The Peterborough Timbermen added seventeen new faces to their training camp mix during the 2021 Arena Lacrosse League Entry Draft, held Saturday at Brampton’s Memorial Arena.
The 16-round draft was held immediately after the league’s annual combine.
The Timbermen did not have a first-round pick. Their first selection of the draft was Will Johnston, a left-handed goaltender from the Nepean Knights/Toronto Beaches at 12th overall. Johnston was a third-round pick by the New York Riptide in the 2021 NLL Entry Draft, and was named to the team’s practice roster this week.
“Johnston is a great kid; a student of the game,” said Timbermen head coach and general manager Joe Sullivan. “He’s been playing for Carleton University, and we made the connection to him through (former Timbermen goaltender) Brett Perras, who is a coach at the University of Ottawa. Johnston was all in when we approached him about playing for us. He’s got talent, he’s got a goal to get to the NLL and is essentially another Landon Kells: a young guy who wants to get better and we’ll give him every opportunity to do that.”
Fellow Nepean Knights drafted by the Timbermen include Dawson Tait and Sam Firth, the Timbermen’s second and fourth picks, respectively.
“Tait is a small righty O from RIT. He’s a young guy with a lot of talent and a goal. If I can harness that and give him support and put him around good people he’ll get to the next level,” Sullivan said. “Firth joined Orangeville for their run to the Minto Cup and was CUFLA’s top scorer this season. He’ll help on our left side to take some pressure off of Mark Vradenburg.”
Local picks include former Jr. A Lakers Drew Hutchison, Riley Curtis and Owen Dale, Jr. C Laker Jensen Walker and Lakefield Rage captain John Crough.
Hutchison and Curtis were both highly touted prospects heading into the 2021 NLL Entry Draft. Hutchison was a second-round pick of the Halifax Thunderbirds, and Curtis was picked right after by the Rochester Knighthawks. Devin Pipher and Mason Kamminga were third-round picks to the Georgia Swarm and Saskatchewan Rush, respectively.
The Timbermen also picked Riley Thompson, brother of current player Zack Thompson, in the 10th round.
Training camp opens this Saturday evening at Millbrook Arena before the Timbermen kick off the 2021-22 season on Saturday, December 18 at 4 p.m. vs. the Whitby Steelhawks at Children’s Arena. Their home opener is Saturday, January 8 at 4 p.m. at Millbrook Arena. Tickets will be sold at the door, and fans are required to show proof of vaccination and wear masks while indoors.
DRAFT LIST
(Round) Pick – Player – Hometown – NLL Draft
(2) 12 – Will Johnston, Nepean – NY Riptide
(3) 18 – Dawson Tait, Ottawa – NY Riptide
(5) 33 – Steven Walsh, Courtice
(6) 40 – Sam Firth, Ottawa – Colorado Mammoth
(7) 47 – Aydan Knight, Kingston
(8) 54 – Konner Sunday, Akwesasne
(9) 61 – Joel Wright, Newmarket
(10) 68 – Riley Thompson, Orangeville
(11) 74 – John Crough, Peterborough
(11) 75 – Braeden Smith, Mohawk Territory
(12) 81 – Mason Kamminga, St. Catharines – Saskatchewan Rush
(13) 88 – Drew Hutchison, Peterborough – Halifax Thunderbirds
(13) 89 – Riley Curtis, Brampton – Rochester Knighthawks
(13) 90 – Devin Pipher, Oshawa – Georgia Swarm
(14) 96 – Jensen Walker, Peterborough
15 (103) – Owen Dale, Lambeth
16 (110) – Brayden McGregor, Cobourg
