The Langley Thunder are hoping seven is their lucky number, after adding local talent to their lineup at the Western Lacrosse Association draft held Wednesday at the Langley Events Centre.
The Thunder took seven players, led by 5’11†forward Quinn Smith, who was their first pick, 22nd overall.
The Thunder had to wait until the fourth round to make their first selection at the draft, and they selected Smith, who played last season with the New Westminster Salmonbellies of the B.C. Junior A Lacrosse League.
Smith finished ninth in league scoring with 76 points (27 goals, 49 assists).
The Thunder then selected forward Adam Will 29th overall. Will put up 52 points (23 goals, 29 assists) with the Langley Jr. Thunder last season and was fourth on the team in points.
With the Thunder’s next pick, they went back to the Langley Jr. Thunder, selecting Nathan Henare 42nd overall. Henare, also a Langley native, registered five goals, two assists, and 36 penalty minutes last season with the Jr. Thunder.
In the seventh round (49th overall), the Thunder took Nash Harrison of the Port Coquitlam Saints of the BCJALL. The 6’1†lefty had 43 points (18 goals and 25 assists) in 2013. Included in those totals were eight power play goals in just 13 games last season.
The Thunder went on to select Mike Bosch of the Jr. Thunder at 49th overall. Bosch played in 12 games last season and collected 62 penalty minutes.
With the Thunder’s next pick they went back to the Jr. Thunder, selecting Keenan Staples 63rd overall. Staples played in 13 games as a call-up last season.
In the final round and the last pick of the 2014 WLA draft the Thunder selected goaltender Garrett Spann 70th overall.
Spann played in 21 games for the Port Coquitlam Jr. A Saints and had a .749 save percentage in 2013.
The seven new draftees now join a Thunder team that will be looking to get back to the Mann Cup in 2014, after a one-year absence.
Last September, the Thunder failed in their bid to make it three Mann Cup appearances after losing in the WLA final to the Victoria Shamrocks.
The first game for the Thunder is May 17 in Coquitlam and their 2014 home debut at the LEC is May 28 against the Maple Ridge Burrards.