Tommy Hurley played youth lacrosse with the Newmarket North Stars. He was drafted by the Toronto Rock of the National Lacrosse League.
Aurora
September 23, 2008 09:55 AM
John Cudmore, Staff Writer
Some day Tommy Hurley may be that hometown hero kids dream of becoming.
For now, he is content to have made the first step on that path after being selected in the sixth round and 66th overall at the recent National Lacrosse League draft by the Toronto Rock.
Not bad for a kid who grew up playing minor lacrosse in local programs with an eye on the pro stars in Toronto whenever he had the chance to attend at National Lacrosse League game.
“I wasn’t sure if I would go or not, so it was a pleasant surprise to be selected,” said Hurley, 21, discussing his pre-draft thoughts Friday in a telephone interview from his house in Hamilton, where he is a fourth-year commerce student at McMaster University. “I think definitely in the next few years I can crack the lineup, but I will have to work hard to do it.”
Hurley began playing as a youth in the Newmarket North Stars field lacrosse and Newmarket Redbirds box lacrosse programs. He played three seasons at the Ontario Lacrosse Association’s Junior B level with the Markham Ironheads before competing the past two seasons for the Junior A level Burlington Chiefs.
“Playing Junior A, I thought I would have a chance to get drafted,” said Hurley, a midfielder for the Marauders who compete in the Canadian Universities Field Lacrosse Association and will host this season’s national championships. “But if I didn’t, I thought I would attend one of the open tryouts many of the teams have. I was optimistic either way.”
The six-foot, one-inch, 170-pound Hurley scored 12 goals and added 20 assists in 20 games for the Chiefs last season.
The pro lacrosse draft is a far cry from the high-profile production the National Hockey League stages for its annual
It is by no means a draft carrying the cache of the NHL draft.
Hurley did not attend the six-round session in Boston.
Instead, he was informed of his selection by McMaster field lacrosse coach Ed Comeau.
Ironically, Comeau is also the general manager and head coach of the New York Titans, a rival of the Rock in the NLL.
“It’s funny. I was sitting in the living room at my house in Hamilton and he called me,” said the Dr. G.W. Williams Secondary School graduate. “I’ve defintely always wanted to play NLL so this is kind of like a dream come true.”
Hurley has since spoken with the Rock and is to report to a rookie camp Oct. 19 and hopefully make it to the team’s regular training camp starting Nov. 8 at Six Nations.
His fallback plan is to catch on in the Major Series in Ontario or at the Senior B level.