Hobart, Denver Represented in 2011 NLL Entry Draft
(Editor's Note: The sports information offices at Hobart College and University of Denver contributed to this report.)
CENTERVILLE, Mass.--Two Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Lacrosse League student-athletes were selected in last month's National Lacrosse League (NLL) Entry Draft, including former Hobart College goalie Evan Kirk and Todd Baxter out of the University of Denver. The Philadelphia Wings chose Kevin Crowley from Stony Brook University with the top overall pick.
Click here for the complete NLL Entry Draft, which was conducted in New York City.
Both Kirk and Baxter were selected by the Minnesota Swarm with the No. 6 and No. 48 overall picks, respectively. The long-time ECAC opponents turned professional teammates were chosen in rounds one and six.
"(Kirk is) the best goalie out of the draft and the best goalie
I've seen come out in a couple of years," Minnesota Associate
General Manager Joe Sullivan said in a statement on the team's
website. "He doesn't get lost out on the field. He saw a ton of
floor time for the Kodiaks as a young man this past summer. He's
excited to work with the goalies we have in Minnesota and better
his game."
During his Hobart career, Kirk posted a .531 save percentage (5th among Division I Statesmen) and a 10.44 goals-against average. He logged a career-high 15 saves twice last season, in home games against Bucknell and Denver. The Bison finished the season at No. 7 in the coaches poll, while the Pioneers won the ECAC and ranked No. 4.
After graduating in May with a bachelor's degree in environmental studies, Kirk spent the summer playing for the Kitchener-Waterloo Kodiaks of Major Series Lacrosse (MSL). In 19 games, he logged 558 saves against 182 goals allowed for a .754 save percentage and a 10.09 GAA.
Kirk is the highest Statesmen NLL draft pick since attackman Daryl Veltman '08 was the No. 1 overall pick of the Boston Blazers. Veltman currently plays for the Calgary Roughnecks.
The Swarm opens the 2012 season on Jan. 14 at the Colorado Mammoth. Kirk and the Swarm will play at Rochester on Feb. 4, while the former Statesmen will square off on March 3 in Calgary.
Baxter said of his selection: "It's an honor to play for an organization such as the Minnesota Swarm. I am so excited to be able to play in my home state. I want to thank (team owner and president) John Arlotta for giving me this opportunity. A lot of credit has to go to my teammates and coaches at DU."
The six-foot attackman finished his DU career having played in a
total of 48 games for the Pioneers, registering 59 goals and 33
assists for 92 points. Baxter also finished with 78 groundballs and
caused 13 turnovers. He joined the Pioneers for the 2009 season,
after transferring from Fairfield University where he played one
season.
"We are thrilled that Todd, one of the senior captains of our 2011 Final Four and ECAC championship team has been selected by the Minnesota Swarm of the NLL," said head coach Bill Tierney. "For a young man growing up in Eden Prairie, Minn., to have such a successful lacrosse career at the University of Denver, then be given a shot to play professional lacrosse, is a culmination of much hard work. Todd proved to be one of the most courageous players I have ever coached by playing on a severely injured knee and scoring three goals versus Johns Hopkins last year, leading us to Denver's first final four. He will be a motivation to his new teammates in Minnesota as he was here at DU."
Baxter served as a team captain for the 2011 season and was instrumental in the Pioneers' success that saw them remain undefeated in ECAC play, win their second consecutive ECAC regular-season title, the first-ever ECAC Tournament Championship, host the first-ever NCAA Tournament First Round game west of the Mississippi and advance to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history.
