Six CUFLA players selected in 2016 National Lacrosse League draft

The 2016 National Lacrosse League Entry Draft was a banner one for CUFLA players. What is believed to be a record number of Canadian university players were selected, with six players going overall including two in the second round of the draft that was held last Monday at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre. 

Guelph teammates Justin Martin and Kevin Orleman were the first two players taken and they'll have a chance to keep playing together as both were selected by the Buffalo Bandits.

Martin is a defender for the Gryphons and plays defence/transition in box lacrosse, where he just graduated from the Burlington Chiefs Jr A program. Martin also got into seven games with Major Series Lacrosse's Oaville Rock this summer. His speed and decision-making appealed to Buffalo, which used its first pick in the draft to take Martin.

Orleman is in the mold of Matt Vinc in that he is a goalie in box lacrosse while playing as a runner in field. Orleman was traded by his hometown Kitchener-Waterloo Braves, where he shares the crease with his brother Steven, to the Delta Islanders of the BC Jr A league. His strong play was a key in the Islanders winning their first ever provincial championship and advancing to the Minto Cup. Orleman is an LSM for the Gryphons.

Trent's Dan Michel was a three-year captain with the Jr A Peterborough Lakers, where one of his coaches for part of his tenure in junior was recently-inducted NLL Hall of Famer Tracey Kelusky. With Kelusky now coaching the offence for the New England Black Wolves, it was a natural fit for New England to select Michel 38th overall in the draft. Michel is a gritty lefty forward indoors and plays in the midfield for the Excalibur, where he is also a captain. In seven games this year, Michel has already surpassed his goal total from last year, scoring 12 for Trent's potent offence in 2016 after putting in 10 last fall.

Western middie Jackson Hulbert went 42nd to the Toronto Rock then a pair of CUFLA players went back to back a handful of picks later. Saskatchewan used pick #48 to select McGill captain Spencer Bromley, who led the Redmen in scoring each of the last two seasons. Vancouver was pleased to see Laurier attack Danton Miller available when they were selecting next. Miller scored 23 goals last fall for the Golden Hawks and already has nine this season.