OAKVILLE – The National Lacrosse League (NLL) welcomed the newest crop of rookies at the 2017 to 2018 NLL Draft at Toronto Rock Athletic Centre in Oakville, Ont. on Monday, Sept. 18 ahead of the league’s 32nd year with the 2018 regular season set to begin on December 8, 2017.
The Rochester Knighthawks drafted defenseman Kessler Doolittle from Six Nations with the 52nd overall pick at the NLL Drafts. The Six Nations product recently won a Minto Cup with the Six Nations Arrows. In two seasons with the Arrows, Doolittle notched 11 points in 30 games. In four seasons at the Junior “B” level, he was part of three Founder’s Cup championship teams. In 2015, he was named the Most Valuable Defensive Player in the Junior “B” Western Conference. He also won a bronze medal with the Iroquois West at the 2015 U19 World Lacrosse Challenge.
“Kessler is a tough, versatile defender with a winning pedigree,” said Knighthawks scout Stuart Brown. “We are excited to get a player like Kessler in the draft and we are looking forward to seeing him at training camp.”
Rochester used its fifth-round selection to take defenseman Trevor Stacey, who was celebrating his 20th birthday. In 2017, the rugged defender accumulated 107 penalty minutes in eight regular season games. He also won his second Minto Cup with the Six Nations Arrows. At the Junior “B” level, he played three seasons with the hometown Kahnawake Hunters, collecting 233 PIMS in 23 games.
“Trevor is one of the toughest defenders in the draft,” said Brown. “He has underrated skill, and we feel that he has some good upside. He’s a great young man who’s also played hockey and at the major junior level. We are excited to get him to training camp and start working with him.”
Zed Williams of Kahnawake, was acquired by the Georgia Swarm from New England. Williams played his Jr. with the Rebels and Can/Am with the Native Sons, where he scored 48 points last season.
The 2017-18 NLL season, commemorating the League’s 32nd year, begins in December.
