Rush Add to Roster at Draft
September 10, 2009 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Edmonton Rush News Release
Edmonton, AB--The Edmonton Rush were one of the busiest teams during the 2009 National Lacrosse League Entry Draft held Wednesday, Sept. 9 in Boston.
In his first Draft since joining the Rush as General Manager/Head Coach, Derek Keenan quickly got down to business by trading newly acquired Rich Morgan back to the Minnesota Swarm in exchange for the 9th overall pick. With the pick, the Rush selected University of Albany product Corey Small. The talented forward finished third in scoring with the Great Danes, netting 31 goals in 10 games. Small also finished third in the Ontario Junior 'A' League scoring derby with 38 goals and 39 assists for 77 points in 21 regular-season games for the St. Catharine's Athletics.
"Corey plays with a ton of heart and has a great knack for coming up big in clutch situations," noted Keenan.
With the Rush's own first-round pick (12th overall), Edmonton picked up forward Scott Tinning, a forward with the Ontario Junior League's Brampton Excelsiors. Tining was third in Excelsiors' scoring and 12th in the league, notching 31 goals and 42 assists for 73 points during the regular season. He also racked up 13 goals and 25 assists for 38 points in 16 playoff games.
In the second round, the Rush used the 14th overall pick to select Dane Stevens, a Brampton teammate of Tinning's. Through 19 regular-season games, Stevens managed 19 goals and 33 assists for 52 points. The six-foot-three, 200-pound forward previously played Junior 'A' in the British Columbia league with Delta and Burnaby.
With the 25th overall pick, the Rush chose Brett Mydske, the B.C. Junior 'A' League's Defensive Player of the Year. Mydske registered six goals and 13 assists in 19 regular-season games with the New Westminster Salmonbellies.
In the Round 5, the Rush used the 42nd overall choice to grab St. Catharine's forward Geoff McNulty. Regarded as a quick playmaker, McNulty picked up 18 goals and 26 assists for 44 points in 20 regular-season games for the Athletics.
With their second Fifth Round pick (48th overall), the Rush chose homegrown product Shane Lopatynski of the Edmonton Eclipse. An aggressive two-way player, Lopatynski finished sixth in Alberta Junior 'A' League scoring with 20 goals and 38 assists for 58 points in 17 regular-season games.
In the Sixth Round, the Rush used their final pick to select rugged Kitchener-Waterloo Braves defenceman Craig Zeeh. The five-foot-11, 215-pounder picked up two goals and four assists for six points in 22 regular-season games.
The Rush opens the regular season on the road against the Washington Stealth on January 15 and the next day against the Colorado Mammoth at Pepsi Center on Saturday, January 16. The Rush opens its home regular season on Saturday, January 23 against the Buffalo Bandits.
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National Lacrosse League Stories from September 10, 2009
- Rush Add to Roster at Draft - Edmonton Rush
- Minnesota Swarm Select Zack Greer Third Overall - Minnesota Swarm
- Mammoth Bolsters Roster with University of Denver Talent - Colorado Mammoth
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