THUNDER SWAP PLAYERS FOR PICKS

by Trevor McManus

Langley, BC (February 13, 2017)  The Langley Thunder are looking to build to the future as they get ready for the 2017 Western Lacrosse Association Draft.

Early Monday, the team announced a trade with the Burnaby Lakers that involved the Thunder acquiring the Lakers’ 2017 first-round pick 4th overall, a 2017 second-round pick 11th overall and Burnaby’s 2018 first-round pick.

The Thunder sent Burnaby the Western Lacrosse Association’s playing rights of Mark Matthews and the Canadian Lacrosse Association’s rights to Nic Bilic.

Matthews was drafted by the Thunder in the 2012 WLA Draft in the first-round, 5th overall. He appeared in five regular season games in 2013 where scored 5 goals and 12 assists for 17 points. Matthews went on to help lead the Thunder to the 2013 WLA Finals where he scored 10 goals and 12 assists for 22 points in 10 playoff games.

Bilic has appeared in 54 games as a member of the Langley Thunder where he scored 13 goals and 19 assists for 32 points. But has only played in seven games over the course of the last two seasons.

“These are great players and I have a lot of respect for both men. Burnaby has been pursing these two guys for the nearly three seasons and it’s a deal I have pushed off time after time until today,” said General Manager Rob Buchan. “We have had success building our team through the draft and I feel with the picks we have accumulated over the next two seasons, we should be well on our way to doing it again. My brother Ken and I want to thank Mark and Nik for their time in Langley and wish them the best of luck with their new club.”

The 2017 WLA Junior A. Draft will take place on Thursday, February 16, 2017 at the Vancouver Creekside Community Centre. It will be a busy night for the Thunder as they will be on the board with the 1st overall pick as well as 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th, 11th, 13th, 20th and 22nd in the first three rounds. The Thunder will make history on Thursday night, as they have the most draft picks in the WLA in the first two rounds in modern history.

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For More Information:
Trevor McManus, Langley Events Centre, C: 778.881.6367, Trevor McManus
Rob Buchan, Langley Thunder, Rob Buchan