The Maple Ridge Burrards added a Vancouver Warriors defender as their first pick in the Western Lacrosse Association draft on Jan. 29.
Nathan Miller is a two-time Minto Cup champion with the Coquitlam Adanacs Junior A squad, and is a big (six-foot-three), hard-nosed player who is expected to contribute immediately. The Burrards took him fourth overall.
“He’s a solid defensive guy we’re looking forward to adding to the lineup – he’ll step right in,” said GM Lance Andre.
Warriors GM/head coach Curt Malawsky was happy to draft him into the NLL last fall, at 31st overall.
“I’ve watched him play in some really high-end, important lacrosse games for national championships,” said Malawsky. “He’s an excellent player, physical, got great size, right-handed defenceman – kind of like our captain Brett Mydske.”
As reported earlier, the Burrards territorial protection picks were Curt’s son forward Cody Malawsky and goaltender Jack Kask. They and Miller all played for Minto-Cup winning Adanacs teams, and their GM likes that they bring that pedigree.
“They have a championship attitude,” he said. “We’re adding some winners to the lineup, and they’ll help Maple Ridge win a Mann Cup.”
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The Burrards also drafted:
Cameron Squarek in the second round, Jaxon Smart in the third, Reece Young fourth, Daniel Mahoney fifth, and Riley MacDonald sixth.
Squarek was the top graduating player for the Delta Islanders, and the defender played with the Burrards during the playoffs last season. He made a good impression.
“Our coaching staff was really impressed with him,” said Andre.
Smart is a local boy who is playing with Cornell University’s field lacrosse team, and is not expected to be available to the Burrards in the coming season.
It was a strange draft in that the Naniamo Timbermen acquired all the first-round picks except Ridge’s, and dominated the draft.
“Nanaimo is rebuilding, and they got some good players,” said Andre.
The Burrards start training camp in April, and the regular season begins in May.