One thing that is certain in Monday's Western Lacrosse Association junior draft is there is no real first choice for whose name should be called with Maple Ridge's first overall pick.
While Burnaby is leaning towards Logan Schuss as the consensus No. 1, New Westminster selectors place Coquitlam's bevy of fine right-handers - Robert Church, Matthew Dinsdale and Ben McIntosh - in no particular order as possible contenders for that much sought after distinction.
Indeed, a Coquitlam insider predicted McIntosh to be the first player to be picked by Maple Ridge, with Brandon Goodwin second and Church, Schuss and Dinsdale following.
Jeff Cornwall would then be taken sixth overall by Burnaby with its second pick of the first round.
But predicting a WLA draft is an inexact science, as many know.
How New Westminster chooses at nos. 2 and 3 may have a big impact on how the rest of the draft pans out.
With arguably the most to gain in the deep 2013 grad year, the Salmonbellies will be looking for players who can step right in and put the Queen's Park ship back on a course towards the playoffs.
With two more picks in Round 2, New West, along with Maple Ridge and Coquitlam, might not have to take a hasty first-round risk. Others might not be so fortunate.
New Westminster president and general manager, Dan Richardson, told the NOW his club wants as many full-time players as possible on this season's summer roster.
"But we want the best," Richardson said, suggesting should a top player with field lacrosse commitments fall to the Salmonbellies, "We would have to take a look at our existing roster."
With a common need for lefthanders, New West is better positioned than Burnaby to take advantage of arguably the top three southpaws in this year's draw - Schuss, Goodwin and Cornwall.
Richardson believes this year's draft is a solid 14 players deep and said he would be surprised to see teams going off the board as has been the case in previous drafts.
"The draft doesn't end for us after the first round; it gets going," said Richardson, who chooses again at nos. 10 and 11.
He also said Salmonbellie greats are not always picked first, but made later, citing late picks Shane Bennett and Wade DeWolff as current examples.
For Burnaby, GM Paul Rowbotham is not ruling out a worst-case scene-rio, where the Lakers are forced to pick up the best players available and then hope to address its left-side needs in the much less desirable trade market. But Rowbotham doesn't any pre-draft trades coming into play this year.
"We'll likely play it safe in the first round," said Rowbotham. "I don't have a choice."
