SASKATOON – Six prospects joined the Saskatchewan Rush Monday. The Saskatchewan Rush made their picks during the 2015 National Lacrosse League (NLL) Entry Draft in Oakville, Ont.
With the Rush’s highest pick, they selected forward Dan Taylor 12th overall.
“He’s really going to add to our left-side depth. He’s very skilled offensively,” said Derek Keenan, the general manager and head coach of the Rush.
Taylor, from Calgary, is coming off his senior year with the Lehigh University Mountain Hawks. He completed his college campaign with 220 points and was named the 2015 Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year.
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Doug Buchan, from St. Catharines, Ont., was selected next at 18th overall. Keenan deemed Buchan the best goaltending prospect in the draft after his standout playoff performance for the Burlington Chiefs in the Ontario junior A lacrosse league.
In the third round of the draft, the Rush selected two players from British Columbia. Luke Gillespie from the B.C. Junior League’s New Westminster Salmonbellies was taken 30th overall and then defenceman Justin Goodwin from Lake Erie College Storm at No. 31.
With the No. 40 pick, the Rush selected B.C.’s Jimmy McBride, a forward from Mars Hill University.
The Rush made a splash with their last pick by selecting Saskatoon’s Reagan Harding 47th overall.
Last season, Harding played with the Lake Erie College Storm and earned his second ECAC Offensive Player of the Year honour. For his career, he played 64 games at midfield and tallied 136 goals and 43 assists.
“Reagan also was a great example of a true and complete leader for our program,” said Steve Gartelman, the Storm’s head coach.
“Nobody can question his effort on a daily basis and his desire to become great while helping others grow along the way is honestly impressive. Reagan’s personality is contagious both in the spirit of hard work and also respecting the game.”
Saskatchewan ended the draft by trading the last pick, No. 55, to the Buffalo Bandits for a sixth-round selection in the 2018 draft.
The Rush will begin their campaign to defend the 2015 NLL championship title in Calgary against the Roughnecks on Jan. 2, 2016.
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