NLL: Jax Dispersed; Merrill No. 1 to Rush
from press release
The Edmonton Rush selected transition player Brodie Merrill with
the first selection in a dispersal draft held by the National
Lacrosse League earlier today. The four-time All-Star picked up 216
loose balls last season, the second highest total in the league.
The Toronto Rock acquired transition player Tyler Codron with the
second selection. Minnesota selected forward Scott Stewart with the
third selection.
First Round
1. Edmonton: Brodie Merrill
2. Toronto: Tyler Codron
3. Minnesota: Scott Stewart
4. Philadelphia: Peter Jacobs (traded to Toronto, then to
Minnesota; see below)
5. Colorado: Cory Conway
6. Minnesota (from Rochester): Richard Morgan
7. Washington: Peter Morgan
8. Boston: Kevin Leveille
9. Buffalo: Jamison Koesterer
10. New York: Ryan Powell
11. Calgary: Luke Forget
Second Round
12. Edmonton: Matt Disher
13. Toronto: Joel Weber
14. Minnesota: Tim Campeau
15. Philadelphia: Matt Flindell
16. Colorado: David Morgan
17. Rochester: Dan Stroup
18. Washington: Brad MacDonald
19. Boston: Matt Yager
20. Buffalo: PASS
21. New York: Matt Brown
22. Calgary: Dayne Michaud
Third Round
23. Edmonton: Pat Jones
24. Toronto: PASS
25. Minnesota: Bruce Alexander
26. Philadelphia: Derek Malawsky
27. Colorado: Dallas Eliuk
28. Rochester: PASS
29. Washington: Derek Lowe
Draft Day Dealing
Colorado, New York Swap Danowski for R. Powell
NEW YORK -- After a flurry of trades on
Tuesday, two more players are on the move Thursday morning as the
New York Titans and Colorado Mammoth have agreed to a trade that
will send forward Ryan Powell to Colorado and forward Matt Danowski
to New York.
The most physical of the famous Powell brothers, Ryan led the
Portland LumberJax last season in points (62) and assists (44). He
also added 18 goals. The Syracuse alum was named to the 2007 and
2008 NLL All-Star teams and was named the All-Star Game's MVP in
2008. No stranger to Denver, Powell is excited about coming to
Colorado to play his indoor lacrosse.
"I'm very excited about coming to play for the Mammoth," said
Powell. "They are always one of the toughest teams in the league
and they have the best fans of any place I've been."
A native of Farmingdale, NY, Danowski heads to the Titans after
seeing action in nine games during his rookie campaign with the
Mammoth. He was the seventh overall pick in the 2008 Entry Draft
after completing an illustrious collegiate career with the Duke
Blue Devils that ended with him holding the all-time Division I
points lead (353). He was also a four-time All-American at
Duke.
He tallied seven goals and seven assists with the Mammoth last
year.
Knighthawks Nab Jacobs in Deal with Rock
ROCHESTER -- Rochester Knighthawks General
Manager Regy Thorpe announced today that the team has acquired
forward Peter Jacobs from the Toronto Rock. The Knighthawks also
selected veteran forward Dan Stroup with the 17th overall pick in
today's National Lacrosse League Dispersal Draft of Portland
LumberJax players. The Jacobs trade is pending league approval.
"We are excited to acquire Peter to our organization," said
Knighthawks General Manager Regy Thorpe. "Peter is only 19 but will
be entering his third season in the NLL. He brings a superb
finishing touch and is a great off-ball player. He will fit in well
on our left side. He currently is working great with Shawn Williams
and Marshall Abrams, the offensive coaches for our Six Nations
Junior "A" team, and seems to be getting better each game.
He's a real coachable young man that has a very bright future with
our organization and the NLL."
Rochester added Jacobs from the Toronto Rock after being selected
with the fourth overall pick in the Dispersal Draft by
Philadelphia, who then dealt him to Toronto. The Knighthawks sent
defenseman Sandy Chapman to the Rock for the 19 year old. Chapman
played four seasons in Rochester (2006-09) and won the 2007 NLL
championship. He also was a two-time team Defenseman of the
Year.
Jacobs arrives in Rochester after playing in 27 games with the
LumberJax in two seasons and recorded 31 goals, 21 assists and 94
loose balls. Last season, he chipped in 20 goals and nine assists.
In 2008, he became the youngest player to ever play in an NLL
Championship Game at 18 years old. The forward scored two goals in
the title game as his Portland LumberJax lost to the Buffalo
Bandits.
The Akwesasne, Ontario, product currently plays Junior "A" ball
for the Six Nations Arrows and has 23 goals and 10 assists in just
seven games. This summer, he has 38 goals and 19 assists in 15
games. He was acquired by Six Nations from the Akwesasne Indians in
late June.
Stroup has played 13 seasons in the NLL and won championships in 2000, 2002 and 2006. The Vancouver native has appeared in 182 games and recorded 294 goals and 235 assists. Stroup broke into professional lacrosse in 1995 with the Baltimore Thunder. He later rejoined the league in 1998 with the Ontario Raiders and followed the franchise to Toronto, where he played from 1999 to 2002. He won two titles with the Rock. He also made stops in Vancouver (2003-04), Colorado (2005-06), Edmonton (2007-08) and Portland (2009). His last title was with the Colorado Mammoth in 2006. Stroup has appeared in three NLL All-Star Games in his career. In his Western Lacrosse Association box lacrosse career, he was a six-time all-star and won the 2001 Mann Cup with the Coquitlam Adanacs.
Swarm Deals for Benesch, Dishes Ward
SAINT PAUL/MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- Minnesota
Swarm General Manager Marty O'Neill announced that the Swarm has
acquired forward Ryan Benesch, defenseman Scott Self and the ninth
overall pick in the 2009 NLL Entry Draft from the Edmonton Rush in
exchange for forwards Ryan Ward, Justin Norbraten, Scott Stewart
and defenseman Richard Morgan. Minnesota acquired Stewart (third
overall) and Morgan (sixth overall) in the Dispersal Draft of the
Portland LumberJax players. The Swarm also selected forward Tim
Campeau (14th overall) and defenseman Bruce Alexander (25th
overall) in today's Dispersal Draft.
Benesch, 24 (1/30/85), recorded 44 points (17-27=44) and 71 loose
balls 14 games with Edmonton and Toronto in 2009. The 5-foot-9, 180
pound native of Kitchener, Ontario has collected 152 points
(69-83=152) and 206 loose balls in 43 games during three seasons in
the NLL. He was named the NLL Rookie of The Year in 2007 after
scoring 58 points (33-25=58) in 15 contests. Benesch was originally
selected first overall in the 2006 NLL Entry Draft by the San Jose
Stealth.
"With Ryan Benesch we get the potential of someone who can score a lot of goals and really open up our offense," stated O'Neill.
Self, 30 (7/7/79), collected 90 loose balls and recorded 13 points (5-8=13) in 16 games with Edmonton in 2009. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound native of Peterborough, Ontario has recorded 121 points (30-91=121), 655 loose balls and 114 penalty minutes in 125 career NLL contests during nine seasons.
"Scott is regarded as one of the top five defensemen in the league, if not higher," said O'Neill. "What we are getting here is a quality guy with great experience. He can be a versatile guy as well and a great leader."
Campeau, 24 (10/12/84), notched 28 points (13-15=28) and 28 loose balls in 11 games with Portland during his rookie season in the NLL. The 5-foot-9, 185-pound forward is a native of Coquitlam, British Columbia.
Alexander, 36 (4/6/73), appeared in 12 games with Portland last season and has totaled 240 points (73-167=240), 342 loose balls and 137 penalty minutes in 129 career NLL games. The 6-foot-5, 250-pound defenseman is a native of Victoria, British Columbia.
Ward, 28 (9/26/80), played five seasons for the Minnesota Swarm from 2005-09. He scored 56 points (20-36=55) in 2009 and totaled 310 points (114-196=310) in his five-year span with the team.
"Unfortunately we had to trade Ryan Ward who's been here five years and has had some pretty incredible games for us, but you have to give up something good to get something good," said O'Neill.
