FORT WORTH, TX – The Panther City Lacrosse Club selected 13 players tonight during the 2021 NLL Expansion Draft. The following players were selected by the club:
1st Overall Selection – Matt Hossack – (Defender, Saskatchewan Rush)
Hossack was the 14th overall pick in the 2016 National Lacrosse League Entry Draft by the Saskatchewan Rush from the Rochester Institute of Technology. He finished the 2019 season tied for fifth in scoring among defensemen (17 points) and fourth in assists (14), both career highs. He also set career highs in loose balls (93) and caused turnovers (18).
2nd Overall Selection – Charlie Kitchen (Forward, Albany Firewolves)
Kitchen became the first player from the University of Delaware to be drafted into the NLL since 2013 when he was selected by the New England Black Wolves during the second round of the 2020 NLL draft. Born in Marlton, New Jersey, Kitchen is a three-time All-CAA honoree and was the 2019 CAA Co-Offensive Player of the Year, posting the 12th longest scoring streak in NCAA Division 1 history.
3rd Overall Selection – Liam Byrnes (Defender, Philadelphia Wings)
Byrnes was selected 44th overall in the 2016 NLL Entry Draft by the Georgia Swarm after becoming Marquette’s all-time leader in ground balls and caused turnovers. During his three seasons in the NLL, the Atlanta, Georgia native played in 27 games, causing 23 turnovers, and claiming 120 loose balls.
4th Overall Selection – Connor Kelly (Forward, New York Riptide)
Kelly was selected with the 33rd overall pick in the 2018 Entry Draft by the San Diego Seals from Maryland before being taken by the New York Riptide during the 2019 expansion draft. The Easton, CT native has played 24 games in his career, totaling 56 points, 32 assists and 85 claimed loose balls. Kelly also netted 11 goals and 11 assists to help lead the United States to a bronze medal in the World Lacrosse Men’s Indoor World Championships in Vancouver in September of 2019.
5th Overall Selection- Nick Damude (Goalie, San Diego Seals)
Damude was drafted with the 44th overall pick by the Rochester Knighthawks in the 2018 NLL Entry Draft but made his professional debut with the San Diego Seals during the 2019-20 season. The Fonthill, Ontario native played in 11 games, recording a 3-1 record and a .789 save percentage. Damude played junior lacrosse for the St. Catharine’s Athletics where he led all Ontario Junior Association Lacrosse League goalies with a 5.29 goals-against average.
6th Overall Selection – Patrick Dodds (Forward, Calgary Roughnecks)
Dodds was the 21st selection in the 2020 NLL Draft by the Calgary Roughnecks from the Victoria Shamrocks. Hailing from Victoria, British Columbia, Dodds led the Shamrocks to the Minto Cup in 2019.
7th Overall Selection – Sam Clare (Transition Player, Vancouver Warriors)
Clare played for the Vancouver Warriors during the 2019-2020 NLL season, recording eight points in just eight games played. The Ladner, British Columbia native played for Simon Fraser of the Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association before playing for the Warriors.
8th Overall Selection – Liam Patten (Defender, Buffalo Bandits)
Patten was drafted 26th overall in the 2017 NLL Entry draft from the University of Guelph. In his 35 career games, the Barrie, Ontario native has recorded 16 points and snatched up 139 loose balls while forcing 21 turnovers.
9th Overall Selection – Phil Caputo (Forward, Rochester Knighthawks)
Caputo was originally selected by the New England Black Wolves with the 28th overall pick in the 2015 NLL Entry Draft. Born in Brampton, Ontario, Caputo played for the Brampton Excelsiors Junior A Lacrosse team, scoring 88 goals and dishing out 97 assists in 73 games. In his 31 NLL games, he has put up 41 points and claimed 84 loose balls.
10th Overall Selection – Ryan Benesch (Forward, Halifax Thunderbirds)
Benesch will be entering his 15th year in the league from Kitchener, Ontario. Since entering the league, the forward has racked up 1061 points and 1084 loose balls in 218 games. The veteran has also forced 56 turnovers since the stat began being tracked in 2011.
11th Overall Selection – Kevin Orleman (Goalie, Georgia Swarm)
Orleman was drafted 18th overall in the 2016 Entry Draft but did not see action until he signed with the Georgia Swarm as a free agent in 2018. The goalminder hails from Kitchener, Ontario, and has a career .722 save percentage in his 30 career games.
12th Overall Selection – Chris Wardle (Forward, Colorado Mammoth)
Wardle was drafted 54th overall by the Vancouver Stealth in the 2013 Entry Draft out of Victoria, British Columbia. The lefty forward has played in 87 games, netting 182 points, claiming 220 loose balls, and forcing 28 turnovers.
13th Overall Selection – Scott Dominey (Transition Player, Toronto Rock)
Dominey was drafted 57th overall in the 2018 Entry Draft. The lefty defenseman from Toronto has played in 10 games, netting eight points and 31 loose balls. Dominey played at Nipissing University prior to being drafted in 2018.
At the conclusion of the draft, Panther City Lacrosse Club announced the following trades, pending league approval.
• Traded their second-round selection in the 2022 Entry Draft to the Toronto Rock in exchange for Taylor Stuart and their second-round selection in the 2021 Entry Draft.
• Traded Scott Dominey to the New York Riptide in exchange for Dawson Theede.
• Traded Chris Wardle to the Colorado Mammoth in exchange for Will Malcolm and Jordan Trottier.
• Traded their first-round selection in the 2023 Entry Draft and a conditional third-round selection in the 2023 Entry Draft to the Georgia Swarm in exchange for Connor Sellars and the 11th overall selection in the 2021 Entry Draft.
