September 11, 2011
Blazers dispersal draft held
by Staff Report/
Boston Blazers fans looking to follow their favorite stars will find them spread throughout the league after the National Lacrosse League held its dispersal draft for the team’s players.
Dan Dawson was selected first overall by the Philadelphia Wings. Dawson – initially a sixth-round draft pick of the defunct Columbus Landsharks team when he entered the league – was the top pick in his third different dispersal draft, having moved from the Arizona Sting to the Portland Lumberjax to the Blazers and now on to Philadelphia.
Defender Kyle Rubisch – an All-Star and top rookie for the Blazers last year – went to the Edmonton Rush with the second pick, before goalie Anthony Cosmo was picked by the Minnesota Swarm. The Swarm then chose Josh Sanderson with the fourth pick – which they had acquired in a pre-draft trade – but subsequently traded “Shooter” to his hometown Toronto Rock.
Defenseman Mike Kirk went to the Rochester Knighthawks – whose coach Mike Hasen he has previously worked with and played for – before Kevin Buchanan was picked by Buffalo, reserve goalie Nick Rose was snapped up by Calgary, veteran forward Jamie Rooney by Washington and Greg Downing went to Minnesota with a pick acquired in the Sanderson trade.
Casey Powell – who with Dawson and Sanderson formed “the Big Three” – was selected 14th overall by Rochester. Powell suffered a knee injury playing for the Hamilton Nationals against the Boston Cannons in the Major League Lacrosse championship game, and the former NLL MVP’s future playing status is in doubt.
Here’s where the remaining Blazers went in the draft:
Philadelphia took defender John Orsen – subsequently traded to Colorado for forward Ned Crotty – tough guy Nick Cotter, and fan-favorite Breet Queener.
Edmonton picked up defender Ryan Dilks.
Colorado grabbed Ryan Hotaling, Sean Morris and the rights to Greg Peyser and Gary Bining.
Mitch Belisle and Jason Duboe can join Cosmo and Downing in Minnesota, which also grabbed the rights to defender Tyler Collins.
Jack Reid – who started his NLL career with the Knighthawks – returns to Rochester.
Buffalo grabbed defender Damon Edwards.
The defending champion Toronto Rock drafted enforcer Jon “Bubba” Durno.
Calgary picked up transition man Geoff McNulty and the rights to rookie Brock Armour and veteran Kevin Leveille, a former UMass and MLL star who has not played in the NLL for several years.
Washington drafted Josh Wasson, and picked up the rights to veteran forward Dan Teat, who retired during training camp a year ago.
The Blazers suspended operations for 2012 at the beginning of September, and currently plan to return with an all-new team in 2013, although the location remains uncertain. The team could relocate within New England or might move elsewhere; if the team does return to the league, it will start again from scratch, meaning that the only way it could get back any of the players dispersed here is if they are available in an expansion draft, as free agents or through trades.
