PHILADELPHIA, July 21, 2017 – The National Lacrosse League (NLL), the largest men’s professional indoor lacrosse league in North America, has announced a series of dates for key transactions as teams build out their rosters leading up to the 2018 season.
The NLL Combine is scheduled for September 16-17 at the TRAC. At the combine, prospective players will have an opportunity to showcase their talent and skill in a practice setting through structured games – testing their endurance, reaction time, strength, agility and speed on the field. Additionally, they will take part in a series of interviews with NLL general managers and coaches. The combine is open to eligible draftees and non-registered free agents who can apply to register at this link.
Combine events will begin at 5PM EDT on Saturday, September 16 and end by 3PM EDT on Sunday, September 17.
The culmination of these events will take place at the NLL Draft on September 18 at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre (TRAC) in Oakville, Ontario. You can watch live on NLLTV.com as the league welcomes its newest crop of rookies ahead of the 2018 season. Players interested in learning more about their draft eligibility can contact the NLL for details at this link.
Eligibility Requirements for Players for the NLL Entry Draft
Any player who attains the age of 21 during the draft year that has never participated in a US NCAA or NJCAA collegiate varsity lacrosse program.
Any player who has participated in a US NCAA or NJCAA collegiate varsity lacrosse program that has exhausted or forfeited his NCAA collegiate varsity lacrosse eligibility.
Any player less than 21 years of age is not eligible for the Entry Draft unless having notified the league in writing of his intention to forfeit his remaining NCAA or NJCAA eligibility. Player must attain eligibility at least 30 days or a date determined by the League prior to the draft.
Any drafted player participating in any Canadian Junior League and that subsequently attends a US college and participates in NCAA or NJCAA varsity lacrosse program, will be re-entered into the draft upon exhausting or foregoing his collegiate eligibility. Team originally selecting the player will lose the player’s draft rights.
Any player less than 21 years of age cannot be declared a free agent without being drafted. Any such undrafted player will automatically be re-entered in each subsequent draft until he is selected or attains the age of 21. For purposes of this By-law, a player shall be deemed to be twenty-one years of age should he attain the age of twenty-one before December 31 on the draft year.
“Player” as used herein shall be deemed to mean any lacrosse player participating in Canadian Junior league lacrosse, NCAA or NJCAA US collegiate varsity lacrosse or any other player known to the league to be of draft quality.
Players who intend to forfeit their remaining NCAA eligibility or enter the draft as a underage player, contact [email protected] to obtain a renunciation form.
“The NLL represents the highest level of achievement for a lacrosse player, attracting some of the best athletes to our League. We look forward to welcoming fresh talent to our teams this fall to continue to elevate our organization and our sport,” said NLL Commissioner Nick Sakiewicz.
2017 NLL Draft Order – 1st Round as of July 21 (subject to change pending trades):
FIRST ROUND
- Buffalo
- Rochester
- Calgary
- Georgia (from New England)
- Rochester (from Colorado)
- Rochester (from Vancouver)
- Georgia (from Toronto)
- Saskatchewan
- Georgia
- New England (from Georgia) (compensatory selection)
- Calgary (compensatory selection)
About the National Lacrosse League
The National Lacrosse League (NLL) is North America’s premier professional indoor 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 nine franchises across the United States and Canada: Buffalo Bandits, Calgary Roughnecks, Colorado Mammoth, Georgia Swarm, New England Black Wolves, Rochester Knighthawks, Saskatchewan Rush, Toronto Rock and Vancouver Stealth. The Georgia Swarm was crowned winner of the 2017 Champion’s Cup in the League’s 31st season. For more information, visit NLL.com and find the NLL on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
