Brooklin Lacrosse Club: Picks in Major Series Lacrosse 2024 Entry Draft

By Mark Stehlin

On Sunday January 21, the 2024 Major Series Lacrosse (MSL) Entry Draft was held at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre, Oakville, ON. All seven MSL teams were in attendance for the event. For the Brooklin Lacrosse Club (BLC) new head coach, Joel Johnson, was there to make the selections.

Prior to the draft, BLC protected three graduating juniors from the Whitby Warriors: Jake Doolittle, Kobe Handsor and John Wheller. In addition, GM Brad MacArthur struck the following deal with Owen Sound, to move up in the draft. The agreement resulted in Owen Sound receiving BLC’s 2024 - 2nd round, 4th round, and 5th round picks and a player to be named later from BLC. Brooklin, in turn, received Owen Sound’s 2024 - 1st pick (7th overall) and 2nd pick (8th overall). 

This resulted in BLC making the following picks:

Round      Overall Pick       Player                       Junior Team

1                 3rd                   Jacob Hickey         Toronto Beaches

1                 7th                   Dylan Robinson      Toronto Beaches

2                 8th                   Alexis Simard          Burlington Blaze   

3                 17th                 Kaleb Benedict        Orangeville Northmen

MacArthur reported “we traded Jake Doolittle to Owen Sound as the player to be named later.” He added “as part of the Kyle Rubisch and Shayne Jackson deal from last summer, we picked up Tyler Davis from Six Nations. “

As far as draft results, MacArthur noted “we’re really quite pleased with the protected players and draft class. We think there will be a few that can step in and play right away while others may need some seasoning. Fortunately, we are set up with a development team in a spot for those players to play where we can keep an eye them.”

Specifically, he said “Hickey has been proven to be a versatile player who can play both end of the floor. Robinson has experience and a National Lacrosse League championship to boot. Simard had one of the best summers out there as a defender. He’s received top-notch coaching in box and college. Benedict brings an offensive punch.

Note: Immediately following the draft, Johnson continued travelling west on the QEW/Highway 403 to coach his Whitby Steelhawks in a game against the Paris RiverWolves in Arena Lacrosse League action.  His Steelhawks won that game 14-11 good for first place with a 6-1 record, at that time.