Full 2022 OJLL Entry Draft Results
Chris Rathwell, K-W Lacrosse Club (Photo: OLA)
The Ontario Junior Lacrosse League held their highly anticipated Entry Draft at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre in Oakville yesterday.
The Orangeville Northmen selected Jameson Bucktooth of the Akwesasne Storm Minor Lacrosse Association first overall.
“I had the pleasure of coaching a number of professional players such as Miles and Lyle Thompson, Adam Bomberry, Brendan Bomberry, Kason Tarbell, and Nonkon Thompson just to name a few, “said Akwesasne Coaching Director Greg Phillips in an NDN Sports profile on Bucktooth last year. “From what I’ve witnessed, Jameson is comparable to Miles and Lyle offensively. However, he made scoring goals look easier than Miles and Lyle did. Jameson was gifted with natural scoring ability. Having coached him at the bantam age level, he was hands down the best finisher I’ve ever seen.”
Orangeville GM, Nick Rose, tweeted soon after selecting Bucktooth, “It was a great day at the TRAC for the Northmen and the OJLL Entry Draft. Very excited to welcome Jameson Bucktooth and Julien Belair to the Hornheads! Can’t wait to get started with this group.”
Julien Belair, Orangeville Northmen (Photo: OLA)
Bucktooth and Belair were one of a number of prospects drafted out of the Ottawa area during Sunday’s selections. Belair, alongside Nepean-product James Donnelly, who was also drafted yesterday (12th overall, Peterborough), were two of the top-performing players during last summer’s OLA Rising Stars Invitational, an event that saw many OJLL coaches and scouts evaluating talent.
Centre-Wellington players were also called on a number of times by OJLL teams during this year’s draft: Chris Rathwell (3rd overall), Nate Whittom (8th overall) and Matt Hamill (22nd overall).
The two thriving regions could likely support their own A teams based on the talent that is being produced in both areas over the last number of years. A long-standing rule limits OJLL teams to drafting just a single player from minor clubs that have a Junior B program presently (unless otherwise deemed draft eligible). Many feel the rigid rule could use updating.
In addition to the blockbuster trades that sent Brayden Mayea to the Oakville Buzz and Reed Kurtz to the Mimico Mountaineers, more deals dropped in the 24 hours leading up to the draft.
The Peterborough Lakers sent the 14th overall selection in this year’s draft to the Buzz for a 2nd round pick in 2025.
Oakville picked up Tanner Cole, a former 1st round pick (7th overall in 2018, Barrie), from the Kitchener-Waterloo Lacrosse Club in exchange for 2nd round selections in the 2023 and 2026 drafts.
KWLC also got Sunday’s 16th overall pick (Max Frattaroli, Windsor) from the Lakers for a 2nd rounder in 2025.
The busy Buzz and St. Catharines Athletics flipped the switch on another deal, Oakville getting Trent Jackson (RIT) from the A’s for that 14th overall pick they had just recently obtained (Kaelen Smith, Wallaceburg) and a 2nd round selection next year.
And finally, the Burlington Chiefs sent Bailey Kirwin to the Toronto Beaches in exchange for yesterday’s 13th overall draft pick (Kaiden Kublinskas, London).
Reece DiCicco, Peterborough Lakers (Photo: OLA)
The OJLL’s Entry Draft results are below, plus click here to see this year’s British Columbia Junior A Lacrosse League and Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League draft outcomes.
1st Round
1. Jameson Bucktooth, Akwesasne (Orangeville Northmen)
2. Ty Jesso, Halton Hill (Kitchener-Waterloo Lacrosse Club)
3. Chris Rathwell, Centre Wellington (Kitchener-Waterloo Lacrosse Club)
4. Michael Green, Nepean (Peterborough Lakers)
5. Reece DiCicco, Guelph (Peterborough Lakers)
6. Julien Belair, Gloucester (Orangeville Northmen)
7. Bossy Rice, Kahnawake (Burlington Chiefs)
8. Nate Whittom, Centre Wellington (Mimico Mountaineers)
9. Ethan Robinson, Guelph (Six Nations Arrows)
10. Alex Hicks, Clarington (Kitchener-Waterloo Lacrosse Clubs)
11. Liam O’Dette, Oshawa (Peterborough Lakers)
2nd Round
12. James Donnelly, Nepean (Peterborough Lakers)
13. Kaiden Kublinskas, London (Burlington Chiefs)
14. Kaelen Smith, Wallaceburg (St. Catharines Athletics)
15. Liam Bucknell, Northumberland (Toronto Beaches)
16. Max Frattaroli, Windsor (Kitchener-Waterloo Lacrosse Club)
17. Jack Adam Ross, Hamilton (Six Nations Arrows)
18. Carson Robins, Huntsville (St. Catharines Athletics)
19. Bo Doxtator, Sarnia (Six Nations Arrows)
20. James Mackey, Cambridge (Brampton Excelsiors)
21. Laden Johnson, Niagara on the Lake (St. Catharines Athletics)
22. Matt Hamill, Centre Wellington (Six Nations Arrows)
23. Jack Moores, Oshawa (St. Catharines Athletics)