A draft is an inexact science but the Coastal Windows Timbermen will certainly be trying to find the right formula.
Nanaimo’s senior A Western Lacrosse Association club is getting ready for the junior draft Monday (Feb. 4) at the Langley Events Centre.
Timbermen general manager Earl Nicholson will have a tough act to follow this year, as his No. 1 choice in 2012, Cody Bremner, was the WLA’s Rookie of the Year after playing in all 18 regular-season games and finishing fourth in league scoring with 69 points.
Nicholson sees things unfolding a little differently in 2013, as this time the general manager plans to focus primarily on adding back-end and transition players.
“We don’t have a problem putting the ball in the net, it’s keeping it out of our own end that we’ve still got some areas to fill,” he said.
He said a lack of depth on defence proved problematic in the second half of the 2012 season as the T-men fell out of playoff contention.
“We got some guys banged up on the back end and then we couldn’t fill those holes sufficiently,” said Nicholson. “We need to get deeper.”
As far as the GM can tell looking at the available draft choices, he thinks he can add three to four WLA-ready defenders on Monday.
He said he’d prefer to add another five or six of those sort of guys, so he is continuing to pursue free agents, as well.
Nanaimo doesn’t get a draft pick until the third round this year, but that shouldn’t matter much – every year mainland teams draft mainland guys and Vancouver Island teams draft Island guys.
The Timbermen get to choose before the Victoria Shamrocks, at least.
“As far as dividing up what’s on the Island we’re probably sitting in a little bit better spot than what they are,” Nicholson said.
LACROSSE TALK … The Timbermen open the WLA season May 17 on the road against the Burnaby Lakers and play their home opener May 19 at Frank Crane Arena against the New Westminster Salmonbellies. For season ticket information, please visit www.tmen.ca or call 250.740.1377