Redmen Brass Protects Two Local Players Prior To MSL Draft
By Sam Laskaris
A future glimpse of the Brooklin Redmen roster began to take shape on Wednesday.
And the Redmen will continue to add to their pool of players this Sunday when the Major Series Lacrosse (MSL) Entry Draft is staged at the Cobourg Community Centre. Heading into Sunday’s draft all six MSL squads were allowed to protect a maximum of four graduating players from their junior affiliated teams.
Brooklin, however, opted to protect just two individuals prior to Wednesday afternoon’s deadline. The Redmen brass decided to protect Dawson Theede and Anthony Drouin.
Theede starred for the Whitby Warriors’ Junior A squad from 2015-17. He racked up 75 points, including 28 goals, in 2017. An injury prevented him from suiting up for the Warriors last season.
“He’s played for me in the past so we have a bit of a relationship there,” Brooklin general manager Brad MacArthur said of Theede. “He played a couple of games for us as an under-ager and he fit in quite well.” During the 2017 campaign Theede appeared in two matches with the Redmen. He earned four points, including a pair of goals.
“Dawson is a good-sized presence,” MacArthur added of Theede, who is 6-foot-3. “I’m expecting he’ll learn quite a bit from the other guys and his role might have to change a bit.” Despite not playing lacrosse this past year, MacArthur anticipates Theede will be in shape for the 2019 season. That’s because he’s currently playing hockey with the St. Mary’s University squad in Halifax.
As for Drouin, he’s spent the past two seasons with the Warriors.
“Anthony is more of a stay-at-home defenceman with good size,” MacArthur said of Drouin, who has an imposing 6-foot-5 frame. MacArthur speaks highly of Drouin’s determination as he commutes to Whitby from his Oakville home.
“He’s shown a lot of dedication getting there,” he said. “And he’s got upside. Anthony will have to work for everything, and the jump to MSL will be an adjustment.”
Only the Brampton Excelsiors and Oakville Rock protected the maximum of four players each from their junior affiliates.
Like the Redmen, the Cobourg Kodiaks also protected two players. The Six Nations Chiefs and the defending Mann Cup champion Peterborough Lakers protected just one player each.
As for Sunday’s draft, it is a five-round affair. Thus, a maximum of 30 players will be selected.
Heading into the draft, thanks to various trades that have already occurred, Brooklin, Brampton and Cobourg are the only squads that have first-round selections.
Brooklin has the third and fifth picks over-all. The host Kodiaks currently possess the first over-all selection.
The Redmen are also scheduled to draft one player in each of the remaining rounds.
“There’s some pretty good prospects available,” said MacArthur, who is also the general manager of the Redmen’s Senior B affiliate Brooklin Merchants. “We're looking at building both teams.” MacArthur is hoping all of the club’s draftees suit up this season locally.
“We expect all of our young guys to step in and contribute whether it is with the Redmen or the Merchants,” he said. “Where they end up is completely up to them.”
Sunday’s draft is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. All selections will be announced via Twitter at @MajorSeriesLax.