VELTMAN GOES FIRST IN 2002 OLA JUNIOR "A" DRAFT
Sunday January 13, 2002
TORONTO -- The Ontario Lacrosse Association (OLA) today announced the
results of the 2002 OLA Junior "A" Draft.
Daryl Veltman of Georgetown, Ontario was selected first overall by the
Brampton Excelsiors. Veltman, age eligible for Midget lacrosse last
season, played with the Halton Hills Bulldogs of the OLA Junior “B”
League in 2001. In nineteen games, he collected 47 points (22g, 25a)
and now returns to Brampton, where he played his minor lacrosse.
Veltman is the nephew of Toronto Rock (NLL) captain Jim Veltman.
The Kitchener-Waterloo Braves, with the second and third picks, selected
Brady Campbell of London and Henry Stahlbaum of Guelph, respectively.
Other early first round selections were goaltender Paul Dawson of
Oakville, picked fourth by the Burlington Chiefs; goalie Derek Crowell
of Nepean selected fifth by the Mississauga Tomahawks and Justin Hill of
Fort Erie picked sixth by the Orillia Rama Kings.
According to OLA Junior “A” Commissioner Dean McLeod, the Junior “A”
Draft was initiated in 1976 as a vehicle to provide the top graduating,
non-affiliated Midget players with an opportunity to showcase their
skills at the Junior “A” level. “Additionally,” says McLeod, “the draft
helps create parity among league members by establishing selections
based on reverse order of finish from the previous season. A
significant number of draft choices over the years have participated in
NLL, Mann Cup and Minto Cup championships.”
At the 2002 OLA Junior “A” Draft, the Chiefs continued to build for the
future with four picks overall, Brampton had three selections in the
two-round event and the Braves and Tomahawks had two picks.
In all, sixteen players were selected. A complete Draft list follows.
