The National Lacrosse League welcomed what’s considered to be one of the best draft classes in the league’s 30-year history at the 2015 NLL Draft on September 28 at Toronto Rock Athletic Centre in Oakville, Ontario. A total of 55 prospects were selected across the six-round draft as teams assemble and ready their rosters for training camp, preseason and the start of the 2016 NLL season in January.
University at Albany star Lyle Thompson, the two-time reigning Tewaaraton Award recipient, was reunited with his brother Miles after being drafted first overall by the Georgia Swarm. The Rochester Knighthawks then added a key defensive piece in Lindenwood’s Graeme Hossack with the second pick before Georgia selected forward Jesse King out of Ohio State at third overall. The Calgary Roughnecks brought on University of Denver star Wes Berg, who helped the Pioneers to an NCAA title as the tourney’s MVP, with the fourth overall selection. The Swarm continued to rebuild with two more picks in Chad Tutton from UNC and Syracuse’s Randy Staats before the Roughnecks added another in Reilly O’Connor from Georgetown. The New England Black Wolves joined the mix at seventh overall by selecting Dan Lintner from Cornell University before the Knighthawkes rounded out the first round by taking local RIT product Brad Gillies.
FIRST ROUND
1. Georgia Swarm (from New England Black Wolves): Lyle Thompson, University at Albany
2. Rochester Knighthawks (from Vancouver Stealth): Graeme Hossack, Lindenwood University
3. Georgia Swarm: Jesse King, Ohio State
4. Calgary Roughnecks: Wesley Berg, University of Denver
5. Georgia Swarm (from Colorado Mammoth via New England Black Wolves): Chad Tutton, North Carolina
6. Georgia Swarm (from Buffalo Bandits): Randy Staats, Syracuse
7. Calgary Roughnecks (from Rochester Knighthawks via New England Black Wolves): Reilly O’Connor, Georgetown
8. New England Black Wolves (from Toronto Rock): Dan Lintner, Cornell
9. Rochester Knighthawks (from Saskatchewan Rush): Brad Gillies, RIT
SECOND ROUND
10. Toronto Rock (from New England Black Wolves): Turner Evans, Ohio State
11. Buffalo Bandits (from Vancouver Stealth): Anthony Malcom, Mars Hill University
12. Saskatchewan Rush (from Georgia Swarm): Dan Taylor, Lehigh University
13. Calgary Roughnecks: Mitch De Snoo, Drexel
14. Rochester Knighthawks (from Saskatchewan Rush via Colorado Mammoth): Derek Searle, RIT
15. Calgary Roughnecks (from Buffalo Bandits): Christian Del Bianco, Coquitlam Adanacs
16. Rochester Knighthawks: Adam Bomberry, Onondaga
17. Toronto Rock: Luc Magnan, Robert Morris
18. Saskatchewan Rush: Doug Buchan, Burlington Chiefs
19. Vancouver Stealth (compensatory): Jordan Durston, Six Nations Arrows
20. Georgia Swarm (compensatory): Thomas Hoggarth, Trent
21. Vancouver Stealth (compensatory): Shayne Adams, University of Detroit
THIRD ROUND
22. New England Black Wolves: Mike MacDonald, Princeton
23. Vancouver Stealth: Connor Brown, HH Jr B Bulldogs
24. Calgary Roughnecks (from Georgia Swarm via Saskatchewan Rush): Tyson Bell, Onondaga
25. Calgary Roughnecks: Kellen Leclair, Six Nations
26. Rochester Knighthawks (from Colorado Mammoth): John St. John, Beaches Jr A
27. Buffalo Bandits: Mike Triolo, Pfeiffer
28. New England Black Wolves (from Rochester Knighthawks): Phil Caputo, Brampton Jr A
29. Georgia Swarm (from Toronto Rock): Michael Seidel, Robert Morris
30. Saskatchewan Rush: Justin Goodwin, LEC
31. Saskatchewan Rush (compensatory): Luke Gillespie, New Westminster Jr A
FOURTH ROUND
32. Colorado Mammoth (from New England Black Wolves): Bryce Sweeting, Peterborough Jr A
33. Vancouver Stealth: Riley Campbell, Peterborough Jr A
34. Toronto Rock (from Georgia Swarm): Kyle Aquin, RIT
35. Calgary Roughnecks: Jacob Ruest, Robert Morris
36. Buffalo Bandits (from Colorado Mammoth): Tim Edwards, Canisius
37. New England Black Wolves (from Buffalo Bandits): Brooker Muir, Brampton Jr A
38. Rochester Knighthawks: Greg Longboat, Six Nations
39. Vancouver Stealth (from Toronto Rock): Evan Messenger, Delta Jr A
40. Saskatchewan Rush: Jimmy McBride, Mars Hill University
FIFTH ROUND
41. New England Black Wolves: Ryan MacSpadyen, Beaches Jr A
42. Vancouver Stealth: Ryan Wagner, Niagara Thunderhawks
43. Georgia Swarm: Nick Ossello, Notre Dame
44. Calgary Roughnecks: Jordan Kancsal, Jr A Mountaineers
45. Colorado Mammoth: Dane Sorensen, Florida Southern
46. Vancouver Stealth (from Buffalo Bandits): Keegan Letourneau, Six Nations
47. Saskatchewan Rush: Reagan Harding, LEC
SIXTH ROUND
48. New England Black Wolves: Jordi Jones-Smith, Whitby Jr A
49. Vancouver Stealth: Marvin Curry, Potomac State
50. Georgia Swarm: Rick Lewis, Ohio State
51. Calgary Roughnecks: Carson Barton, Coquitlam Adanacs
52. Colorado Mammoth: Jordan Gilles, Delta Jr A
53. Toronto Rock (from Buffalo Bandits): Jamie Batten, HH Jr B Bulldogs
54. Toronto Rock: Tyler Roche, Peterborough Jr A
55. Buffalo Bandits (from Saskatchewan Rush): Matthew Clearwater-Francisco, Mimico
