Four Orange Selected in NLL Entry Draft
9/12/2022 11:30:00 AM | Men's Lacrosse
TORONTO – Four members of the Syracuse University men's lacrosse program, current and recently graduated, were selected in the 2022 NLL Entry Draft.
The National Lacrosse League (NLL), the sport's preeminent indoor league, held its annual Entry Draft on Saturday afternoon at The Carlu in downtown Toronto.
All four Syracuse connections went in the first three rounds of the Entry Draft. Alex Simmons, a graduate transfer from Denver, went fourth overall to the Albany Firewolves, Jerry Staats was picked sixth in the second round by the Halifax Thunderbirds, joining Lehigh transfer Cole Kirst, who was the 12th pick in the third round, while Tucker Dordevic was the 13th pick in the same round.
Below is a capsule of each players' collegiate careers.
Round One, Pick Four: Alex Simmons (Albany Firewolves)
During his time in the Mile High City, Alex Simmons played in 50 career games for the Pioneers, including 33 starts. He racked 81 goals in that span, while adding 48 assists for 129 career points for Denver. Simmons accounted for four career game-winning goals while also striking for nine man-up tallies. The Smithville, Ontario product grabbed 54 ground balls and caused 14 turnovers.
Round Two, Pick Six (29th Overall): Jerry Staats (Halifax Thunderbirds)
Over his four-year career with the Orange, Jerry Staats played in 27 games as a defenseman. He grabbed four ground balls and caused one turnover. In the 2022 season opener against Holy Cross, Staats tallied his first career point with an assist while grabbing a career-best two ground balls. Later in that season, he added a second assist at UAlbany. He caused one turnover and had a ground ball at Virginia as well.
Round Three, Pick Twelve (55th Overall): Cole Kirst (Halifax Thunderbirds)
A graduate student transfer from Lehigh, Cole Kirst helped lead Team USA's U21 team to a gold medal at the World Lacrosse Championships. One third of the Kirst family that all played for Division I programs last season, this Kirst played in 47 career games for the Mountain Hawks, making 33 starts. He scored 55 goals, including a career-best 26 in 2021. He added 26 assists for 81 career points. He added four game-winners while snagging 51 ground balls and causing eight turnovers.
Round Three, Pick Thirteen (56th Overall) Tucker Dordevic (Toronto Rock)
A top scoring threat and a two-time USILA All-American midfielder, Tucker Dordevic played and started in 47 career games for the Syracuse Orange. In that span, Dordevic, a Tewaaraton Award semifinalist last season, racked 95 career goals while posting 30 assists for 125 career points. A man-up sniper, Dordevic posted 10 career goals on the power play, nine of which came in his final two seasons at Syracuse. The Portland, Oregonian finished his career with 51 ground balls while forcing nine turnovers.
The National Lacrosse League (NLL), the sport's preeminent indoor league, held its annual Entry Draft on Saturday afternoon at The Carlu in downtown Toronto.
All four Syracuse connections went in the first three rounds of the Entry Draft. Alex Simmons, a graduate transfer from Denver, went fourth overall to the Albany Firewolves, Jerry Staats was picked sixth in the second round by the Halifax Thunderbirds, joining Lehigh transfer Cole Kirst, who was the 12th pick in the third round, while Tucker Dordevic was the 13th pick in the same round.
Below is a capsule of each players' collegiate careers.
Round One, Pick Four: Alex Simmons (Albany Firewolves)
During his time in the Mile High City, Alex Simmons played in 50 career games for the Pioneers, including 33 starts. He racked 81 goals in that span, while adding 48 assists for 129 career points for Denver. Simmons accounted for four career game-winning goals while also striking for nine man-up tallies. The Smithville, Ontario product grabbed 54 ground balls and caused 14 turnovers.
With the 4th selection in the 2022 #NLLDraft, the @AlbFireWolves select Alex Simmons pic.twitter.com/hnUFCNhEE0
— NLL (@NLL) September 10, 2022
Round Two, Pick Six (29th Overall): Jerry Staats (Halifax Thunderbirds)
Over his four-year career with the Orange, Jerry Staats played in 27 games as a defenseman. He grabbed four ground balls and caused one turnover. In the 2022 season opener against Holy Cross, Staats tallied his first career point with an assist while grabbing a career-best two ground balls. Later in that season, he added a second assist at UAlbany. He caused one turnover and had a ground ball at Virginia as well.
With the 29th overall pick, we have selected defender Jerry Staats from @CuseMLAX & @SN_Chiefs
— Halifax Thunderbirds (@HFXThunderbirds) September 10, 2022
Welcome to Halifax, Jerry!#WhoIsNext I #NLLDraft pic.twitter.com/FmTVYzasYY
Round Three, Pick Twelve (55th Overall): Cole Kirst (Halifax Thunderbirds)
A graduate student transfer from Lehigh, Cole Kirst helped lead Team USA's U21 team to a gold medal at the World Lacrosse Championships. One third of the Kirst family that all played for Division I programs last season, this Kirst played in 47 career games for the Mountain Hawks, making 33 starts. He scored 55 goals, including a career-best 26 in 2021. He added 26 assists for 81 career points. He added four game-winners while snagging 51 ground balls and causing eight turnovers.
With the 55th overall pick, we have selected forward Cole Kirst
— Halifax Thunderbirds (@HFXThunderbirds) September 10, 2022
Welcome to Halifax, Cole!#WhoIsNext I #NLLDraft pic.twitter.com/BPSyRKmxXL
Round Three, Pick Thirteen (56th Overall) Tucker Dordevic (Toronto Rock)
A top scoring threat and a two-time USILA All-American midfielder, Tucker Dordevic played and started in 47 career games for the Syracuse Orange. In that span, Dordevic, a Tewaaraton Award semifinalist last season, racked 95 career goals while posting 30 assists for 125 career points. A man-up sniper, Dordevic posted 10 career goals on the power play, nine of which came in his final two seasons at Syracuse. The Portland, Oregonian finished his career with 51 ground balls while forcing nine turnovers.
In the 3rd Round 56th overall the Toronto Rock select, Tucker Dordevic from @CuseMLAX. #NLLDraft pic.twitter.com/TdLVHjEsrv
— Toronto Rock (@TorontoRockLax) September 10, 2022
Players Mentioned
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