When his name is called on Wednesday by most likely the Langley Thunder, Connor Robinson will make sure to enjoy it.
Getting drafted may not be the once-in-a-lifetime thing it use to be, with various pro leagues eyeing him once his college career is done, but Robinson said the Western Lacrosse Association's junior draft has a special resonance for him.
“It’s definitely at the top of my mind," Robinson said of the draft. "I love the game, I’m excited to play for whatever team decides to choose me. I’d love to go home and play on the (New West) Salmonbellies but I know that’s probably not going to be an option.
"I’m just looking forward to upping my game and entering the WLA and experiencing a whole new level of competition."
The 21-year-old forward is preparing for his senior season with the High Point University Panthers of the NCAA Div. 1 Southern Conference. The first game goes Thursday when the Panthers play Duke University. Playing in the WLA will have to wait, but there's no doubt it is of interest.
The New West native has already shown that any adjustment in leaving junior for the senior ranks will be managed smoothly, after scoring at a goal-per-game pace in 25 WLA and Mann Cup games over the past four seasons.
And while he made it look easy -- counting 21 goals over 21 playoffs games this past summer while playing for the senior Salmonbellies -- there was some adjusting to be done.
“Definitely the size and the speed. In junior you have a lot of young guys, 17 and 18 who aren’t fully grown. Coming in the stick skills are a lot better, the games are faster and the game just moves at a quicker pace that I enjoy. It’s a lot more run and gun where as junior is a lot of settling the ball and moving it around," he said.
After dominating the junior circuit for the past four of five seasons, including back-to-back scoring titles and twin MVP awards, a new challenge is something he's eager for.
A swing man on the open field for the Panthers, Robinson has earned his stripes at both midfield and attack. Anyone who saw how he dominated the B.C. junior A Lacrosse League the past five seasons, counting 176 goals and 268 assists over 96 regular season games, wouldn't be surprised that his game carries over on turf.
“I just basically try to lead the offence the best I can, whether I’m attacker or midfield," he said. "I try to make sure everyone’s on the same page, moving in the same direction and getting a nice flow to the offence. That’s kind of my role.
“Every day it changes, really. I do like the idea of midfield, being guarded by a short stick and having more of the field. On the other hand I do like playing behind the net, and attack gets every rep in because you’re usually on the field. It really changes every single day which I prefer."
That eager ability to fit seamlessly into a different situation served him well this summer, going from the junior lineup, once they were eliminated in the playoffs, to the senior 'Bellies. He quickly became one of the team's most consistent offensive threats, while using his six-foot, 215-pound frame to handle the physical game.
New West senior Salmonbellies general manager Dan Richardson called Robinson a "standout" who provided an instant impact for the lineup as it marched all the way to a six-game series in the Mann Cup championship.
"He's a very strong player who is going to be a great player for a long time," Richardson said, regretfully conceding that New West won't have the pleasure of drafting him -- barring a major trade.
Robinson is the No. 1 talent in this year's junior draft, and the Langley Thunder earned the right to select first after a horrid 4-14 season, one win less than Coquitlam.
That one loss could prove to be a major coup in the club's transition from a rebuilding program into franchise on the rise, with Robinson a central figure.
New West, which doesn't own a pick in either the first or second rounds, won't get a chance to select Robinson -- or another junior A 'Bellies standout, Drew Belgrave -- unless they are able to wield some draft floor trading magic.
Richardson said he has put out feelers, but so far none of the other teams have returned his calls.
"I'm ready to talk but no one's got back to me yet," he said.
For Robinson, the Salmonbellies have been a big part of his life. Older brother Lyle played for the senior squad when the youngest of three boys was still in minor. He got to know a number of his older brother's teammates on both the junior and senior side.
“My favourite player growing up was a local guy, Mark Negrin," Robinson recalled. "He played for New West in junior. He went to a Minto in Coquitlam. He was on my brother’s team so I’d go to almost every single game. I just loved how he played, how he'd be nonchalant but knew when to turn it on and he was definitely one of the bigger goal scorers for his age group."
To get drafted by a WLA team -- even if its not his hometown club -- is something he use to imagine as a young kid cheering on his hometown heroes.
“I’m pretty excited, its something I’ve been working for ever since I found out what the WLA draft was. I definitely probably tune in for the most of it, seeing myself and the kids I gerw up playing with and against, seeing where they get drafted," the St. Thomas More alumnus said.
A lefthanded stick, Robinson's game has been described both as a power-type offensive driver and a scoring opportunist. Although they play different sports, his impact at the junior level could be compared to the Vancouver Canucks' Brock Boeser in terms of the game-breaking offensive element he brings to the indoor lacrosse game.
The month he spent with the New West senior squad, which pushed Peterborough to six games in the Mann Cup championship final, was a massive learning opportunity, Robinson noted. The highlight likely was Game 7 of the opening round, when New West had to rally against Maple Ridge to force overtime, was one of his best moments in the sport.
“You definitely got that extra surge of energy knowing you were fighting for your life, especialy how we did it coming back from being down 3-1 and making it all the way to Game 7 and playing those extra overtime periods. It made it a very satisfying feeling getting the win at the end of it."
He and fellow junior 'Bellie Drew Belgrave proved to be major contributors during that playoff run, and both soaked up the experience, surrounded by a great leadership group. Belgrave is now a member of the Toronto Rock of the National Lacrosse League, the pro circuit which will be able to put Robinson on its draft list in 2018 once his college career is complete. At this week's WLA proceedings, Belgrave is a near-certain top-five pick.
Robinson is hoping to wrap up his High Point career on a high note. Last season the squad fell out of the playoff picture early and finished 4-10, but Robinson said there are a lot of things that could turn that around in a hurry.
"We’re not predicted to do very well this year but I think we’ll surprise a lot of people. We’re really meshing very well and I think we’ll do big things this year, hopefully get another conference championship and make the NCAA tournament."
Still, the lessons learned while playing with the likes of Kevin Crowley, Curtis Hodgson, Logan Schuss and others continues to pay dividends. What he gathered from just watching them play and prepare for each game was a real boon.
"Definitely keeping a level head and keeping your composure, even when you’re at the highest level playing for a Mann (Cup)," Robinson said of the veterans' demeanor during the playoffs. "When ever we walked in there was no panic or, I wouldn’t say fear but any weariness. When they talked to the team they always kept a cool and level head and always made sure the guys were rallying and everyone was on the same page; (they) made sure we came out as a full unit (to) get the job done."
Richardson said although it isn't considered a deep draft, after Robinson there are three or four players who would be considered very solid WLA-level prospects.
New West surrendered its first pick in this year's draft as part of the trade to the Thunder that brought Joel McCready, Brett Mydske and Nathan Stewart to New West. McCready and Mydske were major contributors to last year's Mann Cup run.
The WLA draft goes Feb. 7 in Vancouver. The first round of the draft, barring late trades, is as follows: 1-Langley, 2-Coquitlam, 3-Nanaimo, 4-Victoria, 5-Langley, 6-Coquitlam, 7-Langley.
New West doesn't draft until the third round, with the 19th selection of the proceedings. They also own Langley's fourth round pick, the 22nd pick overall.
