Heading into Monday night’s NLL Draft, the Roughnecks have two first-round selections.
The team will select 3rd and 11th overall. This is just the second time in team history where they hold the 11th pick.
Let’s go back in time to look at some of the best players to hear their name called at pick number 11.
2001, Teddy Jenner, Rochester Knighthawks
Now one of the biggest names in NLL media, Jenner began his professional lacrosse career as a member of the Knighthawks. The lefty transition player from Victoria, played 51 games for four different teams (Rochester, Anaheim, Minnesota, and Edmonton) across six seasons. During that time, he accumulated 20 goals, 29 assists and 157 loose balls.
2004, Ian Hawksbee, Vancouver Stealth
While most players drafted in 2004 are no longer playing in the NLL, the 34-year old Hawksbee is still going strong. Throughout his 11-year career, the lefty defender has played for five different teams (Vancouver, Washington, Colorado, Edmonton, and San Jose). He has played in 160 games and has scooped 1,065 loose balls during his many years dominating the backend.
2008, Kevin Buchanan, Minnesota Swarm
Since making his NLL debut in 2009, Buchanan has suited up for 109 games over eight seasons. After travelling between Minnesota, Boston, Buffalo and Philadelphia, the lefty has found a home in New England, where he has put up better numbers with each passing year. Although he played just one game in 2010 and missed all of the 2014 season, Buchanan has still put up 142 goals and 378 points in his career.
2009, Stephan LeBlanc, Toronto Rock
A model of consistency, LeBlanc has played in at least 15 games and has scored at least 58 points in each of the past eight seasons. All of that adds up to 131 career games played, 247 goals and 598 points, all with the Rock. He was also part of the Toronto team that claimed the 2011 Champion’s Cup.
2011, Greg Harnett, Calgary Roughnecks
Since being drafted, Harnett has played each and every one of his 85 career games in a Roughnecks uniform. The talented defender has scooped up 229 loose balls and recorded 54 forced turnovers. The 27-year old will be returning to Calgary for his seventh season in 2017/18 and will be looking to help lead a talented left side of the Riggers defence.
2013, Riley Loewen, Edmonton Rush
Roughnecks fans are familiar with Loewen, as the lefty was a part of the team’s offence in 2017. As a high pick by the Rush in 2013, Loewen spent three seasons working under the tutelage of top lefties such as Mark Matthews, Adam Jones, and Zack Greer. Loewen came to Calgary in 2017 with high hopes. It wasn’t until about the mid-way point of the season where he came to life and emerged as a top scoring threat for the team. The lefty has 119 career points (42g, 77a) in 59 NLL games.
