The New Westminster Salmonbellies used its first two picks to good effect at the Western Lacrosse Association junior draft.
The senior A Salmonbellies selected concensus No. 1 Logan Schuss and 6-3 defender Jeff Cornwall with its second and third overall picks at the junior entry draft at the Langley Events Centre on Monday.
With its next two picks in the second round, New West went to its junior team to draft defender Reid Mydske and right-hander Keegan Bal at 10 and 11, respectively.
In the third round, the 'Bellies took New West junior Reagan Harding with the 17th overall pick.
"We wanted to get a little more athletic and with New West's picks in the middle rounds we got big and athletic, and that's what we wanted to get back to - a run-and-gun team," said New Westminster president and general manager Dan Richardson.
After the pre-draft interviews, Richardson said he knew Cornwall was coming to the Salmonbellies.
That just left Maple Ridge to decide on Ben McIntosh as its No. 1 overall pick before Richardson quickly snapped up Delta lefty Logan Schuss with the No. 2 pick.
"That left the door open for us to take Schuss. We're high on him, " Richardson said.
Richardson is also excited to see how Cornwall takes to a more transition role with Curtis Manning expected back in the 'Bellies lineup this season.
"He (Cornwall) is going to come into a system where he will be given the green light to bring the ball up the floor," said Richardson.
Cornwall, who descrbes himself as more of a defender, is excited about improving his overall game.
"I've been learning the game in the NLL and trying to be a better overall player. I'm trying to bring a transition element to my game and play solid defence," Cornwall said. "But I couldn't be more thrilled. ... It's a new season and a new team, but I'm just happy to be chosen so early."
Coquitlam righthander Robert Church went to the Burnaby Lakers with the fourth overall pick.
Coquitlam then took Matthew Dinsdale at No. 5 and Burnaby followed, selecting big righthander Tyler Digby.
The defending WLA champion Langley Thunder then ended the first round, putting lefty Brandon Goodwin from New Westminster on their 2013 roster.
Richardson added the Salmonbellies attempted to improve its draft presence with a number of moves but could find no takers.
"We tried to get in it at the five, six and seven hole. But it was quite unusual - no trades. We couldn't find a dance partner tonight," Richardson said.
New Westminster further bolstered its pre-season training camp, taking 6-1 Matt Zinn from Delta with its sole pick of the fourth round.
The Salmonbellies also claimed Cody Craven from Port Coquitlam and New West product David Beaumont from Burnaby before selecting New West juniors Ryan Schmidt, Sando Falbo, Josh Becker and goalie Callum Dailly in the later rounds.
New Westminster product Jaeden Gastaldo was chosen by Maple Ridge with its second pick in the second round.
New West junior Thomas Newton went to Nanaimo in the fourth round and Alex Lohr was taken in the fifth by Maple Ridge.
Kris Liset was picked up by Coquitlam in the eighth round.
Round One:
1 Maple Ridge - Ben McIntosh - Coquitlam Jrs
2 New Westminster - Logan Schuss - Delta
3 New Westminster - Jeff Cornwall - Coquitlam Jrs
4 Burnaby - Robert Church - Coquitlam Jrs
5 Coquitlam - Matthew Dinsdale - Coquitlam Jrs
6 Burnaby - Tyler Digby - New Westminster Jrs
7 Langley - Brandon Goodwin - New Westminster Jrs
Round Two:
8 Maple Ridge - Mike Mallory - Delta
9 Coquitlam - Kevin Neufeld - Coquitlam Jrs
10 New Westminster - Reid Mydske - New Westminster Jrs
11 New Westminster - Keegan Bal - New Westminster Jrs
12 Coquitlam - Cody Hawkins - Delta
13 Maple Ridge - Jaeden Gastaldo - Burnaby/Langley Jrs
14 Langley - Trent Hawke - Coquitlam
Round Three:
15 Burnaby - Hamish Brindle - Delta
16 Nanaimo - Paul Brebber - Victoria Jrs
17 New Westminster - Reagan Harding - New Westminster Jrs
18 Maple Ridge - Carson Michaud - Port Coquitlam
19 Coquitlam - James Delaney - Okotoks, Alta
20 Victoria - Jake Emms - Victoria Jrs
21 Burnaby - Nathan Klein - Coquitlam Jrs
For more on the later rounds, log on to www.theboxrocks.com/leagues/newsletter.cfm?page=67877&clientID=5357&leagueID=20555
