Thunder add six at BCJALL Draft

The Langley Thunder went between the pipes with their first selection of the BC Junior A Lacrosse League Entry Draft.

The Thunder chose goaltender Brayden Wandler out of Ridge Meadows, in the first round (sixth overall). He was one of the Junior A lacrosse team’s two first round picks as they nabbed fellow Ridge Meadows product Ethan Quinn two picks later.

The players were among the six selected by Langley at the draft for first-year junior players from around the province who do not have a Junior A team in their catchment area.

The draft was held January 5 at Langley Events Centre with a total of 48 players selected by the eight teams. Seven Ridge Meadows players were taken among the eight first-round picks.

Joining Wandler and Quinn in the Junior Thunder organization are Jaiden Terry (second round, 13^th overall), Tenzin Fernandez (third round, 21^st), Justin McKnight (fourth round, 28^th) and Connor Sande (sixth round, 44^th). Sande comes from the Mission Minor Lacrosse program while the other three are products of the Vancouver Minor Lacrosse Association.

Brayden Wandler, 5’10 150 pounds, Goalie

“He’s a goalie that can make a big save in tight and plays a stand-up angles style,” explained Thunder assistant general manager Ryan Williams. “He’s not a big goalie but when he needs to make a reaction save, he is more than ready to do so.

Ethan Quinn, 5’10 170 pounds, Right Defence/Transition/Offence

“Ethan is the type of player who every coach likes to have on the team. He goes 100 per cent every shift and is a work horse,” Williams said. “He has great feet and is fast in transition, he plays well in a two-man game up front and talks on the back end.”

Jaiden Terry, 5’11 170 pounds, Left Defence/Transition/Offence

“Jaiden is one of the most athletic players coming out of Midget A last year. He has great hands and sees the ball very well at both ends,” Williams said. “His speed and ability to change direction on a dime will make him a dangerous player in transition and at the offensive end of the floor.”

Tenzin Fernandez, 6’1 200 pounds, Goalie

“Tenzin is a big goalie who plays an athletic style. He played with a NLL size stick in Midget while most goalies his age used a wood stick or a wall,” Williams said.

Justin McKnight, 6’0 170 pounds, Right Transition/Defence

“Good speed and can run the ball in transition. Justin is a player who can power his way to the net when in transition and will get a few goals out of the back end,” Williams said. “He is a solid defender and hits hard and his coach in Midget speaks highly of him as a leader who leads by example.”

Connor Sande, 6’2 180 pounds, Right Defence/Transition

“Connor is a big body that can run the ball in transition and plays a solid defensive game. We feel he will fit in with a current group of D players in the organization,” Williams said.

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