Philadelphia Wings Get First Pick in 2011 National Lacrosse League Draft

The 2011 season was supposed to be a rebuilding year for the Philadelphia Wings of the National Lacrosse League, but the team exceeded expectations as they were in the playoff hunt during the final few weeks of the season.

Philadelphia (5-11) will have the opportunity to fill in the rest of the holes that the team needs in order to make the postseason as they will hold the first overall pick in the 2011 NLL Entry Draft next fall.

It is the first time that the Wings have held the first overall pick since 1993.

Behind Philly with the number two selection will be the Rochester Knighthawks (10-6), who gained the pick from the Edmonton Rush (5-11). The Colorado Mammoth (5-11) will hold the third pick while the Minnesota Swarm (8-8) will pick fourth and the Calgary Roughnecks (11-5), who have two first round picks, will choose in the fifth position.

Closing out the first round will be Edmonton at sixth, the Boston Blazers (8-8) with the seventh pick, Calgary at number eight and the NLL champion Toronto Rock (10-6) with the ninth selection.

The Buffalo Bandits (10-6) and the Washington Stealth (8-8) are the only two teams that do not hold a first round pick. Buffalo’s first pick will be the 16^th selection in the second round while Washington is not scheduled to pick until the 22^nd selection in the third round.

Overall, 59 selections will be made in six rounds.

The league will announce the date and location of the draft at a later date. The 2010 draft was held in September in Toronto, Canada.

The 2011 National Lacrosse League Entry Draft will be broadcasted live on the NLL Network at NLL.com.

NLL First Round

1. Philadelphia
2. Rochester (from Edmonton)
3. Colorado
4. Minnesota
5. Calgary (from Boston via Buffalo)
6. Edmonton (from Rochester via Colorado)
7. Boston (from Calgary)
8. Calgary (from Washington)
9. Toronto