A pair of Mission Lacrosse Club talents were recently drafted by teams in the Western Lacrosse Association.
Mission’s Nathan McKeigan and Kyle Mooney were both selected in the draft, which sees the seven teams in the British Columbia-based league select the top junior players available.
McKeigan was chosen in the sixth round by the Maple Ridge Burrards, while Mooney was selected in the eighth round by the New Westminster Salmonbellies.
Both McKeigan and Mooney are heavily involved in the Mission lacrosse scene, both having played and coaches in the MLC. Two years ago Mooney was the lacrosse bantam head coach, and both men have spent time coaching various youth teams.
Mooney may be familiar to Mission sports fans, as he spent three seasons with the Mission City Outlaws and spent one season as the team captain. Mooney collected 86 points and 145 penalty minutes in 113 games for the Outlaws.
The WLA is a men’s senior A box lacrosse league sanctioned by the Canadian Lacrosse Association. The WLA league champion battles against the Major Series Lacrosse champion for the Mann Cup every September.
The level of play in the WLA is considered quite high, with many of the players also playing in the National Lacrosse League, which features the Vancouver Warriors, and runs in the winter. WLA action occurs in the spring and summer.
Maple Ridge finished second in the WLA last season with a record of 12-6, while New Westminster placed third at 11-7. Maple Ridge advanced to the WLA final, but fell to the Victoria Shamrocks.
The season opens for both teams on May 21, when they play each other in New Westminster.
For more information, visit wlalacrosse.com.