Skip to content

WLA Lakers land a few good men

The Burnaby Lakers got a little bit of everything they needed at the Western Lacrosse Association junior entry draft.

The Burnaby Lakers got a little bit of everything they needed at the Western Lacrosse Association junior entry draft.

The Lakers selected former Burnaby junior Jackson Decker with the second overall pick at the draft held at the Firefighters' Club in Burnaby on Monday.

Burnaby then took Victoria's Casey Jackson from the Coquitlam juniors with the third pick overall.

The Lakers went to the left side again to take Justin Salt from New Westminster with their first pick of the second round.

Burnaby also picked 6-3 Langley righthander Colten Hayes 12th overall.

Earlier in the proceedings, Burnaby gave up its 13th overall draft pick to Nanaimo for the rights to Carlton Schuss, who was a first-round choice of the Timbermen in 2011.

Burnaby also got T.J. Cowx from New Westminster with its fourth-round selection.

"We got a good righty and good lefties, some transition and some muscle in Hayes," said Burnaby head coach Bob Johnston. "We've added five that I think could play."

Decker scored 28 goals, including six hat tricks in just 12 regular season games with Burnaby and Coquitlam last season.

Jackson, a lefty, is another sniper who had a 100plus point season, including 40 goals, in 2010 with the junior Shamrocks.

The 6-2 Jackson led all scorers at last season's Minto Cup with 13 goals and 30 points.

In Salt, Burnaby acquired a left-handed player that has proved he can play in both ends of the floor.

"I'm just hoping my game as a transition player can really help out the team," said Salt, who is currently on the practice roster of the NLL Washington Stealth. "I'm learning a lot down there and hoping the stuff I'm learning there will help me out in the WLA."

Hayes, at 6-3, scored six goals and amassed almost 400 minutes in penalties in three seasons with the junior Thunder.

In Cowx, Burnaby got a 6-1 transition player who could also play at the senior A level.

"Since I came here, the goal has been to attack. Hopefully we're getting close to that," said Johnston. "We're close to not just getting better, but taking a big step. But the guys have to buy in."

Also going in the first round was 6-6 Coquitlam defender David Joyce picked up by Maple Ridge fourth overall.

Langley risked its No. 5 selection, taking Ontario superstar Mark Matthews, who helped Coquitlam to a Minto Cup in 2010.

Victoria and Nanaimo drafted true to form, taking local boys Karson Leung and Cody Bremner, respectively, with the sixth and seventh picks.

Coquitlam did a good job in the draft, coming away with New West junior captain Travis Irving, Ryan Johnson, Daniel McQuade, Jordan Catton and Burnaby righthander Jaxson Lee in the sixth round.

"I'm definitely excited to be on this team," said Lee. "I'm on to bigger and better things, and I'll do anything to play lacrosse and to have a chance of playing in the WLA."

Other players taken in the draft by the senior Lakers included Mckenzie Davies, Jeremy Serraglio, Colton Dow and 6-3 Mitch Frank. The Lakers also drafted Andrew Copeland from Kamloops in the ninth round.

Burnaby junior Blake Mattinson was picked up by Maple Ridge in the seventh round.

The WLA regular season league opener is on May 18 in Burnaby against the Victoria Shamrocks .