Belgrave highlights list of Tmen selections at WLA Draft

The Nanaimo Timbermen added 12 players to their organization on Wednesday night in the WLA Draft.

The club's top pick 3rd overall was New Westminster Junior Salmonbellies grad Drew Belgrave.

Timbermen President Chris Bowman says the 21-year-old will be have a massive presence on the defensive side of the ball.

“He's a lightning quick transition player. He's already playing in the NLL as a second round pick of the Toronto Rock. He's playing with men every day and practicing with men everyday. When he comes back to the WLA this year, fans will be very impressed when he starts carrying the ball up the floor,” said Bowman.

Belgrave had 16 points in 20 games with the Junior Bellies in 2017, he also played in nine playoff games for the Senior A Salmonbellies and appeared in six games in the Mann Cup. In those 15 games he collected seven points.

Nanaimo also had picks ten, eleven, and twelve in the draft and went with Coquitlam's Keenan Koswin at ten, Poco's Gord Philips eleventh overall, and the Adanacs Baden Boyenko at twelve.

The expectation is that all four of those players will make an impact for the Timbermen organization this year.

Nanaimo also drafted from within the organization with additions of Junior A captain Cody Clark and solid defender Chase Anderson.

Clark was selected 28th overall and Anderson went with the 38th selection.

Just before the draft the Timbermen traded for former Victoria junior Charles Claxton from Langley.

The Tmen gave up the 21st overall pick to acquire Claxton who will add a high level of competition to the goaltending position.

Here are Nanaimo's picks in the 2018 WLA Draft:

3rd Drew Belgrave

10th Keenan Koswin

11th Gord Philips

12th Baden Boyenko

17th Brad Rowbotham

20th Ryan Sinkie

24th Kevin Orleman

28th Cody Clark

32nd Jake Bye

38th Chase Anderson

45th Nick Preston

52nd Cody Graden

The WLA season begins on May 26 with the Timbermen visit the Coquitlam Adanacs.