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Heat Tabs Two in Dispersal Draft

August 16, 2002 - Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2)
Harrisburg Heat News Release


Harrisburg, PA - The Harrisburg Heat selected forward Justin Labrum with the first overall pick and midfielder Jake Atkin with the ninth overall pick in a Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) draft held Thursday to allocate players from the St. Louis Steamers, who will spend the 2002-03 season on inactive status while preparing to play the 2003-04 season.

Labrum, 27, scored 22 goals and 31 points in 24 games for the Utah Freezz during the 2001 World Indoor Soccer League season. One of the WISL's most lethal strikers, the 6-0, 180 pound native of Salt Lake City, UT was named the WISL's Rookie of the Year in 1999 and earned a spot on the All-WISL Second Team in 2001.

Atkin, 24, scored 6 goals and 10 points in 23 games for Utah in 2001. The 5-6, 135 pound midfielder is noted for his tenacity and quickness.

The draft lasted three rounds, with a total of 16 players selected. Harrisburg passed on its third-round pick.

Both Labrum and Atkin were selected by the Steamers in last February's draft to allocate players from the Freezz to active MISL teams - St. Louis selected Labrum with the fifth pick overall, and nabbed Atkin with the 14th overall selection. The Steamers have since been placed on inactive status, necessitating yesterday's draft.

The Heat, which introduced Erich Geyer as the club's new coach on August 6, will open preseason training camp on Monday, September 9 at Sports City on Linglestown Road in Harrisburg.

The club will see its first game action under Geyer on September 21 and 22 in a preseason tournament at DuBurns Arena in Baltimore, facing the host Baltimore Blast on Saturday, September 21 (5:30 p.m.) and the Cleveland Crunch on Sunday, September 22 (11:00 a.m.). The Heat, Blast, Crunch, and Philadelphia KiXX will comprise the MISL's Eastern Conference in '02-03.

Harrisburg will open its 2002-03 regular season on Saturday, October 5 in Philadelphia (7:05 p.m.), and play its home opener at the Farm Show Arena on Saturday, November 2 against the Dallas Sidekicks (7:35 p.m.).



Major Indoor Soccer League 2 Stories from August 16, 2002


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