Shamrox select Josh Wasson-McQuigge with first entry draft pick in team history
Published on September 14, 2006 under National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Chicago Shamrox News Release
CHICAGO, Ill, September 13, 2006 -The Chicago Shamrox indoor professional lacrosse team selected Josh Wasson-McQuigge from the University of Hartford in the first round of the National Lacrosse League (NLL) Entry Draft, the first entry draft pick in the history of the expansion team. Wasson-McQuigge was the 12th overall selection.
Wasson-McQuigge led the Hartford Hawks with 41 points last season, including a team-high 33 goals. After heading north to Peterborough for summer league, Wasson-McQuigge tallied 38 points, on 18 goals and 20 assists. In his last game for Peterborough, he scored an impressive 5 goals, as Peterborough defeated Brampton and clinched a berth into the 2006 Mann Cup.
Shamrox head coach and general manager Jamie Batley serves in the same capacities for Peterborough, and is very familiar with Wasson-McQuigge. He had the Shamrox keeping a close eye on the young 5-10, 160 pound midfielder.
"Josh really impressed me in the past year. I think he has improved more than any other player in the draft," said Shamrox scout Andrew McKay. "He is an exciting and talented player and someone to build our franchise around."
The Shamrox were scheduled to pick again just two picks later, but traded the 14th overall selection to Calgary for the 17th and 41st picks. The trade gave the Shamrox an extra selection, without requiring them to move too far down in the second round.
With the 17th pick, the Shamrox selected Jackson Gair of the Orillia Rama Kings. Gair finished the 2006 season tied for second in scoring in the Ontario Lacrosse Association Junior A League, tallying 36 goals and adding 60 assists for 96 total points. In 2005, Gair made the All-Canadian University Field Lacrosse Association Second Team while playing for Bishop's University. Gair will be a forward for the Shamrox and has the potential to put up a lot of points.
"We were very excited when we saw Gair available," said Shamrox head coach and GM Jamie Batley. "His goal scoring has gone up each of the last four seasons. He is a left hand shot which is something that we need."
"I am really pumped to be selected by Chicago," said Gair, who was at school and unable to attend the draft. "I wanted to be selected by an expansion team that is in a building mode, because that will give me a good chance to make the team and make a difference. More than that, I am thrilled to play in Chicago; a city where they love sports and the fans are awesome."
While Gair could not attend the draft, his mother, Mary Gair, was at Madison Square Garden and went on stage with Shamrox officials when her son was picked.
"I talked to Jackson after he was selected and he was absolutely thrilled to be on the Chicago Shamrox," said Mary. "He couldn't be here, so I was glad I could represent him - although he was probably a bit surprised when I was called on stage."
"When my name was called," said Jackson, "I turned to my buddy and jokingly said, 'So who's going on stage? My mom?' And sure enough, there she was."
Batley, McKay and Phil Ryan, Vice President and Director of Lacrosse Operations, evaluated the players eligible for the draft and made the teams selections. They are also responsible for the team's expansion draft, which took place in July, as well as any trades or free agent activity undertaken by the team.
SHAMROX ENTRY DRAFT PLAYER SELECTIONS:
Josh Wasson-McQuigge, Forward, University of Hartford (12th pick, 1st round; 12th overall)
Jackson Gair, Forward, Orillia (4th pick, 2nd round; 17th overall)
Mike Kirk, Defender, Dickinson College/Brampton (2nd pick, 3rd round; 27th overall)
Shane Sargent, Forward, Whitby (2nd pick, 4th round; 40th overall)
Bill McGlone, Forward, University of Maryland (3rd pick, 4th round; 41st overall)
Cody Jacobs, Forward, Six Nations (2nd pick, 5th round; 53rd overall)
Eric Martin, Defender, Kitchener-Waterloo(2nd pick, 6th round; 66th overall)
Today's draft marks the latest milestone for the Shamrox as the team prepares for its inaugural season. The Shamrox start indoor lacrosse play with their home opener on Saturday, January 6 at 7:30 p.m. against the New York Titans. The Shamrox will play its home games at the Sears Centre arena, a brand new state-of-the-art sports facility in Hoffman Estates, a northwest suburb of Chicago.
Season tickets (starting at only $10 per game), group ticket reservations and team merchandise are available online at the official Website, www.ChicagoShamrox.com, or by phone at 1-866-4-CHI-NLL.
Shamrox Ownership:
The Shamrox ownership group is headed by businessman Kevin Loughery Jr., son of former NBA player and Chicago Bulls coach Kevin Loughery, Sr., who is also a minority partner in the franchise. The ownership group also consists of Donald Sallee, former CEO of Invesco Global Strategies and a founding partner of Invesco Capital Management Inc. The final piece of the ownership group is Concept Entertainment Group LLC, a sports and entertainment asset development company and KLM holding run by Doug Schaer.
Shamrox Front Office:
Conrad "Connie" Kowal, President of the Chicago Shamrox, is a Chicago native who has been a sports executive for over 26 years, with front office experience in Major League Baseball, the NFL and other sports organizations. His background includes 14 seasons (1985-1998) as an executive for the Chicago Cubs and as Senior Director of Marketing and Business Development for the NFL's New Orleans Saints (2003-2005).
Jamie Batley, the Shamrox new Head Coach and General Manager, brings nearly a decade of coaching experience and a proven track record of head coaching success to the Shamrox and is considered one of the top indoor coaches in the game. As Head Coach of the NLL's Colorado Mammoth from 2003 through 2005, he led the team to two division titles. Batley's resume includes additional NLL experience with the Buffalo Bandits, Syracuse Smash and the Pittsburgh Crossfire. He also head-coached the U.S. Box Lacrosse Team in 2003, leading the team to a bronze medal at the World Championships. As a player, Batley was an All-American midfielder for the University of Maryland-Baltimore in 1993 and a member of Team Canada from 1989-1994.
Phil Ryan, Vice President and Director of Lacrosse Operations, brings lacrosse experience, both on and off the field, to the Chicago Shamrox. He has played collegiate (Washington College, Md.) and professional lacrosse (Detroit, NLL, 1994), has been a successful coach at the youth, high school and collegiate levels in Chicago, and has helped expand the sport of lacrosse in the Chicagoland area as a partner with the business enterprise Lacrosse America. He also had a successful career as an executive with Merrill Lynch.
National Lacrosse League Stories from September 14, 2006
- Roughnecks re-sign goaltender Andrew Leyshon - Calgary Roughnecks
- Mammoth's Carey named Mann Cup MVP - Colorado Mammoth
- Altitude to air NLL draft highlights show - Colorado Mammoth
- Bandits select Bucktooth with third overall pick - Buffalo Bandits
- Shamrox select Josh Wasson-McQuigge with first entry draft pick in team history - Chicago Shamrox
- Rush draft goalie - Edmonton Rush
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