COQUITLAM — The Coquitlam junior Adanacs continue to be a pipeline to the National Lacrosse League.
The junior Adanacs, finalists at this year’s Minto Cup championship, saw two current members and three alumni selected Monday in the NLL draft.
Leading the pack was first overall selection Mark Matthews, who lead Coquitlam to its only Minto Cup triumph in 2010. He was chosen by the Edmonton Rush.
The strapping six-foot-four, 230-pound forward concluded his junior career in 2011 by capturing the Minto as a member of the Whitby Warriors — besting Coquitlam in the final.
A forward at Denver University, Matthews is considered an impact player who will lead the Rush’s resurgence.
With the seventh overall choice, the Calgary Roughnecks — coached by former junior Adanac bench boss Curt Malawsky — took Matthew Dinsdale of the Adanacs. The well-rounded forward/transition player topped the B.C. Junior A Lacrosse League scoring charts in 2012 with 38 goals and 57 assists over 16 games.
In the second round, the Washington Stealth selected Coquitlam’s Tyler Garrison with the 11th overall pick. A transition forward, Garrison contributed 12 goals and eight assists over 19 games in 2012.
Former Adanacs who were drafted include Jackson Decker, who was tabbed with the 17th overall choice by Calgary, Robbie Campbell, taken by Rochester, and Simon Giourmetakis, selected by Edmonton.
