Nanaimo added eight players in the 2020 BCJALL draft. Expectations are very high for one of the best teams in Junior A lacrosse in 2019. (Gary Johansen)

By Dan Marshall

Draft Day

Journey towards Timbermen 2020 season begins with midget draft

Jan 9, 2020 | 2:51 PM

NANAIMO – There won’t be any league games until May, but the BCJALL season got a kickstart with the annual midget draft Sunday Jan. 5.

The Nanaimo Timbermen made eight selections and a couple of trade deals on the day as they look to turn a breakthrough 2019 campaign into a championship season in 2020.

The Tmen moved their first round pick, 5th overall, to Burnaby.

In exchange Nanaimo was given the 11th selection and a 2021 first round pick from the Lakers.

Goalie Colin Jeffrey was also traded to Poco to get the 12th overall pick and future considerations.

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Those moves left the Timbermen with three selections in the second round and they chose Jace Francis out of Peninsula, Brenden Jamiesen from Oceanside and Joshua Fredette from Saanich.

Nanaimo’s two third round picks were Dawson Sears from Peninsula and the team’s only lower mainland draftee – Owen Robertson from Pitt Meadows.

The final Timbermen selections were Colton Walmsley 37th overall from Saanich, and Oceanside’s Blake Beatty (45th) and Kohl Krastel (48th).

Midget players from the Nanaimo catchment area didn’t need to be drafted, they are already Timbermen property automatically.

Coach Dave Bremner felt draft day went well for the organization.

“We had some holes to fill this year and we think we’ve filled those holes very well with some great kids coming up the pipeline.”

The draft doesn’t just stock the Junior A Timbermen but also the Tier 1 Junior B squad as well.

Bremner gave some advice to the incoming players about how to approach the next lacrosse season.

“Go home, get ready, be fit ready for camp. When they come I want them to have the attitude that they are making the Junior A team. It’s up to the individual player to showcase their skills to us to make our job very difficult.”

With the likes of all-stars Thomas Vaesen, Ryan Sheridan and captain Will Johansen returning to the Junior A roster, any newcomers will have to impress Bremner and the coaches to earn their floor time.

“Mostly these kids will probably be placed on the Tier 1 team for the first year, Bremner said. “This is not to say they won’t be getting some Junior A time throughout the season.”

Bremner is in the process of scheduling dry floor sessions for players in February. In March the Tmen will hold a camp for free agents and prospects before they get to main training camp.

“Gaining that playoff experience against Coquitlam was a huge bonus for us. I think the kids are ready to improve on it this year and reach their goal of getting to a Minto Cup.”

dan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On twitter: @danmarshall77