Will Johansen (L) and Colton Lidstone (R) have played together on their last three lacrosse teams, it was only fitting they would both be drafted by the Nanaimo Timbermen in the 2021 WLA draft. (Gary Johansen)

By Dan Marshall

Homegrown Draft

Johansen, Lidstone headline strong Vancouver Island draft for WLA Timbermen

Feb 12, 2021 | 4:30 PM

NANAIMO — The Timbermen put a focus on local talent in the 2021 WLA Draft.

Junior A captain Will Johansen was Nanaimo’s pick in the territorial round and the Colton Lidstone, their third leading scorer from 2019 went fourth overall.

The pair came out of Claremont Lacrosse Academy, spent two years with the Junior Tmen and are playing field lacrosse together at Robert Morris University.

“We were both very excited to stay in Nanaimo and to keep building on the culture that had been put in place by the guys before us and coach Dave Bremner.”

Johansen and Lidstone were at school in Pennsylvania when they got the news they were drafted together.

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Zach Sawyer and Matt DiGirolamo are other Junior Timbermen players who were picked by Nanaimo later in the draft.

Victoria Junior Shamrock Austin Madronic was taken third overall in the territorial round, staged before the actual draft, but the Timbermen had heavy interest in the Harvard product and made a massive move to secure his rights.

Nanaimo traded their 2021 and 2022 first round picks, a 2022 second round pick and the rights to Callum Crawford for Madronic.

“I’ve played with and against a lot of the Timbermen players,” Madronic said. “I’m excited to get work with my teammates hopefully in the summer, and get to learn from some of the more experienced guys.”

Madronic headlines a list of several Victoria Junior’s who will now call Nanaimo home.

Caleb Keuber, Teioshontathe McComber and Spencer Erwin were all selected on draft night by the Timbermen.

Tmen coach Dave Bremner felt 2021 was a strong island draft and he hoped with ten picks Nanaimo would be able to come away with most of the top ranked players.

“When all was said and done we were happy with the way it turned out. It was a great draft for the Nanaimo Senior Timbermen as well as the Junior Timbermen who produced many of the players.”

There was also a Nanaimo Clipper tie in to the WLA draft. Clippers 2019 leading scorer Josh Bourne was chosen in the sixth round by the Langley Thunder.

Bourne played two games for the Timbermen in 2018 and had a career 127 points in 35 games with Richmond of the BC Junior Tier 1 Lacrosse League.

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dan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On twitter: @danmarshall77