The Buffalo Bandits selected forward Josh Bryne with the first overall pick of the 2017 NLL Draft Monday evening. The Bandits also drafted seven other prospects.
Bryne (6’3”, 200 lbs., 4/15/94) appeared in nine games with the Chesapeake Bayhawks of the Major Lacrosse League last season, scoring 39 goals and setting a MLL record for most goals by a rookie. The New Westminster, British Columbia native was named the 2017 MLL Rookie of the Year.
Captain of the Hofstra Pride for the 2017 season, Bryne led the team in goals (41), assists (15), and points (66). In 2016, during his first season with the Pride, he recorded team highs in goals (30), assists (15), and points (45). He started his collegiate career in junior college at Nassau Community College and was named the 2015 NJCAA Attackman of the Year after recording 106 points (76+30).
Chase Fraser, a native of Vancouver, British Columbia, was selected with the 13th pick in the draft. Fraser (6’1”, 205 lbs., 8/3/95) played forward in college for Neumann University and scored 79 points (66+13) in 14 games played. Fraser was named Rookie of the Year in the Western Lacrosse Association following a 52-point season (30+22) with the Nanaimo Timbermen.
The Bandits drafted Trent University defenseman Ethan Schott with the No. 20 pick in the draft. Schott (6’1”, 176 lbs., 5/16/96) most recently played with the Whitby Warriors, putting up six points (1+5) in 15 games with 37 penalty minutes. The Whitby, Ontario native also led the team’s defensemen during the 2017 playoffs, scoring five points (1+4).
Dallas Bridle was Buffalo’s third-round pick (33rd overall) of the 2017 Draft. Bridle (6’2”, 190 lbs., 3/27/95) was a midfielder for High Point University, playing in 15 games his junior year and finishing fourth on the team with 25 points (20+5). The Guelph, Ontario native was the first HPU midfielder to score 20 goals in a season, but only played three games the following year due to an injury.
Buffalo selected Mackenzie Mitchell in the fourth round of the draft (34th overall). Mitchell (6’4”, 205 lbs., 8/19/96) was a transition player for the Orangeville Northmen and played in 100 career games for the junior club, scoring 34 points (7+27).
Defenseman Connor Laird was taken two picks later with the 36th pick of the draft. Laird (6’1”, 205 lbs.) played 59 career games at Lindenwood University. The Whitby, Ontario, native led the team and tied for fourth in the ECAC with 25 caused-turnovers in the 2016 season.
The Bandits selected Dylan Molloy with the 43rd pick of the night. Molloy (6’0”, 220 lbs.) was the first overall selection in the 2017 MLL Collegiate Draft and played for the Florida Launch for eight games in 2017, scoring 27 points (21+6). The forward spent his collegiate career at Brown University, where he collected numerous accolades, including the Teewarton Award in 2016, which is given annually to the most outstanding American college lacrosse player. That season, his junior campaign, he led the nation in scoring with 116 points (62+54).
Buffalo chose Braden Wallace with the team’s final pick of the draft. Wallace (6’0”, 170 lbs., 1/2/94) played at RIT for his collegiate career and ranked 27th all-time in points (141) and 22nd all-time in goals (94) among RIT players.
