Philadelphia Wings Score With First Round Pick in National Lacrosse League Entry Draft

Published on October 25, 2003 under National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Philadelphia Wings News Release


TORONTO, ON - The Philadelphia Wings indoor lacrosse team scored big as they acquired forward Ryan Ward with their first round pick (3rd overall) in the 2003 NLL Entry Draft. Ward, a graduate of Butler University, was touted by many in the top pick available in today's draft.

"By all accounts, Ryan was the best player available in today's draft," said Wings General Manager Marty O'Neill. "Since he made his intentions to play in Philadelphia very clear, Vancouver and Calgary passed him by with the first and second picks. We are very fortunate to obtain this quality of player with our draft position."

The Wings also acquired two local players when they selected Michael Pape (Archbishop Ryan High School) in the seventh round and Kyle Sweeney (Springfield High School) in the eighth round.

The following are profiles of players acquired during the Entry Draft:

Ryan Ward: Selected by the Wings in the first round (3rd overall) ... Forward ... Victoria B.C. ... Played four seasons for Butler where he was a first team All-GWILL team for three seasons (2001-'03) ... Set the Butler University record for assists (64) ... Member of the Canadian Under-19 Team.

Tom Hajek: Selected by the Wings in the first round (9th overall) ... Forward ... St. Catherine's, ON ... Member of the 2003 Mann Cup Champion Victoria Shamrocks of the Western Lacrosse Association ... Played collegiately for the University of Vermont where he was also a member of the varsity hockey team.

Michael Howley: Selected by the Wings in the third round (30th overall) ... Defense ... 6'1", 215 pounds ... Wantagh, N.Y. ... Played collegiately at the University of Maryland ... Captained the Maryland squad his senior year ... 2003 USILA First Team All-American on defense ... 2003 Preseason First Team All-American ... 2002 United States World Team - Gold Medal ... 2002 Tewaaraton Trophy Finalist ... 2000 ACC Rookie of the Year.

Kevin Brennan: Selected by the Wings in the fourth round (41st overall) ... Forward ... 6'0", 200 pounds ... Farmingdale, NY ... Played four seasons at Duke University (2000-'03) ... Named captain of the Duke squad his senior year ... Two-time Academic Honor Roll Selection while at Duke ... Two-time All-American while at Farmingdale High School.

Pat Collins: Selected by the Wings in the fifth round (48th overall) ... Defense ... 6'0", 195 ... Mountainside, NJ ... selected to the Inside Lacrosse Face Off Yearbook Honorable Mention Team...A graduate of Delbarton School...two-time First Team All-America...named New Jersey Player of the Year as a senior...member of state championship team as a senior

Mike Springer: Selected by the Wings in the sixth round (61st overall) ... Forward ... Ridgewood, NJ ... Played collegiately at Syracuse University ... A graduate of Ridgewood High School.

Michael Pape: Selected by the Wings in the seventh round (72nd overall) ... Forward ... Played collegiately for Cabrini College ... Graduate of Archbishop Ryan H.S.

Kyle Sweeney: Selected by the Wings in the eighth round (83d overall) ... Defense ... 6'2", 188 ...Springfield, PA ... Played collegiately for four seasons (2000-'03) at Georgetown University ... Selected as 2003 pre-season ECAC Defensive Player of the Year... the two-time ECAC Defensive Player of the Year and First team All-American ... Graduated from Springfield High School where he earned High School All-American honors...selected as the All-Central League MVP and All-Delaware County in lacrosse as a senior.

Season tickets for the 2004 Philadelphia Wings season are on sale now by calling 215.389.WING (9464). Season tickets start as low as $120. Get yours now before they fly away!

The Philadelphia Wings are owned and operated by Philadelphia Wings L.P. whose principal owners are Russ Cline, Chris Fritz, and Michael French. Comcast-Spectacor serves as the marketing, promotional, advertising, sponsorship, and publicity arm of the Wings.

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