The Oakville and Peterborough Lakers protected the maximum four players for Sunday's Major Series Lacrosse draft of graduating juniors. Three teams protected just one player each while the Six Nations Chiefs protected three. In order to protect a graduating junior, another player must be moved off a team's 25-man active roster.
The Lakers class was no big surprise. It includes a pair of elite transition prospects in Matt Gilray and Thomas Hoggarth, both of whom went to the Minto Cup last year after being traded to the Orangeville Northmen. (a Jr A team's MSL affiliate retains possession of a players rights if he is traded in his final year of junior eligibility). Peterborough also protected a pair of forwards: star righty Cam Milligan and grinder Dan Michel, who was a three-year captain for the Jr A Lakers.
Oakville adds a deep group as well, including a pair of defenders who were taken in last year's National Lacrosse League draft, Justin Martin and Lauchlin Elder.
The Chiefs didn't have quite the same quantity but their trio brings quality. Brendan Bomberry is a former Minto Cup MVP and Kellen Leclair is a stud defender, although he announced a couple of weeks ago that he had torn his ACL and will be out for an extended rehab.
Brampton protected lefty forward Brandon Robinson, selected by the New England Black Wolves in the 2016 NLL draft. Brooklin protected defender Connor Laird, who showed promise in a handful of call ups last summer. Cobourg protected forward Joel Tinney. The Innerkip lefty was traded by the Toronto Beaches to Orangeville last year and helped the Northmen reach the Minto.
Protected Lists
Brampton Excelsiors (Excelsiors Jr A)
Brandon Robinson
Brooklin Redmen (Whitby Warriors)
Connor Laird
Cobourg Kodiaks (Toronto Beaches)
Joel Tinney
Oakville Rock (Burlington Chiefs)
Nolan Apers
Justin Martin
Chris Young
Lauchlin Elder
Peterborough Lakers (Lakers Jr A)
Thomas Hoggarth
Matt Gilray
Cam Milligan
Dan Michel
Six Nations Chiefs (Six Nations Arrows)
Brendan Bomberry
Kellen Leclair
Zach Miller
