As an expansion team, the Albany Attack were awarded the first pick in this afternoon’s National Lacrosse League Draft at Marine Midland Arena in Buffalo, New York. But the team went for established talent instead, acquiring veterans Ted Dowling and Darris Kilgour from the Rochester Knighthawks along with that team’s first round pick (second overall) in exchange for the top selection.

Rochester, who had the first pick overall last year as well (used to select Casey Powell from Syracuse University) and argued unsuccessfully this year that they were entitled to the top pick, took the 1999 NCAA Division I Outstanding Player and Outstanding Attackman, John Grant, Jr. from the University of Delaware. Grant also has international experience, having played for the Canadian men’s national team both last summer (July 1998) at the World Field Lacrosse Championships as well as two months ago at the inaugural World Cup of Lacrosse. The 6’0", 206 pounder from Hanmer, Ontario will be 25 years old in November.

The second pick, which had originally belonged to Syracuse, continued changing hands after the selection of Grant. Having now obtained it from Rochester, Albany then dealt it along with their second round pick (ninth overall) to the Bandits for Steve Fannell, John Rosa, and Buffalo’s first round pick (sixth overall). The Bandits, however, then traded it and the second round pick they’d just gotten from the Attack -- along with a first round pick next September -- for Chris Prat and the fourth pick overall from the New York Saints, who then chose goaltender Gee Nash from Whitby (Ontario Lacrosse Association Jr. A). With a pick they’d obtained at the beginning of the month from Syracuse (obtained during last season from Buffalo), New York then chose Loyola College’s Mark Frye.

Buffalo then traded the fourth pick to defending NLL champion Toronto for Shawn Williams and the Rock’s second round pick (tenth overall). Toronto picked John Olson from Burnaby (British Columbia Lacrosse Association Jr. A) with the fourth selection in the draft.

With their pick, Philadelphia then took Georgetown’s Greg McCavera fifth overall. That was followed by Albany making their first choice, Burlington’s (OLA Jr. A) Scott Stewart. The Wings then had another pick (obtained when they had traded Gary Gait to Baltimore in December, 1997) which they used to select Gewas Schindler from Loyola. Toronto then closed out the first round with RIT’s Kevin Langdale.

In all, 73 players were chosen. A total of 47 draftees were from the NCAA, while 15 came from OLA Jr. A, five from BCLA Jr. A and six came from a combination of other leagues.

Empire Sports Network provided live updates to their viewers during portions of "Fan TV".