2023-24 NLL

[OrangeXtreme]

 

[Powellfan]

Finn Thomson - In the last 25 years, only 10 OJLL players have scored 100-plus points in consecutive seasons. Two of those came this year—Willem Firth and Finn Thomson. The previous eight will probably sound familiar to lacrosse fans: Colin Doyle, Gavin Prout, Shawn Evans, Joel Tayler [Joel Matthews at the time], Dhane Smith, Reilly O'Connor, Austin Shanks, Jeff Teat. O'Connor and Teat each eclipsed 100 three years in a row. Of all those players, only Teat scored more in a two-season span than Thomson's 254 for '22/'23. The game is about more than just points, but when you put up points at a pace like only one other player in a quarter century in the most competitive junior lacrosse league on the planet, you are a special pro prospect.

Joey Spallina - Spallina put up 7, 6 & 5 points in his first three Orangeville games. That was largely just from his talent; he still had a bit of a baby-deer-on-ice look in those games. Well, any awkwardness didn't last long. Spallina showed that his lacrosse IQ is comparable to his phenomenal skill. You just don't look at him on the floor and think ‘field player’ anymore; he is simply a great box lacrosse player playing a key role on one of the best Jr A teams ever. See the Marquis note: four Northmen in the past quarter century have scored 100-plus points in a season. The other three are Marquis, Josh Sanderson and Daryl Veltman. That is incredible company for a guy playing his first full year of box. The sky is the limit for Spallina.

https://www.insidelacrosse.com/article/10-intriguing-prospects-for-2026-spallina-thomson-richmond-and-more/61927

 

[Powellfan]

Trey Deere - Deere has a knack for capturing the imagination. Is he the best prospect in this draft class? That's hard to say four years out in a class already loaded with potential impact players. Is he the most electrifying prospect in the class? Probably. Deere scored 4.9 points per game, which is great for a 19-year-old in the OJLL. But fellow '04-born players Willem Firth (6.6), Liam Matthews (5.1) and DJ Clark (5.0) all had higher averages. He can play defense effectively, but that's not how he's going to change the face of a pro team. And he can fight, but you definitely don't want him doing that all the time. There is just something about the beauty of Deere's game. Watch him whenever you get the chance. You'll understand.

 

[Laxfanshutt]

Casey Powell Hall of Fame

https://www.nll.com/news/casey-powell-an-american-box-lacrosse-pioneer/?fbclid=IwAR3G0gUeYFuqo3d6EYJFTcEA5NctNVczsv5GnwdEQXd5RtcXwxNb0BI4gbI_aem_ATp_UZ49vxmIXpyNBSpHywk_mfIRSq2dKM-bUs04o1OuY2McAmqi_m58mD4NnkwxRrk&mibextid=Zxz2cZ

 

[Powellfan]

8 Jake Stevens, RT, Brooklin Lacrosse Club Sr A & Princeton/Syracuse
Stevens was generally considered likely to be the first defender taken in this draft for years leading up to it. He had a great junior career, including being named the OJLL transition player of the year, then carried his strong performance over to Sr A in his rookie season of 2022, albeit in limited game action. This summer was a bit of a tough one for the righty out of Guelph, who played his Jr A with Kitchener-Waterloo. There is no huge cause for concern, though. Stevens is smart, skilled and athletic; he is well built for the fast-paced game the NLL emphasizes, similar to someone like Jake Boudreau, to name a recent comparable. Stevens is also at Syracuse for a grad year.

7 Matthew Wright, RD/T, Peterborough Lakers Sr A & North Carolina/Syracuse
For certain players, the game just seems to move at a slower pace. Wright is one of those players; he always seems to have the time to assess a situation and take the best course of action, even when the game looks chaotic around him. His size, strength and lacrosse IQ make him a strong defender; that sense of composure under duress contributes to his effectiveness in clearing and pushing transition. He was limited to three games in MSL this summer, so it is good that Wright should have next summer to play a full senior box season before heading to the NLL after spending a grad year going to school and playing at Syracuse.

 

[SULAXAHOLIC]

Cody Jamieson’s career continues to get better now a 5x MSL champion 3x NLL NCAA Champion Minto Cup champion 2xNJCAA champion

 

[Powellfan]

 

[Powellfan]

 

[SULAXAHOLIC]

 

[Powellfan]

 

[Powellfan]

 

[Powellfan]

 

[Powellfan]

 

[Powellfan]

 

[Powellfan]

 

[OrangeXtreme]

 

[Shrmdougluvr]

That's cool. Firewolves have been playing well this year and Simmons has been their best offensive player.

 

[UrbanaOrange]

That's cool. Firewolves have been playing well this year and Simmons has been their best offensive player.

They have been a lot of fun to watch. I agree, Simmons has been their best offensive player. Wish he had multiple years with us.

 

[SULAXAHOLIC]

This almost identical to his goal vs UMass in 2009

 

[OrangeXtreme]

 

[SULAXAHOLIC]

Epitome of clutch

 

[CuseAlum87]

Epitome of clutch

Where have we seen that before?

 

[Powellfan]

 

[cuselaxss26]

Know the ones simmons of course. Not sure who other firewolve is tho know not cuse player.

 

[Laxfanshutt]

Know the ones simmons of course. Not sure who other firewolve is tho know not cuse player.

I may be wrong, but I am pretty sure that that’s Tanner Thomson, Finn‘s brother