Hamilton Takes Cunningham, Kirk in First Round
December 12, 2012 - Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
Hamilton Nationals News Release
The Hamilton Nationals used the second overall pick in today's Major League Lacrosse Supplemental Draft to select attackman Kevin Cunningham. Hamilton then picked up goalie Evan Kirk with the eighth overall pick.
The Rochester Rattlers kicked off the Supplemental Draft by taking MLL veteran Mark Millon. Nationals, who finished seventh last season, followed with the selection of former Villanova star Kevin Cunningham. Hamilton grabbed Orangeville, Ontario native Evan Kirk with the final pick in the first round. Kirk led Team Canada to an 11-9 victory over the United States in the Duel in Denver in September. During his Hobart College career, Kirk posted a .531 save percentage and a 10.44 goals-against average. He made a career-high 15 saves twice his senior season.
Hamilton stocked its roster with 13 players in the 12-round draft. The Nationals used three picks to bring back defensive midfielder Brice Queener, defenseman Sol Bliss and midfielder Rhys Duch (Victoria, BC). Queener enters his fifth season in the MLL after playing in a career-high 14 games with Hamilton last season. Bliss returns to add veteran leadership to the Hamilton defense. The former two-time All-American out of Syracuse enters his eighth pro season in 2013. Duch will begin his second season in the Nationals' midfield after scoring seven goals and adding six assists in seven games in 2012. His seven-point (5+2) breakout performance on August 11th helped Hamilton defeat playoff-bound Long Island.
Hamilton will have another opportunity to select players on Friday, January 11th at the 2013 Major League Lacrosse Collegiate Draft. The draft will take place in Philadelphia as part of the 2013 US Lacrosse National Convention, presented by Champion. The draft begins at 8:30 p.m. in the Liberty Ballroom of the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown. The draft is open to the public, and admission is free.
2012 Hamilton Supplemental Draft picks
Name, (Round, overall pick)
Kevin Cunningham (first round, second overall)
Evan Kirk (first round, eighth overall)
Sam DeVore (second round, 10th overall)
Alex Demopoulos (third round, 18th overall)
John Cunningham (fourth round, 26th overall)
Matt Messina (fifth round, 34th overall)
Al Kohart (sixth round, 42nd overall)
Rhys Duch (seventh round, 50th overall)
Brice Queener (eighth round, 58th overall)
Devin Spilker (ninth round, 66th overall)
Brian Caufield (10th round, 74th overall)
Sol Bliss (11th round, 82nd overall)
Peter Vlahakis (12th round, 90th overall)
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Major League Lacrosse Stories from December 12, 2012
- Denver Outlaws Select 10 in Supplemental Draft - Denver Outlaws
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- Hall of Fame Attackman Mark Millon Selected First Overall in 2013 - MLL
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- Ohio Machine Closes out Successful 2013 Supplemental Draft with 12 Players - Ohio Machine
- Hamilton Takes Cunningham, Kirk in First Round - Hamilton Nationals
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