Like any sport, the draft is the best bet for any organization to lay the foundation for their team.
“A successful draft if the backbone of any organization,” said Doug Locker, the general manager of the Vancouver Stealth.
“There are only a couple of ways you can get players in this league; one is the draft and the other is free agency or trade, so the draft is very, very important and I think it does set the tone for down the line.”
He pointed to last year’s Stealth roster. Of the 26 players, 15 were drafted, six were free agents and five were acquired via trade.
And with that in mind, the Stealth — who begin play in 2014 at the Langley Events Centre — began shaping their roster, acquiring nine new players at the National Lacrosse League draft.
The draft was held in Oakville, Ont. at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre on Monday.
“I think it was a balanced draft for us,” said coach Chris Hall.
“We got a couple of right-handed goal scorers, a couple of left-handed goal scorers, we got some size, some scrappiness, and some experience.”
The Stealth selected Cody Bremner with their first choice, eighth overall.
Bremner is a left-handed forward who has spent the past two seasons with the Nanaimo Timbermen of the Western Lacrosse Association. 
He scored 69 points and was named WLA rookie of the year in 2012 and then added another 54 points this past season.
“Cody was the guy who we targeted and the guy that we wanted,” Locker said.
“It was an anxious waiting game to see if he was going to be the guy we were going to get, so we were really happy he was there.”
In the second round, the team grabbed transition player Nick Weiss, who is touted as one of the top defenders in the draft and very scrappy.
He had 28 points in 19 games for Peterborough last season.
The Stealth then made a couple of moves to get a pair of additional third round picks, selecting Tyler Digby and defender Kevin Neufeld, at 20th and 22nd overall, respectively.
Black Press file photo
Cody Bremner, who led the Nanaimo Timbermen of the WLA in scoring, was the first round draft choice (eighth overall) of the Vancouver Stealth in Monday’s National Lacrosse League draft.
Gaining the first pick cost them Mitch Jones, but Vancouver also picked up a future fifth round pick.
Digby can play at both ends of the floor while Neufeld is six-foot-five, 240 pounds and should add depth on the left-side, Hall said.
With the team’s regular third round pick, 26th overall, they took local Langley product Brett Dobray.
Dobray played last season with the junior A Thunder and had 94 points in 21 games.
“We took him early enough in the draft where we wanted to show him we had confidence in what we thought he could do,” Locker said.
Having talked to the Stealth management a few times prior to the draft, Dobray knew they were interested.
“It is incredible, so unbelievable,” he said about being drafted by the home-town team.
Dobray was one of two Langley players taken as they also selected Brendan Rouse in the fifth round. Rouse played with the New Westminster Junior Salmonbellies. Rouse had seven points in 18 games with the ’Bellies.
While the team had talked to Rouse prior to the draft, he was still a little surprised to be drafted.
“I wasn’t expected to be taken,” he admitted.
He hadn’t played the sport for the past four years as he concentrated on hockey, playing in the Western Hockey League. Rouse finished his eligibility last year with the Vancouver Giants.
“This year, I decided to get back into lacrosse,” he said.
“I love the game and am happy I did.”
“We took him early enough in the draft where we wanted to show him we had confidence in what we thought he could do,” Locker said.
Dobray was one of two Langley players taken as they also selected Brendan Rouse in the fifth round. Rouse played with the New Westminster Junior Salmonbellies. Rouse had seven points in 18 games with the ’Bellies.
Locker said it was extra special being able to draft a couple of local players.
The team’s other selections included: Blair Goss (Orangeville, fourth round, 36th overall); Josh Hawkins (fifth round, 41st overall); and Chris Wardle (Victoria, sixth round, 54th overall).
Goss is a defender while Wardle is known for offence. He had 90 points in 21 games this past season.
Hawkins — the lone American selected by the team — made an impression on the organization with his play at the NCAA level in field lacrosse. But Hall feels confident his skills will transfer nicely to the indoor game.
Locker spoke with all nine by phone following the draft
“That is always a fun call to make,” he said.
“It is a special night; they should be proud of what they have accomplished.”
He added that all of the draftees were humbled to be selected, yet still excited, which he loved to see.
As for how many of the nine new faces have a chance at cracking the 2014 roster, or at least earning a practice roster spot, Locker said they all have shots, but it will come down to working hard and showing chemistry.
Last season, five of the six draft picks made the team.
The Stealth are expected to announce their training camp dates in the next week or so, but it will begin around the end of November, Locker said.
He did say they would also hold an invitation tryout camp for non-roster free agents at the end of October at the Langley Events Centre.
The team opens the 2014 schedule on Jan. 4 and their first home game is Jan. 11.
