WINGS SELECT NINE PLAYERS AT 2018 EXPANSION DRAFT
Philadelphia, PA- Today the Philadelphia Wings took another step towards building their roster for the 2018-19 season by selecting nine players in the National Lacrosse League expansion draft. Head Coach and GM Paul Day and Assistant GM Landon Miller selected for the Wings.
“We have been working on scouting and prospecting players over the past year. Today marks another exciting step for the franchise. Our goal is to build a team with players that have Philadelphia ties, strong character, and can compete year in and year out. With our selections today we are poised to put a team on the turf that will win games and make Philadelphia proud,” said Paul Day.
The Philadelphia Wings selected 9 players in the 2018 Expansion Draft at the Wells Fargo Center on Thursday.
1st Overall Pick – Brett Hickey, Toronto Rock
Forward – 6-2, 225 lbs
Born June 26, 1990 in Windsor, ON
Played in 17 Games last year for the Toronto rock…ranked 5th on Toronto’s team in points (40)…had 24 goals and 16 assists in 2017…Over 71 games played in 6 years, scored 142 goals with 94 assists for a point total of 236…drafted in the 5th round (43rd overall) in the 2011 Entry Draft by Toronto Rock
“Brett Hickey is a power forward, in the middle of his prime. He plays every shift like it’s his last shift and will be a great asset to the team on and off the field. He knows how to score goals and find open teammates,” said Day.
3rd Pick Overall – Kiel Matisz, Georgia Swarm
Forward – 6-5, 215 lbs
Born June 8, 1989 in Stoney Creek, ON
Played in 17 games and had 16 goals and 50 assists…ranked 5th on his team in points (66)…inducted into Robert Morris University’s Hall of Fame for his athletic achievements during college….won an NLL championship with the Georgia Swarm…named to the all-rookie team during his rookie season in 2013…drafted in the 1st round (3rd overall) in the 2012 Entry Draft.
“Kiel is a natural leader with great character and the ability to control the offense. He is big, fast, and smart on the turf and makes everyone around him better,” said Day.
5th Overall Pick – Jordan Hall, Georgia Swarm
Forward – 6-0, 190 lbs
Born August 31, 1984 in Surrey, BC
A former Philadelphia Wing from 2013-2014…named a two-time All-Pro Second Team (2009 & 2010)…is a veteran having played 12 years in the NLL…ranked in the top 20 in career loose balls…had 648 points (219g-429a) over a 12-year career…named to the 2008 All-Rookie Team…helped the Blue Hens reach the 2007 NCAA Division I Men’s Final Four…drafted first round (1st overall) in the 2007 Entry Draft…attended the University of Delaware, where he was named the Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year in 2006.
“Jordan will be a crucial part of setting the tone of our culture within the locker room. He is a talented athlete and will be a strong asset for the team,” said Day.
7th Overall Pick – Josh Currier, Rochester Knighthawks
Forward – 5-11, 164 lbs
Born May 15, 1993 in Peterborough, ON
Named to the 2017 All-rookie team…led the league in playoff goals while accumulating 31 points on the season….finished his tenure at Virginia Wesleyan as one of the greatest players to ever play at the Division III School…was only Marlin to be named an All-American all four years…graduated as the Old Dominion Athletic Conference’s (ODAC) all-time leader in career points (353)…drafted first round (6th overall) in the 2016 Entry Draft.
“Currier is a young player that led the league in playoff goals. His game is built on speed, doesn’t have to have the ball to be successful, which is really important for the offense.”
9th Overall Pick – Frank Brown, Rochester Knighthawks
Forward – 6-4, 200 lbs
Born November 23, 1993 in Salamanca, NY
Was a member of both the Rochester Knighthawks and the Georgia Swarm during the past season…had 10 points with the Swarm…was named a captain while at Hobart…was a 2017 USILA All-American honorable mention…named 2017 NEC Player of the Year…named 2017 NEC Offensive Player of the Year…named to 2017 All-NEC first team …was a 2016 USILA Scholar All-American…awarded the William C. Stiles ’43 Memorial Award in 2017…awarded the William H. Dobbin ’40 Memorial Award in 2016 & 2017…named NEC Player of the Week twice…finished the season with a career-high 50 points (32g-18a)…drafted in the second round (24th overall) in the 2017 Entry Draft.
11th Overall Pick – Matt Rambo, New England Blackwolves
Forward – 5-10, 195 lbs
Born July 25, 1994 in Glenside, PA
Won NCAA National Champion in 2017 with University of Maryland…won the 2017 Tewaraton Trophy, awarded to the nation’s best lacrosse player…made the NCAA tournament team 3 times…was named a US Lacrosse All American(twice)…drafted in the fifth round (46th overall) in the 2017 Entry Draft…played high school lacrosse at LaSalle in Wyndmoor, PA.
13th Overall Pick – Anthony Joaquim, New England Blackwolves
Defenseman – 6-2, 205 lbs
Born May 19, 1994 in Guelph, ON
Appeared in 13 games for the NE Blackwolves in 2018…Played college lacrosse locally here in Philadelphia for St. Joseph’s University…is second in school history in career games played (62)…was a member of the NEC All-Rookie team…drafted in first round (8th overall) in the 2017 Entry Draft…in 2014 and in high school, won 2 gold medals with Team Ontario Field Lacrosse.
15th Overall Pick – Vaughn Harris, Buffalo Bandits
Forward – 5-10, 197 lbs
Born September 20, 1992 in Six Nations, ON
Played in 14 games in 2018 as a member of the Buffalo Bandits…was in the top 6 in scoring as a member of the Bandits with 32 points on the year…ranked 4th on his team for loose balls (105)…drafted in the second round (15th overall) in the 2016 Entry Draft…was named the top rookie in the Canadian Lacrosse League in 2016.
17th Overall – Davide DiRuscio, Buffalo Bandits
Goalie – 6-3, 300 lbs
Born May 5, 1992 in Oakville, ON
Made his NLL debut with the Bandits on January 31, 2015…won his first career start on February 28 against the Colorado Mammoth…undrafted, signed with the Bandits for the 2015 NLL season…played for the St. Catharines Saints, Coquitlam Adanacs, Peterborough Lakers, and the Niagara Lock Monsters…with the Lock Monsters (2014), was named MVP and Top Goaltender of the Canadian Lacrosse League.
In addition to the above picks, the Wings made the following trade:
- With selecting Vaughn Harris they have also acquired Zac Reid from the Buffalo Bandits.
Zac Reid, Buffalo Bandits
Defensemen – 6-1, 195 lbs
Born July 30, 1989 in St. Catharine’s, ON
Played in 17 games….primarily a defensive player but has been able to have 17 points over his NLL career…in college he scored 55 goals and dished out 32 assists for 87 points…scooped up 36 ground balls…drafted in the fifth round (46th overall) in the 2013 Entry Draft…had a career-high 43 points with 29 goals and 14 assists as a senior at Mercyhurst…won a NCAA Division II National Championship as a sophomore in 2011
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