OAKVILLE, Ontario, Canada (September 16, 2023) – The Panther City Lacrosse Club made seven selections in the 2023 NLL Entry Draft today.
With their first selection, fifth overall in the first round, Panther City selected right-handed forward Ryan Sheridan from Hofstra University/Nanaimo Sr. A Timbermen with the fifth overall selection in the first round of the 2023 NLL Entry Draft.
Sheridan appeared in 11 games for Hofstra University last season, totaling seven points. The Victoria, British Columbia native recorded 16 loose balls and tallied 39 points in his collegiate career, netting 29 goals and dishing out 10 assists.
In his 13 games with the Sr. A Timberman this summer, Sheridan posted 17 goals and seven assists and recorded seven goals and three assists in four playoff games. Between his five years with the Jr. and Sr. A Nanaimo Timberman, Sheridan played in a total of 72 games, where he netted 130 goals and tallied 115 assists for a career 245 points. Sheridan was in the top 10 in the British Columbia Jr. A Lacrosse League in goals during the 2022 season with 24 goals and 20 assists in 12 games, plus another 11 goals in four playoff games. In 2019, he scored 99 points (47G/52A) in 21 games with the Jr. A Timberman.
With the 21st overall selection in the 2023 NLL Entry Draft, the Panther City Lacrosse Club selected Justin Sykes from Hofstra University/Mimico Mountaineers. In 13 games with Hofstra in 2023, he recorded 15 points (11G/4A). With the Mimico Mountaineers of the Ontario Junior Lacrosse League, he netted 25 goals and dished out 34 assists to record 59 points in 2023. Sykes captained Mimico to a first-place finish during the 2022 OJLL regular season and in his three years spent in the OJLL, he played a combined 60 games between Jr. A and B, and totaled 215 points (104G/111A), while also earning the OJLL Rookie of the Year in 2019.
With the 46th selection in the 2023 NLL Entry Draft, the Panther City Lacrosse Club selected defenseman Elijah Gash from the University of Albany. He secured 31 loose balls and caused 18 turnovers during the 2023 season with the University of Albany en route to being named an America East All Conference Second Team honoree. For his collegiate career, Gash secured a total of 75 loose balls and caused 36 turnovers. Gash was selected 30th overall in the 2023 PLL College Draft.
Gash’s father, Sam, was a 12-year NFL fullback and was a two-time Pro Bowler with the Buffalo Bills and also won Super Bowl XXXV with the Baltimore Ravens.
With the 52nd selection in the 2023 NLL Entry Draft, the Panther City Lacrosse Club selected face of specialist Mike Sisselberger from Lehigh University, acquired via trade with Rochester. In 2023, Sisselberger won 65.2% (255-391) of his faceoffs with Lehigh. For his career, he won 67.8% (742-1094) of his faceoffs.
Sisselberger was named the Patriot Faceoff Specialist of the Year in both 2021 and 2022. In 2022 he was recognized as an honorable mention All American (USILA, Media and USA Lacrosse Magazine) as well as well as being named to the First Team All-Patriot League. He earned the same First Team recognition in 2021 alongside being a First Team All-American (USILA, Media and USA Lacrosse Magazine). During the 2021 season, Sisselberger was a three-time USILA National Team of the Week winner en route to recording the program, NCAA and Patriot League record for faceoff percentage in a season (79.5%) and program record for groundballs in a season (160).
With the 61st selection in the 2023 NLL Entry Draft, the Panther City Lacrosse Club selected Colin Sharkey from the University of Vermont. He recorded 27 loose balls in 14 games with Vermont in 2023, while causing five turnovers. Following a season that saw him record career high numbers in loose balls, Sharkey was named to the America East All-Conference Second Team in 2023. Through his four years with Vermont, Sharkey grabbed 62 loose balls and caused 16 turnovers in 51 games.
With the 85th selection in the 2023 NLL Entry Draft, the Panther City Lacrosse Club selected Justin Morgan from Maryville University, acquired via trade with Philadelphia. Morgan recorded 11 points (7G/4A) in 11 games with Maryville in 2023. For his career, he netted 38 goals and 23 assists for 61 points with Maryville.
With the 90th pick in the 2023 NLL Entry Draft, the Panther City Lacrosse Club drafted defenseman Tim Manning from Vermont. He secured 19 loose balls and caused five turnovers through 14 games with Vermont in 2023. Manning was named to the American East All-Conference Second Team in 2023. For his collegiate career, Manning totaled 55 loose balls, while causing 20 turnovers through 51 games.
