Major League Lacrosse Collegiate Draft Returns To Stevens
Published on February 27, 2009 under Major League Lacrosse (MLL) News Release
Boston, Mass.- Major League Lacrosse (MLL), the premier professional outdoor lacrosse league, today announced that for the second consecutive year, the 2009 Warrior Major League Challenge and Collegiate Draft will be held at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey on Wednesday, May 27.
"Major League Lacrosse is eager to return to Stevens for our Collegiate Draft," said MLL Commissioner David Gross. "With the New York City skyline in the background, the Stevens campus provides a perfect backdrop for one of our signature events. Also, we were very impressed with the fact that the entire staff at Stevens went out of their way to make last year's event a success. We look forward to working with them again this spring to make the 2009 Draft even better."
"Our department and the institution as a whole feels privileged to be able to host the Major League Lacrosse draft for the second time in as many years," said Russell Rogers, Director of Athletics at Stevens. "We feel last year went extremely well and provided the league with a great place to host many of its future stars while also giving our school great exposure. Everyone is already looking forward to the event."
This year also marks the 125th season of men's lacrosse at Stevens. The program began in 1885 and is the longest continually running lacrosse program in the Nation.
Each season, Major League Lacrosse invites approximately 40 of the nation's top graduating seniors to participate in MLL Draft day activities, including the Warrior Major League Challenge, an all-star game played under MLL rules. Players are invited based on a number of factors, including the recommendations of MLL and college coaches and overall collegiate performance. The game provides one final chance for MLL personnel to evaluate the players.
Prior to the game, players partake in a full day of activities. Beginning at 9:00 AM, players are expected to complete registration, before moving on to an orientation session and physical exams. Throughout the afternoon, players have the opportunity to sit down with coaches and representatives from each of the six MLL teams.
Members of EXACT Sports, the Chicago based sports science organization committed to understanding the complete athlete, will be onsite for the third consecutive year to conduct the EXACT Sports Combine. The Combine is a series of speed, strength, and agility tests which will also be used by MLL team personnel in their player evaluation process.
"Draft day is the culmination of months of work by the MLL and its partners. EXACT Sports looks forward to providing teams with an integrated review of player character, past game performance, and physical ability," said Simon Clements, Director of Client Solutions for EXACT Sports.
The 2009 MLL Collegiate Draft is slated to begin promptly at 8:00 PM ET and will be broadcast live on ESPNU.
The draft will be conducted in the Bissinger Room, situated on the fourth floor of the Wesley J. Howe Center located on the Stevens campus. Both events are open to the public.
This season, the Major League Lacrosse Collegiate Draft is made up of five rounds, with each round consisting of six picks. Currently, each team holds a total of five (5) picks in this year's draft.
Major League Lacrosse Stories from February 27, 2009
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