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Rogers gets chance with the big club

Jr. Adanac will stay in Coquitlam
WLA draft
The Coquitlam Adanacs 2016 WLA Top 3 draft picks from left to right are Challen Rogers from the Coquitlam Jr. Adanacs, Alex Bohl from the New Westminster Jr. Salmonbellies, and Patrick Thornhill of the Delta Islanders.

Challen Rogers will not have to travel far when he suits up for upcoming Western Lacrosse Association season.

The former Coquitlam Jr. Adanac was selected by the Sr. A’s in the first round Wednesday night in the 2016 entry draft, the third overall selection. 

“Couldn’t be more excited to join the @WLAAdanacs and to stay in the purple and yellow,” he tweeted shortly after the pick was made. 

With Rogers, coach Peter Tellis said the team will get a strong two-way player with playoff pedigree who has a long history in Coqutilam.

“Not too many players like Challen Rogers come along very often,” he told The Tri-City News. “He is a very special talent and we are very happy to move up and get the guy we wanted.”

The 6’4”, 215 lb. forward has been a standout player during his junior career. Last season, he racked up 13 goals and 16 assists in 14 games and was a prominent factor in the Jr. Adanacs’ Minto Cup runs in 2014 and 2015.  

Most importantly, according to Tellis, he has strong links to the community.

“What he brings will go beyond lacrosse,” he said.

Rogers was chosen third overall, after New Westminster Jr. Salmonbellies standout Josh Byrne was picked up by Burnaby with their first overall pick and Jr. Adanacs forward Michael Messenger was taken by New West with the second overall pick. 

The Adanacs did not have a second-round pick, but chose Alex Bohl from the New Westminster Jr. Salmonbellies with their third-rounder, a 15th overall selection.

Tellis said he was surprised the defenceman was still available that late in the draft, noting that at 6’4” and 215 lbs., he will add some much needed size to the A’s back end.

In the fourth, the club picked up Patrick Thornhill, who had a brief stint with the Port Coquitlam Jr. Saints but has played for the Delta Islanders for the last two years. 

He too will add size to the lineup, Tellis said, and was in the team’s sights going into the draft.

New Westminster Jr. Salmonbellies Owen Barker and Luke Morris were chosen with the fourth and fifth round picks respectively, while Jake Carey was chosen in the sixth round from the Delta Islanders. The A’s also picked up the rights to Ryan Ishikawa, Cody Gilliam, Jake Moran, Alex Rainey, Cody Garrison, Daniel Delmonico, Serafino Gentile, Jon Bailey and Alex Mason. 

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