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Cowichan Thunder shine in NLL draft

Four Cowichan players picked to represent teams in the game’s top league
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Four former members of the Cowichan Thunder lacrosse club were drafted into the National Lacrosse League Sept. 10, during the NLL’s annual player draft, held this year in Toronto.

A first round pick, Cobble Hill’s Colton Lidstone, 23, was selected 21st overall by Panther City Lacrosse Club in Fort Worth, Texas.

“Playing in the NLL has been a dream of mine since I was a kid playing for the Cowichan Valley Thunder,” Lidstone said. “It was definitely an honour to be picked in the first round, but at the end of the day, I’m just glad I got drafted.”

Lidstone just completed his senior year playing midfield at Robert Morris University in Moon Township, Pennsylvania but given COVID cancelled a lacrosse season, is eligible for one more year. When not in school, he’s a forward with the Sr. A Nanaimo Timbermen in the WLA.

“I’m looking forward to playing at the highest possible level; also knowing some guys in the NLL, I’m excited to play with and against them,” Lidstone added.

Selected in the second round, 31st overall by the San Diego Seals, was Shawnigan Lake product Cameron Lumb. The 19-year-old defender currently plays for the Jr. A Victoria Shamrocks.

“It was just surreal — something I’ve been working towards my whole lacrosse career and to go to the Seals is amazing,” Lumb said. “They have a bunch of players that I grew up watching and idolizing so to maybe be their teammates is super cool but I also understand that getting drafted is only half the battle, now I’ve got to have a good camp and fight for a roster spot.”

Lumb credits his hometown Thunder for helping him fall in love with the game.

“I had some great coaches including my dad who taught me almost everything I know now, and I can definitely say I wouldn’t be where I’m at without the Cowichan Thunder,” Lumb said.

Goalie Colin Jeffrey, 22, was selected 59th overall, the first pick of the fourth round, by the Las Vegas Desert Dogs. He played his rookie season this year for the Sr. A Victoria Shamrocks of the WLA after his senior year at University of Montevallo, in Alabama. Jeffrey will also return for a bonus year, thanks to an additional year of eligibility due to COVID.

“I was very excited to be picked by Las Vegas in the draft Saturday,” Jeffrey said. “The NLL has been a goal of mine for a long time and I’m so fortunate to get one step closer. I’ve been lucky to have a ton of support from my parents since the first day I picked up a stick and I couldn’t have done it without them. I’ve also had so many great coaches every step of the way to help me get here. It was awesome to be in a draft alongside a few other Cowichan lacrosse products as well.”

Brian Robb last played for the University of Indianapolis, where he graduated. He was injured in his last year at the school and as a result missed out on a season with the Sr. A Shamrocks. Nevertheless, Robb was selected in the fifth round, 77th overall by the Vancouver Warriors.

“It’s something I have worked at for a very long time, however between COVID and my injury, my draft status dropped significantly,” Robb said. “That being said, staying close to home and being in a beautiful city like Vancouver is ideal for me right now.”



Sarah Simpson

About the Author: Sarah Simpson

I started my time with Black Press Media as an intern, before joining the Citizen in the summer of 2004.
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