Players from the Ridge Meadows Burrards minor lacrosse association were once again popular picks as the BC Junior A Lacrosse League (BCJALL) held its draft over the weekend.
As the top under-17 players were chosen, Burrards went first, second and sixth overall.
Riley Alexander and Brendan Marcher were drafted first and second respectively by the New Westminster Salmonbellies, and then Jett Burns was taken sixth by Delta.
“We did a lot of scouting to prepare for this draft,” said New West GM Warren Goss. “And combined with the draft last year, where we also had a number of picks, we are really building for a good three to four run here with New West coming back to the top of the league.”
Alexander is a Garibaldi student, who has been playing both box and field lacrosse since the age of six. He played for Team BC at the Canadian Nationals, and last summer (2023) I was invited to the U17 Canadian National Team development camp, where he was named to the camp all-star team.
The draft was held on Jan. 13 at Langley Events Centre.
The second round saw Kayden McIntosh (Delta), Anthony Calleja (New West), and Ty Bikic (Delta) drafted.
Round three saw Kaden Urquhart (Burnaby), round four Tatain Hand (Delta) and Callum Olson (Coquitlam); and round six Joey Gagnon (Langley), Deon Gonzales (Burnaby), and Carsyn Pomfrey.
The Langley Thunder were excited to have acquired a pair of Maple Ridge brothers. They drafted Joey Gagnon, then traded for his brother John Gagnon from the Port Coquitlam Saints, sending them a third-round pick this year. John was a second round selection, 13th overall, in 2022. Both players are expected to add grit to the lineup.
There were a total of 48 players selected in the draft.
READ ALSO: Vancouver Canuck coach Tocchet headed to NHL all-star game
READ ALSO: VIDEO: Vancouver Giants wrap road trip with a loss
