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WLA Timbermen starting to build for 2018

Nov 22, 2017 | 8:00 PM

NANAIMO — It’s just about the beginning the of the season for the National Lacrosse League, but the Nanaimo Timbermen of the WLA are hard at work preparing for their own season which begins in May.
 
The Tmen have traded Chase McIntyre and a 2018 5th round pick to Maple Ridge for the Burrards 2019 2nd round pick.
 
McIntyre was selected eighth overall in the 2016 draft and had 17 points in 16 games that same year.
 
Timbermen president Chris Bowman says the former Coquitlam Junior had to sit out in 2017. 
 
“He was unable to play last year due to work commitments. It made sense. I wanted to get him playing, it’s his (NLL) draft year an it’s going to help him. The pick we got back is going to help us in a very strong 2019 draft,” said Bowman.
 
Nanaimo finished fifth in the 2017 WLA season, one spot out of the playoffs.
 
Bowman knows that the 2018 draft will be crucial to increasing the club’s talent pool, especially their first pick at third overall.
 
‘I like our third pick but there’s another couple of players that I truly like. I’ve been talking but nothing’s had any traction yet. We do have three second round picks so I’m looking at pairing some of those up to move up or maybe moving another player if need be,” said Bowman.
 
There’s optimism in Nanaimo with a young core of players, and 12 players participating in NLL camps.
 
Bowman says the Tmen are looking at other transactions ahead of next season, with lots of interest from university age players about playing Senior A ball in Nanaimo.
 
 
dan@nanaimonewsnow.com
 
On twitter: @danmarshall