By Dan Marshall

Nanaimo Timbermen sign three players including 2016 WLA Rookie of the Year

May 9, 2017 | 12:12 PM

NANAIMO — The 2016 WLA Rookie of the Year is back with the Timbermen for the upcoming season.
 
Ryan Lee led the Tmen in scoring with 50 points and finished 10th in the league scoring derby.
 
Nanaimo coach Kaleb Toth called Lee an important piece of the puzzle.
 
“He had a great rookie year, he can shoot really well, he sees the floor really well especially for a little guy,” Toth said. “It was very important to try to secure him and get him out for another year.”
 
The Sharon, Ontario product just finished the division three field lacrosse campaign at the Rochester Institute of Technology with 86 points in 18 games.
 
Lee was the team’s leading scorer during the regular season and has two playoff contests scheduled for this week.
 
The Timbermen are also bringing in two more Ontario players.
 
Jerrett Smith is a right handed transition player who played Junior A with the Toronto Beaches last year.
 
Toth said he didn’t know a lot about Smith before he came to Nanaimo but the Winnipeg native is very quick and will be a strong asset for the Timbermen’s transition game. 
 
Smith had seven points in 19 games in 2016.
 
He was also a late cut of the New England Black Wolves of the NLL.
 
Lefty Dan Michel spent five years with the Peterborough Jr. A Lakers including the last three as team captain.
 
In 98 games played he had 106 goals and 220 points.
 
Michel also provides strong leadership, according to Toth.
 
“He’s one of those guys who puts his heart on his sleeve and just goes out and works as hard as he can,” Toth said.
 
He was selected by New England 38th overall in the NLL draft and is currently in his fourth year playing field lacrosse at Trent University.
 
The WLA season is just a couple of weeks away with the Timbermen set to open the campaign May 25 in New Westminster.

dan.marshall@jpbg.ca

On twitter: @danmarshall77