Graden Soucy was one of three Junior A Timbermen selected in the top three of the WLA draft. He'll stay in Nanaimo after being chosen third overall by the Senior Timbermen. (Gary Johansen)

By Dan Marshall

Draft Day

Nanaimo Junior Timbermen selected one, two, three in WLA draft

Feb 4, 2023 | 5:55 AM

NANAIMO — Junior A Timbermen dominated the top of the 2023 WLA draft board.

For the first time ever the first three picks in the draft were all Nanaimo juniors.

Team scoring leader Jacob Dunbar went first overall to Burnaby, Tmen captain Arthur Miller was chosen second by Victoria, and Evan Soucy stayed at home and joined the Senior A Timbermen.

Chris Bowman, the president of both the senior and junior teams, said it was a major accomplishment for the players and a proud moment for the whole organization.

“To see those players come through the program, develop and be recognized for their hard work was special for the program. We’re really proud to see those guys realize their dream and we had a small bit of influence to help them do that.”

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Soucy was a player the Timbermen had targeted for early in the draft.

“He will be a first round pick in the NLL draft coming up. He’s that good of a defender but he goes a little unnoticed.” Bowman said. “Evan is a player every other offense player hates because he does the little things well. He’s strong and he’s tough and a perfect fit for our defence.”

Staying at home and getting the chance to play on the Timbermen with his brother Grayden was a thrill for Soucy.

“I was super excited and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else but Nanaimo. I grew up playing my minor lacrosse and junior lacrosse here. It’s very special and I can’t wait to play with my brother again.”

The Senior A Timbermen made a total of seven selections in the 2023 draft.

Their other first round pick was 6’5 defender Griffin Hall from the Victoria Junior Shamrocks.

Hall is playing in the NLL in Las Vegas where he plays with other Timbermen players Jon Phillips and Conrad Chapman.

The Victoria native has already talked to his family about changing lacrosse allegiances from the Shamrocks to the Timbermen.

“I was talking to my grandparents and they’re from Qualicum Beach. I was joking around with them that I’m switching to the dark side but wherever I am I’m going to give one hundred percent. I’m really looking forward to playing in Nanaimo.”

Junior Timbermen defender Evan Pattison was the only Tmen pick in the second round.

He finished the 2022 season in Nanaimo after playing most of his career in New Westminster.

Nanaimo had back to back picks in the third round and selected transition specialist Easton Ong from their own Junior A squad and Brian Simmons of the Coquitlam Junior Adanacs.

Rounding out Nanaimo’s 2023 draft was Andrew Bishop of the Junior Salmonbellies in the fourth and Nanaimo junior Karson Gregory in round five.

The Timbermen previously announced they would protect Nanaimo juniors Justin Geddie and Ryan Sheridan in the territorial round of the WLA draft on Jan. 16.

Geddie was the number one goaltender for the Junior A Tmen in 2022 and Sheridan was the team’s second leading scorer.

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