The Langley Thunder didn’t let its draft choices go to waste on Thursday, picking up 13 players in the 2017 Western Lacrosse Association draft.
Tyler Pace was taken as first overall pick for the Thunder.
Pace led the Coquitlam Adanacs to a Minto Cup victory inside the Langley Events Centre, and in seven games he scored eight goals and eight assists during the tournament.
“Tyler Pace is a born leader and we are very excited to have him apart of our team,” said Thunder head coach Darcy Rhodes. “He is familiar with the Langley Events Centre and we hope he can walk on and make a difference this season.”
Reece Callies was taken at number four, Jodan Magnuson at five, and Johnny Pearson at six, rounding out the Thunder’s first round picks.
In the second round, they took Keegan Rittinger at the first pick, Junior Thunder alumnus Cody Teichroeb at 11th, and Aidan Milburn at 13th.
Finally Tanner Rennick, Bordie Porter, Conner Stroup, Tyler MacLeod, Derek Downs, and Dylan Lacroix, another former Junior Thunder player, were taken from 20th to 50th overall picks.
“We are more than pleased with the picks we made today,” said Thunder general manager Rob Buchan. We did exactly what we wanted to do and that was turn the team around, add depth and bring in winners.”
The Thunder’s official season gets underway this spring with a pair of road games on Vancouver Island.
The local team will face off against the Victoria Shamrocks on May 19 and the Nanaimo Timbermen on May 29.
Their home opener will be held Wednesday, May 31 when the Maple Ridge Burrards come to scrap at the LEC.
