Three A’s selected in NLL draft
Forward Colton Armitage was chosen in the fifth round (50th overall) by the Toronto Rock in the National Lacrosse League draft this week. Photo: BILL POTRECZ.
The St. Catharines WMKL Athletics had all three of their eligible players selected in the National Lacrosse League draft this week.
Forward Colton Armitage went first when he was chosen in the fifth round (50th overall) by the Toronto Rock.
Defenders Nathan Fehr, fifth round (60th overall) to Philadelphia, and Ethan Fisher, sixth round (70th overall) to Toronto, were also selected.
“We only had three that were out there and they all went. As a general manager, I truly believe my job is, and I’m sure the coaches feel the same, is to get these guys to the next level,” Athletics general manager Jeff Chcoski said.
Chcoski feels having players exposed to the NLL can only help their development.
“What these guys are doing a year in advance is crazy because they’re all returning players,” he said. “I called each of them on Monday and just congratulated them and said, ‘This is where this is where the hard work comes into play. You’re gonna have turn heads at camp, work hard and have to have a good season to be able to have a chance to down the road type of idea.’
“I’m super proud of all these guys, because they went in as 19-year-olds and that is tough to go.”
Former A’s Brayden Mayea (first round, fifth overall), went to Calgary while Jackson Webster (third round, 30th overall) was drafted by Las Vegas.
“Realistically, we had five guys drafted and it just proves we’re putting St. Catharines back on the map,” Chocski said. “In the next few years, there are going to be a lot of guys drafted out of St. Catharines.
“It’s a pretty proud time, not just for me, but for the whole organization.”
Armitage, a 20-year-old Brock student, was thrilled to see all three A’s selected.
“I kind of had a feeling that everyone who declared from the St. Catharines Athletics was gonna go,” the Governor Simcoe graduate said.
Armitage is eager to see how his talent translates to the pro game.
“It’s the best of the best and you come back into junior with that under your belt to make you a better player and have more confidence with the ball. You know the game a lot more since you’re playing all year-round pretty much. It’s just more lacrosse and you obviously get better playing with better players,” he said.
Armitage’s offensive talents are his strong suit.
“He’s a lefty, he’s a team player, he’s a shooter, he gets inside,” Chcoski said. “He’s slick and fast. Good things are gonna come from Colton here in the next year.”
Fehr, who played junior B lacrosse in Niagara-on-the-Lake before joining the A’s for the 2023 season, was thrilled to see his name pop up.
“It was pretty surreal,” he said. “All the hard work and sacrifice, it makes it all worthwhile.”
The Philadelphia Wings are coached by A’s assistant coach Ian Rubel while A’s defender Mitch Armstrong played for the Wings last season.
“Mitchell Armstrong was probably the top defender in the league last year. That can only help (to play against those players),” Fehr said.
Chcoski said Fehr brings so much to the table.
“He is like a silent assassin, I can tell you that,” Chcoski said. “He’s slimmed down this year. He is tough as nails and what we’ve learned through this is that going into the season we thought we’d have to go out and look for a face off guy but we found out we have a face off guy.”
Fehr, who attended Saint Michael Catholic High School in Niagara Falls, is a third-year student at Brock majoring in Forensic Psychology and Criminal Justice.
Fisher could hardly contain his excitement when he was selected.
“It’s very much a dream come true,” the Denis Morris graduate said. “I was hoping. I was kind of surprised, but I was just praying and hoping somebody picks me up.”
The fact that he was chosen by Toronto was icing on the cake.
“I grew up watching them, they are the greatest team I could have gone to being close,” he said.
Fisher, who is the first year of a four-year electrical apprenticeship, is working on adding some bulk to his frame.
“I’m in the gym consistently and eating lots of calories, lots of food, healthy food,” he said.
Chcoski said Fisher is top notch, on and off the floor.
“Fisher is just was one of those smart guys. He can pick off passes, he communicates, he transitions the ball really well and he’s a great kid,” Chcoski said. “He has put on a little bit of weight and he comes from a great family.”
Fisher is already looking forward to the 2024 season which will see the A’s host the Minto Cup.
“I can’t wait. It will be amazing,” he said. “Time is moving very slow.”
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