BEIRNES PICKED FIRST, DOYLE GOES TO BRAMPTON
AT 2002 OLA MAJOR DRAFT
Wednesday February 6, 2002
TORONTO -- The Ontario Lacrosse Association (OLA) today announced the
results of the 2002 OLA Major Draft held at the Iroquois Park Sports
Gardens Café in Whitby.
Kasey Beirnes of Salem, Ontario was selected first overall by the
Brooklin Redmen. Beirnes played with the Elora Mohawks of the OLA
Junior “B” League during the 2001 season and was the NLL
Rookie-of-the-Month award winner in January as a Columbus Landshark.
The Redmen obtained the first pick overall in a pre-Draft transaction
with Akwesasne, which saw the Thunder gain the rights to Ben Green and
three draft picks. To secure the second overall pick, Brooklin traded
Curt Malawsky to Six Nations and then drafted Jamie Taylor of the
Burlington Chiefs.
“Kasey was the right shot we were after all along and with Jamie, A.J.
(Shannon) and Wes (Suddons), we’re really happy with this Draft,” said
Brooklin General Manager Bob Vessey. Shannon and Suddons were protected
Whitby Warrior overage Junior “A” players.
After the Redmen, Peterborough selected Chris White (Peterborough
Lakers) and Cory Leigh (Mississauga Tomahawks), the Six Nations Chiefs
picked Greg Tregunno of Burlington in the fifth spot and Akwesasne
acquired Chuck Doxtator of the Burlington Chiefs to end the first round.
In other pre-Draft transactions: Six Nations moved Colin Doyle’s playing
rights to Brampton in exchange for Wayne Burke, Jamie Dubrick and two
draft picks (Doyle played with the Coquitlam Adanacs in 2001);
Peterborough moved Casey Zaph to the Excelsiors for Mike Benedict, Jason
Clark and a draft pick. Additionally, three players were selected from
the OLA Junior “B” League: Beirnes of Elora; Kevin Dostie of Wallaceburg
and Brandon Laforme of Scarborough.
In all, eighteen players were selected. A complete Draft
list follows.
