The talent pipeline from Delta to Nanaimo was turned on again for Thursday’s Western Lacrosse Association Draft.
The Nanaimo Timbermen used their fourth and seventh round picks to select Delta Junior “A” graduates Brad Phillips and Riley Taylor respectively.
The Timbermen are already loaded with Islander alumni including Phillips’ older brother Jon. Others include Chase Fraser, Evan Messenger, Jordan Gilles, Adam Jay and Nate Wade as they helped the T-Men advance to the post-season for the first time in recent memory.
Not every Islander drafted Thursday ended up in the Nanaimo organization. Riley Phillips was the top local player selected — going in the third round (22nd overall) to the Coquitlam Adanacs.
Phillips produced a team-leading 31 goals in 18 games last season before concluding his junior career at the 2018 Minto Cup as a member of the the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League’s Okotoks Raiders. He was also the last remaining player from the Islanders’ 2016 league championship team.
