Junior A Draft: RMLL restocks rosters after record-breaking Minto Cup run
John Lintz, Miners Head Coach (Photo: Ontario Lacrosse Association)
On February 13, the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League held their annual Junior A Draft amongst the Alberta & Saskatchewan province’s four competing clubs: Edmonton Miners, Calgary Mountaineers, Okotoks Raiders and Saskatchewan SWAT.
Last summer, the RMLL saw by far their biggest success at the Minto Cup when the Edmonton Miners came a win away from capturing Canada’s national Junior A title, losing the tournament’s final series to the Whitby Warriors. While competing at the Minto in Brampton, Ontario this past August, the Miners set virtually every possible RMLL record during their run, and later saw a number of their players selected in the 2022 NLL Entry Draft.
The RMLL will host the 2023 Minto Cup, the tournament slated to take place in Edmonton likely in mid to late August.
Although teams select specifically from their own geographic region, this year’s ten-round draft saw the SWAT select first overall and at the start of each round after finishing last season just 1-14, their worst record since officially entering the league in 2016.
Saskatchewan selected goalie Crosby Ratt with the draft’s first pick.
The Raiders drafted a total of 13 talented prospects over the ten total rounds, taking Andrew White of the Calgary Axemen with the second-overall selection. White, a former goaltender that has represented the Jr. Calgary Roughnecks at the TRAC-hosted Jr. NLL Tournament both between the pipes and as a runner, was one of six Axemen selected this year, all but one of those players going to Okotoks.
2023 RMLL Junior A Draft Results
Overall picks. Player, RMLL club (Minor team as shared by league or teams)
First Round
1. Crosby Ratt, Saskatchewan (Prince Albert)
2. Andrew White, Okotoks (Axemen)
3. Noah Everson, Okotoks (Axemen)
4. Alek Zorniak, Edmonton (Titans)
Second Round
5. Koston Baliski, Saskatchewan (SWAT)
6. Wyatt Viste, Okotoks (Rage)
7. Arley Wasson, Calgary (Axemen)
8. Liam Elliot, Edmonton (Posse)
Third Round
9. Cameron Jacobson, Saskatchewan (Prince Albert)
10. Dylan Belliveau, Okotoks (Axemen)
11. Kaiden McDonaugh, Okotoks (Axemen)
12. Erik Tompkins, Edmonton (Rams)
Fourth Round
13. Porter Crossman, Saskatchewan (Estevan)
14. Rhys Ursell, Okotoks (Hornets)
15. Cohen Fluet, Okotoks (Hornets)
16. Greyson Maloney, Edmonton (Rams)
Fifth Round
17. Brodyn Pladson, Saskatchewan (Mustangs)
18. Brody Tweit, Okotoks (HOKS/Knights)
19. Carson Bowley, Okotoks (HOKS/Knights)
20. Justice Cutler, Edmonton (Titans)
Six Round
21. James Mahussier, Saskatchewan (SWAT)
22. Blake Robinson, Calgary (HOKS/Knights)
23. Dexter Hannigan, Calgary (HOKS/Knights)
24. Nolan Eastwood, Edmonton (Titans)
Seventh Round
25. Carter McShannock, Saskatchewan (Prince Albert)
26. Ashton De Groot, Okotoks (Rage)
27. Duff Houston, Calgary (Sabrecats)
28. Payton Cook, Edmonton (Titans)
Eighth Round
29. Cameron Ewen, Saskatchewan (SWAT)
30. Hale Dobbyn, Okotoks (Axemen)
31. Parker Forrest, Calgary (SALA Sting/Brooks)
32. Brodie Stachniak, Edmonton (Blues)
Ninth Round
33. Zavier Grona, Saskatchewan (SWAT)
34. Quaid Bolger, Okotoks (Sabrecats)
35. Caius Adams, Calgary (Sabrecats)
36. Jacob Goudreau, Edmonton (Rams)
Tenth Round
37. Merek Casemore, Saskatchewan (Queen City)
38. Jonah Bierd, Okotoks (Sabrecats)
39. Ryan Antonishyn, Calgary (Red Deer Chiefs)
40. Nathan Hendricks, Edmonton (Rams)