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Several Orangeville Northmen selected in 2017 NLL Draft

September 29, 2017   ·   0 Comments

By Jasen Obermeyer

A number of Orangeville Junior A and B Northmen have been selected in the National Lacrosse League (NLL) draft, giving these fortunate, highly skilled players one step closer to fulfilling their dreams.

During the draft, which took place in Oakville on Monday of last week (September 18), Orangeville Jr. A Northmen graduate and team captain of last season, Zac Masson, was selected in the second round, 18th overall by the Toronto Rock, while alternate captain and fellow graduate Mackenzie Mitchell was drafted fourth round, 34th overall by Buffalo Bandits. The Rock also picked Jr. A Northmen and Shelburne native Dan Craig, 57th overall in the sixth round. Orangeville native Dallas Bridle was selected 33rd overall by the Bandits. The Georgia Swarm, the latest NLL champions, drafted Orangeville Jr. B Northmen graduate Nik Farrus 42nd overall.

Speaking to the Citizen, Masson says it was a great honor to be drafted, and “a dream come true,” as it’s another stepping-stone to the next level, and found out about being drafted from a teammate at school.

He says the Jr. A Northmen is a “top tier program. I wouldn’t want to play anywhere else. It’s a really special organization.”

Mitchell also spoke with the Citizen, saying it is incredible to be drafted, with “a lot of high expectations playing in Orangeville, so it’s pretty fulfilling that it actually happened.”

He says he watched the draft with his roommates while at Brock University in St. Catharines. “I wasn’t really to sure what was going to happen, because I didn’t talk to any teams prior, but when it happened it was very exciting.”

The Citizen also interviewed Farrus, who says it feels surreal and daidn’t expect to get drafted. However, now that he is, he’s excited to be potentially on the roster, “a challenge I’m excited to take on.”

All three discussed how they’re going to prepare themselves for training camp to potentially make their respective teams’ rosters.

Masson says he’s looking to bring hard work, help out anyway he can, and to be a good leader while both playing, and in the locker room. “I can be a shutdown defender on the other teams’ top offensive players.”

Farrus says he will bring what he “usually brings,” which is aggression, being a team player, work hard, and battle every time he plays.

Farrus says he’ll use training camp as an opportunity to see where his strengths and weaknesses are, how he can work on his game, with lots of energy. “Giving it my full 100 per cent every shift,” and “making a large impact in the long run.”

Jr. A Northmen GM Bob Clevely says they have a “good production line” allowing for a “pretty strong” track record of preparing the players for the NLL. “We’ve had a long line of successful coaches that have done a really good job developing the players in Orangeville.”

Masson says the Northmen are a special group, and made him a “better player and person overall” and couldn’t have asked for a better experience. “Those years of hard work definitely paid off.”

Mitchell thanks the Northmen for everything they provided for him, and has been an honor to play for the organization. “It’s given me all the tools I need to get thus far, and I wouldn’t be here without them.”

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