The countdown to the 2020 Western Lacrosse Association (WLA) season will begin Thursday, February 6th, 2020, at 7 p.m., with the annual Graduating Junior Draft, webcast live on WLALacrosse.com. The 2020 season brings the first year of Territorial Protection to the WLA, wherein each team is able to protect one player in advance of the Draft that resides in their respective catchment area. Should a team elect not to utilize their Territorial Protection, they are awarded a compensatory pick prior to the official Draft.
This year, Coquitlam and Maple Ridge have chosen to protect players from their catchments.
Coquitlam has protected Reid Bowering. Bowering, a 6’ 0”, 190 lbs. left-handed defender, played for the Coquitlam Junior Adanacs, and is currently a senior at Drexel University, playing on the men’s field lacrosse team.
Maple Ridge has protected transition player Anthony Kalinich. Standing 6’ 1” and 195 lbs., Kalanich played for the Langley Junior Thunder, and also plays for the Calgary Roughnecks of the National Lacrosse League (NLL).
The remaining five WLA teams elected not to utilize their Territorial Protection and, therefore, will receive a compensatory draft pick in reverse order of last year’s regular season standings, as follows: Langley, Burnaby, Nanaimo, New Westminster, and Victoria. These draft selections will be made at the WLA Junior Draft Thursday night, immediately prior to the regular draft.
The WLA Junior Draft will begin at 7 p.m. Thursday February 6th, 2020 at 7 p.m., and will be webcast live on WLALacrosse.com. Follow along with your favourite teams and the League on Twitter, as all teams look to add young talent to their rosters for a run at the WLA Championship and the Mann Cup.
