Atlanta Blaze 2016 MLL Collegiate Draft Picks

Blaze 1st round pick 2016
Photo Credit: Duke University

By: Andrew Gallagher, Beat Writer Atlanta Blaze

The Atlanta blaze went into the supplemental draft on Wednesday to fill some holes and add a lot of depth. They went in with the first pick of each round and used them well. The Blaze had a very good core group of players after the expansion draft but they needed depth, and depth is what they got out of the supplemental draft.

Atlanta Blaze Logo
Photo Credit: Atlanta Blaze

They drafted these sixteen outstanding players:

Attack:
Jeremy Boltus
Josh Dionne

Defense:
Jonathan Gill
Michael Pellegrino
Brian Cooper

Midfielders:
Hakeem Lecky
Rick Lewis
David Planning
Josh Amidon
Brendan Porter
Chase Carrao

Face off:
Geoff Snider
Andrew Kennedy

Goalie:
Johnny Rodriguez
Matthew Poillon

They then traded Jeremy Boltus, John Ranagan and a 8th round pick in the Collegiate Draft to Rochester for attackman Kevin Rice, attackman Connor Doyle, and LSM Gramme Hossack.

The two most interesting players added to the team, in my opinion, are Kevin Rice and Hakeem Lecky. They are two offensive power houses that played four years together at Syracuse. The addition of Kevin Rice really solidifies the attack and gives them an amazing playmaker. Hakeem Lecky is a monster at midfield and has the ability to score at any second.

The Blaze also drafted Hometown Hero Rick Lewis. Rick was captain at Ohio State University where he played midfield, along with new Blaze player David Planning. He went to school at St. Pius X Catholic High School in Atlanta and has come back every summer to coach the youth of Atlanta. Rick has a work ethic that is second to none and has great leadership abilities, making him a great addition to the Blaze.

The Blaze just keeps getting better and better throughout this off-season and is starting to look like a very formidable team. Looking forward to the Collegiate Draft and the start of the inaugural season.

Andrew Gallagher, Beat Writer Atlanta Blaze
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