Ahead of their home opener on Saturday, the Peterborough Timbermen of the Arena Lacrosse League have announced a pair of trades.
The team has sent 2017 second-round draft pick Bill O’Brien to the St. Catharines ShockWave for a first-round pick in 2018 and Mikey MacDonald to the Toronto Monarchs for a conditional second-round pick. If MacDonald doesn’t suit up for the Monarchs, the Timbermen will receive a third-round pick.
“We were excited to have both Bill and Mikey and would have loved to have seen them in a Timbermen uniform but it just wasn’t meant to be,” said head coach and general manager Joe Sullivan. Both players will have an easier commute to their new teams, while the Timbermen secure high draft picks to continue building a strong future.
From upstate New York, O’Brien was facing a five-hour commute (each way) to reach Peterborough. MacDonald was unable to commit to the Timbermen, but as he’s from the GTA, he can more easily reach Monarchs’ games.
“We now have two first-round picks and two second-round picks to boost our future development for players that were not able to commit to our program,” Sullivan said. “The league gets better when more quality players are playing. I believe each GM is trying to work within the same guidelines to make sure this is the best league we can possibly have.”
Both players saw time in the NLL – O’Brien as a defenseman with the New England Black Wolves, and MacDonald with the Toronto Rock as a forward.
MacDonald registered one assist in the Timbermen’s first game, a 15-12 win over the Paris RiverWolves last Saturday. The team was led that game by Peterborough Lakers’ star Joel Matthews and former Peterborough Jr. A Lakers captain Dan Michel, who each had four goals.
The Timbermen are at home at the Memorial Centre this weekend hosting the Oshawa Outlaws on Saturday at 7 p.m. and the Whitby Steelhawks on Sunday at 7 p.m.
Prior to Saturday’s game, minor lacrosse players aged 6-17, of any experience level, are invited to the Memorial Centre for a free skills camp with Timbermen players from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. All that is required is a helmet, gloves and a lacrosse stick.
Tickets for Saturday and Sunday’s games are now on sale at the Memorial Centre box office. Both single-game tickets and weekend passes are available. Secure your tickets in person, by phone 705-743-3561 or online at memorialcentre.ca.
Single game: Adult $15 — Child $5
Weekend pass: Adult $25 — Child $10
Group tickets: $12
*Additional fees apply for club seating.
