Draft Results - Cannons Add 9 Players
Published on January 24, 2011 under Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
Boston Cannons News Release
BOSTON, MA - Monday, January 24, 2011- The Boston Cannons of Major League Lacrosse (MLL), the premier professional outdoor lacrosse league, selected nine players in the 2011 MLL Collegiate Draft held on Friday, January 21 in Baltimore, MD. This marked the first time the MLL draft took place prior to the NCAA lacrosse season.
The Cannons had the #4 pick in the first round and selected Shamel Bratton, midfielder, from the University of Virginia (UVA). Bratton played in 18 games for the Cavaliers last year and scored 24 goals with 17 assists. With 69 career goals, he ranks ninth among midfielders on Virginia's all-time scoring list. Bratton has started all three years at UVA and was a USILA first team All-American in 2009 and 2010.
When asked about his thought process on the first round selection, Cannons Head Coach Bill Daye said, "We felt Shamel Bratton was the best athlete in the draft. The MLL is a midfielder's league and Shamel is a hard north/south dodging midfielder who can instantaneously create offense off the dodge."
With the #10 overall pick, the Cannons selected Josh Amidon, midfielder, from Syracuse University. Amidon played in all 15 games for the Orange tallying 14 goals and 13 assists to lead Syracuse midfielders. In his first three seasons, Amidon has a total of 33 goals and 23 assists in 51 games played.
After selecting two midfielders with their first two picks, the Cannons went to work on the defense with their following two selections. Brian Farrell (University of Maryland) and John Lade (Syracuse University) were the 12th and 16th overall picks, respectively. Farrell is an imposing defender coming in 6'5" and 240 lbs. He was named 2010 USILA Second Team All-American. Lade was part of a Syracuse unit that led the nation in scoring defense. He was named to the 2010 USILA All-America First Team and All-Big East First Team.
The Cannons added their third midfielder in the fourth round by selecting Kevin Kaminski from the University of Delaware. The first attackman selected by the Cannons was the #28 overall pick, Tom Compitello from Stony Brook University. The University of Delaware produced the Cannons seventh pick, 34th overall, in defenseman Pat Dowling. Dowling is a Fairfield, CT native and co-captain at Delaware.
Midfielder David Hawley of Brown University and a New Canaan, CT native was the Cannons 7th round selection. The Cannons final pick of the night was attackman Zach Howell from Duke University. Howell attended Huntington High School with the Cannons first round pick Shamel Bratton. Howell ranked third in goals scored on the 2010 Duke team that won the NCAA Championship.
The nine players drafted by the Cannons will complete their senior seasons in college before being eligible to join the team.
2011 Cannons Season Tickets are on sale now starting at $140 for a seven game packages that includes the 2011 MLL All-Star Game. For more information, or to purchase Cannons Season Tickets, visit BOSTONCANNONS.COM or call (617) 746-9933.
QUOTES FROM CANNONS HEAD COACH BILL DAYE- Q: Any reason why 7 of the 9 picks were midfielders and defensemen
Coach Daye: The MLL is a midfielder's league so our goal was to add some depth with players that we feel can have success in the league. Guys who play in a fast-paced up and down system, who are also good shooters and can play on both ends of the field if necessary. Defense was another area where we wanted to add depth (and size) and make sure we are prepared in case of any unforeseen circumstances.
Q: What will you look for in watching these 9 during the NCAA season
Coach Daye: Honestly, we're not looking for anything in particular from any of them. They're all great lacrosse players and I'm sure they'll have great senior seasons competing for the chance to win an NCAA championship. We hope all of them continue to develop as lacrosse players and once their respective seasons are over we look forward to adding them to the Cannons roster.
Q: Overall thoughts on your 2011 draft
Coach Daye: Very happy with our selections for 2011. Having the draft so early this year, we had to really do our homework which included more film and speaking to coaches to get not only a sense of the player's specific skill set but also personality, etc. We feel a few of the players we drafted will make an immediate impact.
2011 BOSTON CANNONS DRAFT PICKS
Round/Overall Pick # Name School/Hometown Position
First Round/4th Overall Shamel Bratton Virginia/Huntington, NY Midfield
Second/10th Josh Amidon Syracuse/Lafayette, NY Midfield
Second/12th Brian Farrell Maryland/Baltimore, MD Defense
Third/16th John Lade Syracuse/Randolph, NJ Defense
Fourth/22nd Kevin Kaminski Delaware/Wallingford, PA Midfield
Fifth/28th Tom Compitello Stony Brook/Hauppauge, NY Attack
Sixth/34th Pat Dowling Delaware/Fairfield, CT Defense
Seventh/40th David Hawley Brown/New Canaan, CT Midfield
Eighth/46th Zach Howell Duke/Huntington, NY Attack ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~
Boston Cannons Tickets 2011 Cannons season tickets are on sale now with packages starting at $140 including all six Cannons home games plus the 2011 MLL All-Star Game. Individual tickets to the 2011 MLL All-Star Game are also on sale now starting at only $15 for individuals and $12.50 for groups of 25+. For more information or to order tickets, please contact the Boston Cannons at 617-746-9933, tickets@bostoncannons.com [mailto:tickets@bostoncannons.com] or by visiting BostonCannons.com.
Major League Lacrosse Stories from January 24, 2011
- Draft Results - Cannons Add 9 Players - Boston Cannons
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