields
surrounding the Yale Bowl and the MLL game against Team USA will
make this event a top destination in the game of lacrosse," said
CONNY President Bob Russell. "The CONNY kids will be inspired by
the MLL players, and the players will recognize in the CONNY kids
where they themselves were a decade ago. It is this continuity that
inspires current and former players to give back to the game that
has given them so much."
The 2010 Major League Lacrosse Collegiate Draft is made up of eight
rounds, with each round consisting of six picks. Boston, Denver and
Toronto currently own 9 total picks each, while Chicago and Long
Island have 8 and the Chesapeake Bayhawks 5. The Chicago Machine
owns the first overall selection.
Click HERE for more information on the 2010 Warrior Major League
Challenge and Collegiate Draft including event and ticket
information. Tickets for CONNY members are only $5 and tickets for
the general public are $10.
