2019 NLL Entry Draft in the Books as the Halifax Thunderbirds, New York Riptide, and Rochester Knighthawks Head to Inaugural Seasons

PHILADELPHIA, September 18, 2019 – Ahead of the National Lacrosse League’s (NLL) 34^th season, the 2019 Entry Draft took place on Tuesday, September 17 at Xfinity Live! in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. With the season set to begin on November 29, the newest group of rookies will look to make an impression with their respective new teams.

“The NLL Draft is an exciting night for our league, and we are proud to welcome all of the players in tonight’s draft into our lacrosse family,” said NLL Commissioner Nick Sakiewicz. “We can’t wait for Face Off Weekend for the first chance to see these talented new players in action.”

After winning a coin flip against the Rochester Knighthawks during halftime of Game 1 of the 2019 NLL Finals, the New York Riptide were awarded the first pick and selected Tyson Gibson out of Robert Morris University. The Riptide also had the tenth pick of the draft, which was acquired in a trade with the Saskatchewan Rush, and took Tyson Bomberry out of Syracuse University.

“We’re very excited to get the two guys we wanted in an ideal situation tonight,” Riptide Assistant GM and Director of Lacrosse Operations Lance Basler said. “We feel they can contribute right off the bat on offense and defense. They are true gritty guys and great DNA for our team.”

The Rochester Knighthawks had the second pick of the draft and selected Ryland Rees out of Stony Brook University. The New England Black Wolves picked third and took Andrew Kew from the University of Tampa.

“To be honest, we were shocked,” Black Wolves General Manager Rich Lisk said. “We didn’t know if he’d get down to us at three and we couldn’t be happier with it. He’s a pure goal scorer and the guy can put the ball in the back of the net, and that’s what we were looking for from the left side.”

Saskatchewan selected Holden Garlent from Canisius College with the fourth pick and the Halifax Thunderbirds took Clarke Petterson out of Cornell University to round out the top-five.

Full details from the 2019 NLL Entry Draft, including all 89 selections, can be viewed below.

FIRST ROUND

1. New York – Tyson Gibson, Robert Morris University, Forward
2. Rochester – Ryland Rees, Stony Brook University, Transition
3. New England (from Philadelphia) – Andrew Kew, University of Tampa, Forward
4. Saskatchewan (from Vancouver) – Holden Garlent, Canisius College, Transition
5. Halifax – Clarke Petterson, Cornell University, Forward
6. Colorado – Warren Jeffrey, University of Vermont, Defenseman
7. Calgary (from New England) – Liam LeClair, Six Nations Jr. A, Defenseman
8. Calgary (from San Diego) – Haiden Dickson, Coquitlam Adanacs, Forward
9. Saskatchewan – Justin Robinson, Robert Morris University, Transition
10. New York (from Toronto via Saskatchewan) – Tyson Bomberry, Syracuse University, Defense
11. Georgia – Kason Tarbell, Cornell University, Defense
12. Buffalo – Brent Noseworthy, University of Michigan, Defense
13. Georgia (from Calgary) – Ryan MacSpadyen, Mercy College, Transition
14. Halifax (compensatory selection – Matt Vinc) – Trevor Smyth, Rochester Institute of Technology, Defense
15. Toronto (compensatory selection – Brodie Merrill) – Aaron Forster, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Transition
16. Saskatchewan (compensatory selection – Dan Dawson) – Tanner Thomson, Marquette University, Forward
17. New England (compensatory selection – Aaron Bold) – Zach Goodrich, Towson University

SECOND ROUND

18. Rochester – Cory Highfield, University of Massachusetts – Lowell
19. New York – Jake Fox, Johns Hopkins University, Forward
20. Philadelphia – Alex Pace, Brock University, Forward/Transition
21. Georgia (from Vancouver) – Philadelphia* – Matt Marinier, Burlington Chiefs Jr. A, Defense
22. Georgia (from Halifax via New England) – Calgary* – Marshal King, Drexel University, Forward
23. Colorado – Will Malcolm, New Westminster Salmonbellies
24. New York (from New England) – Connor Farrell, Long Island University
25. San Diego – Matthew Sykes, Mimico, Defense
26. Colorado (from Saskatchewan via San Diego) – Brett Craig, Seton Hill University, Defense
27. Toronto – Zach Manns, Drexel University, Forward
28. San Diego (from Georgia) – Devyn Mayea, Burlington Chiefs, Defense
29. Buffalo – Nathaniel Kozevnikov, Robert Morris University
30. Halifax (from Calgary via Buffalo via New England) – Clay Scanlan, Six Nations, Forward
31. Colorado (compensatory pick) – Jake McNabb, St. Catherine’s Jr. A, Forward
32. Rochester – Dustyn Pratt, Orangeville Northmen
33. New York – Gale Thorpe, The Ohio State University, Forward

*Georgia sends 21st pick to Philadelphia in exchange for 2021 2nd round pick

*Georgia sends 22nd pick to Calgary in exchange for 2021 2nd round pick

THIRD ROUND

34. New York – John Wagner, Marquette University, Forward
35. Rochester – Thomas Whitty, St. Catherine’s Jr. A, Defense
36. Philadelphia – Pat Spencer, Loyola University, Forward
37. Rochester (from Vancouver) – Matt Van Galen, University of Detroit Mercy
38. Halifax – Showahnonkon “Nonkon” Thompson, Awkesasne Jr A
39. Colorado – Dylan Kinnear, Towson University
40. Calgary (from New England) – Nick Scott, Langley Thunder
41. San Diego – Kyle Dawson, Nanaimo Jr. A
42. Saskatchewan – Cameron Dunkerley, Victoria Jr. A, Goalie

43.Toronto – Jamison Dilks, Six Nations Jr. A

44.Georgia – TJ Comizio, Villanova University, Transition/Defense

45. Buffalo – Ryder Garnsey, Notre Dame University, Forward
46. Calgary – Landon Kells, Peterborough Jr. A
47. New York – Travis Longboat, Six Nations Arrows, Forward
48. Rochester – Sean Darroch, Lindenwood University, Defense

FOURTH ROUND

49. Rochester – Tyler Biles, Brampton Jr. A
50. New York – Jack Rowlett, University of North Carolina, Defense
51. Philadelphia – Kyle Marr, Johns Hopkins University, Forward
52. Vancouver – Derek Lloyd, Stony Brook University
53. Philadelphia (from Halifax) – Dave Smith, University of Virginia, Transition/Defense
54. Georgia (from Colorado via Buffalo) – New England* – Braiden Davis, University of Vermont
55. Buffalo (from New England) – Taylor Kauffeldt, Brampton Jr. A
56. San Diego – Oliver Bolisteri, Six Nations Jr. A
57. Saskatchewan – Colin Berglof, Saskatchewan Jr A
58. Toronto – Troy Holowchuk, Six Nations Jr A
59. Georgia – Gunnar Schimoler, University Maryland – Baltimore County
60. Buffalo – Tyler Halls, Orangeville
61. New England (from Calgary) – Bailey Brown, Toronto Beaches
62. Rochester – Bradley Voigt, Syracuse University, Forward
63. New York – Matthew Borges, The Ohio State University, Defense

*Georgia sends 54th pick to New England in exchange for 2020 4th round pick

FIFTH ROUND

64. New York – Daylen Hill, Six Nations
65. Rochester – Carter Badour, The College of Saint Rose, Forward
66. Philadelphia – Jordan Krug, Cabrini University, Forward
67. Vancouver – Keegan Bell, Langley Thunder
68. Halifax – Matt Dziama, The University of Virginia, Transition
69. Colorado – Dan Bucaro, Georgetown University, Forward
70. New England – Tristan Rai, Lehigh University, Forward
71. San Diego – Ryan Jones, Delta Jr. A
72. Saskatchewan – Luke Keenan, Princeton University, Forward
73. Toronto – Ryan Conrad, University of Virginia, Transition
74. Georgia – Jordan Gillis, Hamilton Jr. B
75. Georgia (from Buffalo) – Mikey Herring, University of Virginia, Forward
76. Calgary – Cordell Hastings, Calgary Shamrocks Jr. B

SIXTH ROUND

77. Rochester – Alec Simons, Mimico Jr A
78. New York – Brad McKinney, Syracuse University
79. Philadelphia – Austin Fusco, Syracuse University, Defense
80. Vancouver – Gord Phillips, Monmouth University
81. Halifax – Brad Fannell, St. Catherine’s Jr. A
82. Colorado – Liam Osborne, Belmont Abbey College
83. New England – Travis Brown, Orangeville
84. San Diego – Russ Oakes, Onondaga Community College
85. Saskatchewan – Jordan Getz, Wheeling University
86. Toronto – Jordan Caskenette, Orangeville Jr A
87. Georgia – No Pick
88. Buffalo – Joel Watson, Whitby
89. Calgary – Travis Getz, Wheeling University

About the National Lacrosse League

The National Lacrosse League (NLL) is North America’s premier professional lacrosse league. Founded in 1986, the NLL ranks third in average attendance for pro indoor sports worldwide, behind only the NHL and NBA. The League is comprised of 13 franchises across the United States and Canada: Buffalo Bandits, Calgary Roughnecks, Colorado Mammoth, Georgia Swarm, Halifax Thunderbirds, New England Black Wolves, New York Riptide, Philadelphia Wings, Rochester Knighthawks, San Diego Seals, Saskatchewan Rush, Toronto Rock, and Vancouver Warriors. For more information, visit NLL.com and find the NLL on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.