09/08/10 - Suitor Suits the Swarm's Needs in the 2010 NLL Entry Draft
Andrew Suitor |
Scott Rodgers |
Josh Gilliam |
Ryan Hurley |
John McClure |
Steven Waldeck |
Matt Lyons |
The Minnesota Swarm were busy on draft day as they made three separate trades and six picks that netted them seven new players.
With the fourth pick in the draft, the Swarm selected Andrew Suitor, a righthanded defenbseman, from Orangeville,
Ontario, Suitor, 21, helped lead the Orangeville Northmen to three straight Minto Cup tournaments, winning the Cup in 2008 and 2009. He was named NLL
Insider Junior Defender of the Year this past summer. Suitor is expected to wear #20. He is a fantastic two way player that also can take draws.
The Swarm traded the 13th pick in the draft along with a third round pick in the 2011 Entry Draft to the Buffalo Bandits for the 15th and 27th picks in
the draft.
With the 15th pick, the Swarm selected goaltender Scott Rodgers. Rodgers, 23 and from Wantagh, New York, finished a great career at Notre Dame, where
this past sesson, he was named the Most Outstanding Player in the NCAA Division I playoffs as the Irish made the NCAA Final against Duke. Rodgers will have
to make a tough adjustment to playing goaltender indoors as the net goes from 6 x 6 to 4 x 4'9" indoors. He plays for the Toronto Nationals in the MLL.
With the 18th pick, the Swarm selected lefthanded forward Josh Gillam. Gilliam, 22, is from Peterborough, Ontario, where
he won a Minto Cup in 2006 and a Mann Cup in 2007 with the hometown Lakers. He played both lacrosse and hockey at Dartmouth. He is more interested in
pursuing a pro hockey career but with the 18th pick, this may be a steal for the Swarm if Gilliam decides to play pro lacrosse, where he is considered a top
5 taltent in this draft.
With the 27th pick, the Swarm selected lefthanded forward Ryan Hurley. Hurley is the first ever Minnesotan drafted in the NLL
as he was born in Eagan and attended Holy Angels for high school. He attended Cornell, where he scored 140 goals and helped lead the Big Red to three Final
Four appearances.
The Swarm then traded the 34th pick to the Toronto Rock for a third round pick in the 2011 Entry Draft.
With the 45th pick in the draft, the Swarm selected righthaned forward John McClure. McClure, 24, played
collegiately at Dowling and has won two Mann Cups with the Brampton Excelsiors in 2008 & 2009.
The Swarm traded the 54th pick in the draft to the Boston Blazers and received righthanded forward Matt Lyons. Lyons
has played three years in the NLL, scoring 34 goals and 44 assists in 35 games. Look for Lyons to wear #19.
With the 56th pick in the draft, the Swarm selected righthanded defenseman Steven Waldeck. Waldeck, 22, played
collegiately at Stony Brook and plays for the Toronto Nationals in the MLL. He was a honorable mention All-American in 2010.
