Thunder move up, select Malawsky first overall

Cody Malawsky, who played his minor lacrosse for the Ridge Meadows Lacrosse Association, was selected first overall at the BC Junior A Lacrosse League Draft. photo courtesy of Tim McCormick

Not content to wait and see how the first round shaped up, the Langley Thunder pulled the trigger on a draft-day trade to acquire the top overall pick in the BC Junior A Lacrosse League Draft, using the selection on Maple Ridge’s Cody Malawsky.

The six-round draft was held virtually on January 14 at Langley Events Centre with 49 players selected by the eight teams over the course of the evening.

Langley was slated to pick fourth overall but moved up to No. 1, sending that pick along with the playing rights of Braeden Washington and future considerations to the Delta Islanders.

“I am very appreciative and humbled to be selected number one overall,” Malawsky said. “There are so many great players in the draft and I would like to thank the Langley Thunder for the opportunity.”

Malawsky is a left-handed playmaker described with great smarts and good hands and finish around net.

“His lacrosse IQ is unmatched for his age and his vision on the floor and ability to score in tight or from the outside make him a threat to always make something happen,” explained Ryan Williams, the Thunder’s Assistant General Manager and Director of Scouting. “As a program, he was a player who we felt can make the biggest difference.”

And a familiar face from Malawsky’s minor lacrosse days will be joining him in the Junior Thunder program as Langley drafted Ben Gagnon in the second round at 12^th overall. The Thunder scouting staff was thrilled to land a play of Gagnon’s pedigree in the second round as they had him graded as a first rounder on their draft board.

“He has a workhorse mentality and will be a force when it comes to loose-balls and face-offs,” Williams predicted of the left-handed Gagnon, who can play both sides of the floor. “We see him as a player who can set the pace in transition from defence to offence or slow the other team’s transition with great shut-down pressure.”

Langley also selected Andrew Cowan in the fourth round, Jack Bamford in the fifth and Corin Tan in the sixth. Cowan and Tan are also from the Ridge Meadows Lacrosse Association (which led the way with a dozen players drafted) while Bamford is out of the Vancouver Minor Lacrosse Association.

“Andrew has a good shot and uses his big frame to make space for teammates and can score from the inside,” Williams described of Cowan, who is also adept at playing either side of the floor.

Bamford has yet to play box lacrosse in B.C. and is expected to contribute on the offensive end of the floor while Tan is another offensive weapon who brings speed and good hands.