CALGARY, AB — The NLL Draft is less than one week away.
And the Calgary Roughnecks hold the 15th overall selection.
But instead of looking to the future, let’s look to the past to see what other names have been selected at the same spot. There might be a few big names!
2015, Christian Del Bianco, Calgary Roughnecks
This one might be a stretch as Del Bianco has played all of 19 seconds in the NLL. However, the phenom looks to be a lock to make the Roughnecks 2017 roster and depending on how vet Frankie Scigliano performs, he could be looking at significant minutes. While he has yet to ply his trade in the NLL, the youngster has recently completed his third year of Junior lacrosse, where he has gone 34-0 in the regular season and most recently won a Minto Cup with the Coquitlam Adanacs. Should that level of success continue at the highest level, Christian would be an absolute steal of a pick at #15 for Calgary.
2013, Mitch Wilde, Buffalo Bandits
Not a flashy player, Mitch Wilde has played 41 games over his first three seasons with the Buffalo Bandits. In that time, the righty transition player has amassed only 13 goals and 26 assists. With many second round draft picks never amounting to anything, finding a quality player who can contribute on both ends of the floor at #15 overall is a good find. The young man has improved in each season and will be looking to take another step forward in 2017.
2011, Jeff Cornwall, Buffalo Bandits
A familiar foe of the Calgary Roughnecks, Jeff Cornwall is another player who has had great success after being selected with the 15th overall pick in the NLL Draft. Cornwall has played all but one season with the Rush franchise. In his five years in the league, Jeff has suited up for 85 games while registering six goals, 26 assists, 319 loose balls, and 89 caused turnovers. While his stats may have been enough to get him on this list, let’s not forget the hardware. Cornwall has won back-to-back Champion’s Cups in Edmonton and Saskatchewan. In fact, in the 2016 NLL Finals, he was the Rush player who scored the game-winning goal.
2009, Chris Corbeil, Buffalo Bandits
Another Bandit turned Rush. After spending his first two NLL seasons in Buffalo, Corbeil was traded to Edmonton for draft picks. A year later, Corbeil was named the team’s captain and he has held that moniker ever since. In the past two seasons, Corbeil has led the Rush to Champion’s Cup wins in back-to-back seasons. During his seven-year career, the lefty defenceman has played in 108 games, while netting 51 goals and 58 assists, while scooping 714 loose balls and causing 135 turnovers. Corbeil is the cream of the crop when it comes to players taken 15th overall in the NLL Draft.
2004, Ryan Sharp, Calgary Roughnecks
The Calgary Roughnecks used the 15th overall selection on transition player Ryan Sharp in the 2004 NLL Draft, but he wouldn’t stay a Rigger for very long. After his rookie season in Calgary, Sharp moved on and spent his remaining seven NLL seasons in a few different cities. Playing in 77 career games, Sharp scored 39 goals and 43 assists, while scooping 468 loose balls. In 2006, Sharp was named an NLL All-Star. While with the Toronto Rock in 2011, he helped the Rock win the Champion’s Cup.
