Hooligan
09-26-2003, 02:30 PM
Originally appeared at Sportsnet.ca
NLL raises college draft age to 21
The NLL has shrunk to 10 teams, meaning 46 fewer pro jobs when the new season begins Dec. 26.
TORONTO (CP) -- The National Lacrosse League has raised the eligibility age of prospects not playing at U.S. colleges to 21 from 20 for its annual entry draft, and Toronto Rock GM-coach Les Bartley says it's a wise decision.
The defending champions will be hosts for the Oct. 25 draft.
"I've been a proponent of this for many years," Bartley said of changing the eligibility age. "We wait for U.S. college players to graduate before we draft them into the pro ranks.
"The same concept should apply to junior teams here in Canada. Moving it to 21 lets kids showcase that last year of junior."
There is a loophole: any player younger than 21 can notify the league in writing that he's opting to be eligible for the draft.
E-mails from players began arriving at the league's New York office within hours of the revised eligibility age being made public Wednesday. Other players will welcome the new rule to do exactly what Bartley recommends -- showcase themselves in that final year of junior.
"This is the right thing to do for Canadian lacrosse and the right thing to do for the players," Bartley said.
Players claimed in dispersal drafts and still-available free agents give teams plenty of players to choose from without worrying about 20-year-old players being siphoned out of the entry draft.
"If there was a year to do this, this was the year," says Bartley, who was on the competition committee that made the recommendation the board of governors accepted. "I felt we had been doing a disservice to Canadian lacrosse in taking 20-year-olds."
Among players who weren't drafted last year and now are 21 is Luke Wiles of Orillia, Ont., who was named Minto Cup MVP after helping St. Catharines win the national junior championship.
Standout Athletics goalie Matt Vinc has played his last year of junior lacrosse and wasn't drafted last year but he can't be picked yet because he's in a U.S. college program.
Not everybody likes the change to 21. Anaheim Storm GM Jim Brady would have left it at 20.
"The change eliminates players we'd be looking at," said Brady, who is trying to reshape a lineup that got whipped most nights last season.
Brady is getting antsy over the lack of a new collective bargaining agreement.
"We can't sign anybody or trade anybody," he said.
The season begins Dec. 26, leaving teams 90 days to peddle season tickets. They'd like to put faces to the promotions material.
Ron MacSpadyn, program director for the Ontario Lacrosse Association, was pleased with the raising of the eligibility age for non-U.S. college players.
"We think it's a good thing," he said. "Drafting players in their last season is a good thing for junior lacrosse.
"The younger you take them, the more challenging it is (for junior teams) to keep them. We think this is a positive move."
NLL raises college draft age to 21
The NLL has shrunk to 10 teams, meaning 46 fewer pro jobs when the new season begins Dec. 26.
TORONTO (CP) -- The National Lacrosse League has raised the eligibility age of prospects not playing at U.S. colleges to 21 from 20 for its annual entry draft, and Toronto Rock GM-coach Les Bartley says it's a wise decision.
The defending champions will be hosts for the Oct. 25 draft.
"I've been a proponent of this for many years," Bartley said of changing the eligibility age. "We wait for U.S. college players to graduate before we draft them into the pro ranks.
"The same concept should apply to junior teams here in Canada. Moving it to 21 lets kids showcase that last year of junior."
There is a loophole: any player younger than 21 can notify the league in writing that he's opting to be eligible for the draft.
E-mails from players began arriving at the league's New York office within hours of the revised eligibility age being made public Wednesday. Other players will welcome the new rule to do exactly what Bartley recommends -- showcase themselves in that final year of junior.
"This is the right thing to do for Canadian lacrosse and the right thing to do for the players," Bartley said.
Players claimed in dispersal drafts and still-available free agents give teams plenty of players to choose from without worrying about 20-year-old players being siphoned out of the entry draft.
"If there was a year to do this, this was the year," says Bartley, who was on the competition committee that made the recommendation the board of governors accepted. "I felt we had been doing a disservice to Canadian lacrosse in taking 20-year-olds."
Among players who weren't drafted last year and now are 21 is Luke Wiles of Orillia, Ont., who was named Minto Cup MVP after helping St. Catharines win the national junior championship.
Standout Athletics goalie Matt Vinc has played his last year of junior lacrosse and wasn't drafted last year but he can't be picked yet because he's in a U.S. college program.
Not everybody likes the change to 21. Anaheim Storm GM Jim Brady would have left it at 20.
"The change eliminates players we'd be looking at," said Brady, who is trying to reshape a lineup that got whipped most nights last season.
Brady is getting antsy over the lack of a new collective bargaining agreement.
"We can't sign anybody or trade anybody," he said.
The season begins Dec. 26, leaving teams 90 days to peddle season tickets. They'd like to put faces to the promotions material.
Ron MacSpadyn, program director for the Ontario Lacrosse Association, was pleased with the raising of the eligibility age for non-U.S. college players.
"We think it's a good thing," he said. "Drafting players in their last season is a good thing for junior lacrosse.
"The younger you take them, the more challenging it is (for junior teams) to keep them. We think this is a positive move."