OAKVILLE, ON – The Calgary Roughnecks Lacrosse Club selected nine players, including one Calgary native, in the 2015 NLL Draft held Monday at Toronto Rock Athletic Centre (TRAC) in Oakville, Ontario.
“Overall we are very happy with this year’s draft selections,” said Roughnecks general manager Mike Board. “We were able to fill some key positional roles on the front end and add grit, depth and athleticism to our defensive game. We are looking forward to a very competitive camp and are excited to see what our new, young prospects will bring to the floor.”
The Roughnecks first-round selections included Wesley Berg (fourth overall) and Reilly O’Connor (seventh overall). Berg, a University of Denver graduate, finished his collegiate career as the franchise leader in points (255) and goals (188). In his final season with the Pioneers, the 22-year-old forward was named captain and started all 19 games, recording 58 goals and 20 assists for 78 points. The Coquitlam, B.C., native recently completed summer ball with the Major Series Lacrosse’s Oakville Rock where he tallied 12 points (seven goals, five assists) in seven games.
“Wesley is a multi-dimensional player that the organization has coveted for a long time,” said head coach and assistant general manager Curt Malawsky. “He has a very heavy and accurate outside shot. If you overextend, he will beat you with a powerful inside game.”
O’Connor, a product of Whitby, Ontario, earned two Minto Cups with the Whitby Warriors of the Ontario Lacrosse Association (2011, 2013). The 22-year-old forward then continued his lacrosse career with the Georgetown Hoyas where he served as captain in his final year, notching 15 goals and 12 assists for 27 points. This summer he made his MSL debut with the Brooklin Redmen, registering 23 points (eight goals, 15 assists) in 12 games.
“Reilly has an exceptional lacrosse IQ,” continued Malawsky. “He has a winning pedigree, backed by multiple championships, and is the type of player that makes his teammates stronger.”
Of the nine players drafted, the Roughnecks selected one local product in Jordan Kancsal. The 21-year-old goaltender recently completed his final junior season with the Calgary Mountaineers.
Rnd O/A Player POS HT WT Hometown YOB Team (2015)
1 4 Wesley Berg F 6’1” 180 Coquitlam, BC 1993 Oakville Rock (MSL) and University of Denver
1 7 Reilly O’Connor F 6’1” 175 Whitby, ON 1993 Brooklin Redmen (MSL) and Georgetown University
2 13 Mitch de Snoo D/T 6’1” 225 Oshawa, ON 1992 Oakville Rock (MSL) and Drexel University
2 15 Christian Del Bianco G 5’11” 185 Coquitlam, ON 1997 Coquitlam Adanacs (BCLA)
3 24 Tyson Bell D 6’2” 200 St. Catharines, ON 1994 St. Catharines Athletics (OLA Jr. A) and Onondaga Community College
3 25 Kellen LeClair D 6’4” 220 Windsor, ON 1995 Six Nations Arrows (OLA Jr. A)
4 35 Jacob Ruest F 5’10” 175 Cornwall, ON 1992 Langley Thunder (WLA) and
Robert Morris University
5 44 Jordan Kancsal G 6’1” 190 Calgary, AB 1994 Calgary Mountaineers (RMLL)
6 51 Carson Barton F 5’11” 175 Edmonton, AB 1991 Coquitlam Adanacs (WLA)
For a complete list of the 2015 draft results, visit NLL.com.
