Albany sends O’Connor to New York for McArdle, flips firsts, acquires Forster
Reilly O’Connor (Photo: Robert Dungan)
The Albany FireWolves & New York Riptide have both confirmed a sizeable trade between the two teams, forward Reilly O’Connor and the eighth overall pick in the upcoming NLL Entry Draft going to Long Island in exchange for Kieran McArdle and the fourth pick in next month’s draft.
Soon after the day’s first deal, Albany then picked up Aaron Forster in a trade with the Toronto Rock, who received the FireWolves third-round pick in the 2023 NLL Entry Draft.
Kieran McArdle (Photo: SSM Photography)
The significant swaps come about a week after the FireWolves lost their top two point producers from last year, UFAs Joe Resetarits signing with the Philadelphia Wings and Ryan Benesch going to the Halifax Thunderbirds. O’Connor, who had 54 points in 17 games last year, finished fourth in team point scoring. During the previous offseason, a lengthy one due to the pandemic, the FireWolves franchise lost 2020 scoring champion Callum Crawford to the Riptide through free agency as well.
Only the Rochester Knighthawks (184) and Philadelphia Wings (185) scored fewer goals than the FireWolves did during last year’s regular season (188).
Listed as a forward, McArdle was also utilized in a transitional role last winter after the Riptide’s formidable forward cast returned to full strength. McArdle quietly had a career year in 2022, setting new single-season standards in assists (38), points (52), loose balls (81) and caused turnovers (10). Based on Albany’s loss of key contributors up front, it’s likely McArdle will go back to full-time forward minutes with the FireWolves.
Aaron Forster (Photo: Ryan McCullough)
Forster, who the Rock selected in the first round of the 2019 NLL Entry Draft, impressed during last year’s training camp, but struggled to find regular minutes playing in Toronto’s high-scoring offensive mix.
“We had a pretty deep roster last year and Aaron hasn’t had the chance to play a lot,” said Rock Owner, President and GM Jamie Dawick in today’s team announcement. “I had an opportunity to send him to a spot where the coaches were familiar with him and could give him an opportunity to play. We thank Aaron for his time with the Rock and wish him the best in Albany.”
Forster previously played for FireWolves Head Coach & GM Glenn Clark having spent three seasons suiting up for the OJLL’s Toronto Beaches, a group Clark led for a handful of summers. Forster led the junior team in goals (29) and points (56) during the 2017 season.
Andrew Kew, Reilly O’Connor, Ryan Benesch and Joe Resetarits, Albany FireWolves, February 2022
Coincidently, O’Connor currently coaches that same Beaches club, the team presently competing at the 2022 Minto Cup, starting the national tourney 2-0.
“We are very excited to add such a talented lacrosse player to our team and all the intangibles that Riley O’Connor brings,” Riptide GM Jim Veltman said in the team’s trade announcement. “We feel he will have an immediate impact that will propel our team’s progress forward for right now and for the foreseeable future.
“He has been on our radar for a while, so we can’t wait for the contributions we know that he will make to our squad.”
O’Connor, a former first round draft pick of the Calgary Roughnecks, had is most offensively productive season while playing for the New England Black Wolves in 2019 (27G, 49A).
The Riptide made a significant splash in free agency last week when they signed long-time Buffalo Bandits defensive leader Kevin Brownell to a two-year deal.