Six of the top eight selections from the BC Junior A Lacrosse League U17 entry draft held at Langley Events Centre on Jan. 17. photo courtesy of Andy Watson BCJALL
Story by Andy Watson BC Junior A Lacrosse League
Riley Alexander from Maple Ridge was selected as the first overall pick at the U17 entry draft held at Langley Events Centre on Jan. 13.
General Manager Warren Goss from the New Westminster Jr. A Salmonbellies made four of the first five selections of the draft and also selected Brendan Marcher of Maple Ridge (second overall), Brandon Kirby of Port Moody (third overall), and Graham Farstad of Vancouver (fifth overall).Â
"We're really, really happy," said Goss. "We were looking a lot at depth at all positions, really. We needed help on left side and addressed that. We were looking for some size which as you can see by draft today they are all over six feet."
"I think a couple of guys can step right into Jr A next year, maybe more."
Burnaby selected Ryan Sheldrake of Abbotsford (fourth overall) and Alexander Cartwright of Vancouver (seventh overall), and Delta (under new general manager Logan Schuss) selected Jett Burns of Maple Ridge (sixth overall) and Kenyon Whitney of Richmond (eighth overall) to round out the first round.
"We did a lot of scouting to prepare for this draft," Goss added. "And combined with the draft last year, where we also had a number of picks, we are really building for a good three to four run here with New West coming back to the top of the league."
Six rounds of picks took place, with eight players per round, for a total of 48 players selected from B.C.'s 17U minor clubs on the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island.Â
A series of trades beginning Jan. 12 impacted the draft order in later rounds.
The schedule for the 2024 season will be announced in the coming weeks.
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