Rush have Two First Round Picks
September 5, 2008 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Edmonton Rush News Release
Edmonton, AB--- The Edmonton Rush head into this weekend looking to add something special to their roster from the annual National Lacrosse League Entry Draft.
The draft will take place Sunday morning beginning at 9 a.m. MT from the TD Banknorth Garden in Boston - the new home of the expansion Boston Blazers. Results will be posted as they happen on www.nll.com as well as fans can catch the draft by way of live webcast free of charge.
For the Rush, the draft presents an opportunity to bring fresh faces into the fold and the top blossoming talents could have the chance to quickly become integral parts of the new-look Rush lineup. The Rush have the fourth and eighth overall selections.
"I hope that our two first-round picks will be able to make an immediate impact," said Rush GM/Head Coach Bob Hamley.
The Rush had previously dealt away a number of their top draft picks in exchange for veteran players but when Hamley took over the club early in the 2008 season it was a mission of his to re-acquire the draft picks so the Rush could build. While players selected in top spots are most often looked at for what they can do in the future, Hamley firmly believes that the right players can make their mark in a hurry.
"We've done our homework and we have a pretty good idea who we'd like to select," added Hamley. "If we are able to land the two top-end prospects we want, I think there's every reason to expect that they'll be on the floor for us in January and playing major roles."
Barring a trade the Rush do not have a selection in the second round but they will round out the draft with the following other spots:
- 27th overall pick (2nd choice, 3rd Round)
- 51st overall pick (2nd choice, 5th Round)
- 64th overall pick (2nd choice, 6th Round)
With their top selections in previous NLL Entry Drafts the Rush have brought in Steve Hutchins (15th overall in 2007) and Kurtis Wagar (28th overall in 2006), but the Rush also have a history of being able to acquire other teams' past top picks.
Sherwood Park native Ben Prepchuk was the third overall pick in 2000 by New York and he spent last season playing for his home-town team. In 2003, the Buffalo Bandits picked A.J. Shannon sixth overall and he had a productive stint with the Rush before he was involved in a three-way trade that brought the Rush both Mike Hominuck and Lindsay Plunkett. Rory Glaves was Vancouver's second overall pick in 2004 and he has since become a stalwart on the Rush's back end. The first-rounders of 2006 are some of the NLL's best players today and the Rush have the sixth overall pick from that group in former Arizona Sting Mike Grimes.
Hamley names coaching staff
On top of preparing for the NLL Entry Draft, GM/Head Coach Bob Hamley has also chosen his assistant coaches for the 2009 season.
Returning is Chris Stachniak who joined Hamley behind the bench when he took over the club partway through the 2008 season. Stachniak, a former Rush defenceman, helped guide the defending champion Sherwood Park Outlaws senior 'B' team to a second-place finish at the recent President's Cup national championship tournament.
Joining the Rush is Ian McGough, whose Owen Sound Woodsmen defeated the Outlaws for the 2008 President's Cup title. It was the third President's Cup win for McGough who led the Kitchener-Waterloo Kodiaks to the gold medal at the 2003 national championship. McGough previously worked for Hamley as the Head Scout of the Arizona Sting and has previous head coaching experience with the Brooklin Redmen of Ontario's Major Series Lacrosse.
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National Lacrosse League Stories from September 5, 2008
- Rush have Two First Round Picks - Edmonton Rush
- Minnesota Swarm Owns Seven Picks In 2008 Entry Draft - Minnesota Swarm
- Knighthawks Have Fifth Overall Selection In 2008 Entry Draft - Rochester Knighthawks
- Rochester Knighthawks Re-Sign Drew Bucktooth To Two-Year Deal - Rochester Knighthawks
- Wings to Pick Eight Times in National Lacrosse League Entry Draft on Sunday - Philadelphia Wings
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