2021 NLL Virtual Draft
Aug 27, 2021
National Lacrosse League Pivots Entry Draft to Virtual Setting
Streaming on TSN, NLL Facebook and YouTube Channels
Class of 2021 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Postponed to Later Date
PHILADELPHIA, August 20, 2021 – The National Lacrosse League (@NLL), the largest and most successful professional lacrosse property in the world, today announced that the 2021 NLL Entry Draft will be held virtually on Saturday, August 28 and the induction ceremony of the NLL Hall of Fame Class of 2021 presented by GAIT Lacrosse has been postponed to a later date.
"After lengthy discussions, we have decided it is in the best interests of our team and league staff, and most importantly our draftees, to hold our 2021 NLL Draft on Saturday, August 28 in a virtual live stream format. We have also chosen to postpone our formal NLL Hall of Fame induction, which was scheduled for the day prior, to a later date to be determined” said NLL Commissioner Nick Sakiewicz. “While we have complete confidence in safety protocols that we were planning, the U.S. border for those driving from Canada remains closed. We were anticipating it would reopen in time for an in-person event, however with so many team staff located in Canada and the logistics of traveling back and forth across the border would have made staging such a large, first-class event very difficult. Our plan is to host the NLL Hall of Fame ceremony in person, at a time when every one of the inductees and their families can attend and, travel logistics are much easier. The NLL Hall of Fame is very important to the heritage of our league, it is crucial all will be able to attend and be properly honored surrounded by friends and family.”
The league will present comprehensive and expansive broadcast coverage of the 2021 Entry Draft. The first two rounds will be available for live streaming on TSN.ca and the TSN app in Canada along with the NLL’s YouTube channel and Facebook (@NLL). Live coverage begins at 7pm ET. Rounds three through six will be updated in real-time on NLL.com and NLL social media accounts.
“We want to thank our board, our staff, and especially all those we have worked closely with at Pegula Sports and Entertainment over the last few months in helping us set up what would have been a memorable on site weekend, which now will be carried out from locations across North America” continued Sakiewicz. “We will release the NLL’s regular-season schedule next month and we look forward to launching the 2021-22 season on December 3, 2021.”
All 14 active NLL franchises for the 2021-22 season will participate in the Entry Draft, with the Panther City Lacrosse Club making its inaugural selection, followed by the Georgia Swarm and Buffalo Bandits currently scheduled to make the next two selections, respectively.
The full first round NLL Entry Draft order, as of August 20, pending pre-Draft transactions, is as follows:
1. Panther City Lacrosse Club
2. Georgia (from New York)
3. Buffalo (from Rochester)
4. Vancouver
5. San Diego
6. Calgary
7. Saskatchewan (from Colorado)
8. Saskatchewan (from Philadelphia)
9. Georgia
10. Philadelphia (from Buffalo)
11. Panther City Lacrosse Club (from Toronto via Georgia)
12. Halifax
13. Buffalo (from Saskatchewan)
14. Buffalo (from Albany)
15. Calgary (from Panther City Lacrosse Club)
16. Albany (Compensatory)
The NLL Entry Draft was held virtually in 2020 following a two-year run at Philadelphia’s Xfinity Live! in 2018 and 2019.
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About the National Lacrosse League
The National Lacrosse League (NLL) is North America's premier professional lacrosse league. Founded in 1986, the NLL ranks third in average attendance for pro indoor sports worldwide, behind only the NHL and NBA. The League is comprised of 15 franchises across the United States and Canada: Albany FireWolves, Buffalo Bandits, Calgary Roughnecks, Colorado Mammoth, Georgia Swarm, Halifax Thunderbirds, Las Vegas NLL, New York Riptide, Panther City Lacrosse Club (TX), Philadelphia Wings, Rochester Knighthawks, San Diego Seals, Saskatchewan Rush, Toronto Rock, and Vancouver Warriors.
For more information, visit NLL.com and find @NLL on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. For more information visit NLL.com.