The San Diego Seals took a big step forward as the 2018 NLL season approaches in just three months as the organization hosted a Watch Party event at The Local Eatery and Drinking Hole in Downtown for the 2018 NLL Entry Draft.

A packed portion of the brewery filled with members of the front office, ticket representatives, media members and also an appearance by Defensemen Cam Holding. Fans were able to enjoy craft brews while interacting with fellow fans, pose for photos with both Cam, Salty the mascot and the Sirens Dance Team along with the opportunity to win raffle prizes and inquire about ticket possibilities.

The mood was vibrant and upbeat as the front office members went out of their way to engage with fans throughout the course of the night. They were also super pumped that the Chronicle is working to spread the word about the team with our coverage throughout the season!

The main event of the evening, of course, was the 2018 NLL Entry Draft from Xfinity Live! in Philadelphia, PA with the event hosted by the Philadelphia Wings, the Seals’ expansion partner. As mentioned in the lead-up story to the draft, the Seals won the first overall Entry Draft pick thanks to their coin toss triumph back in July.

San Diego selected 13 players throughout the six-round draft. The Seals kicked off the draft by choosing Austin Staats with the first overall selection. A standout in the NJCAA, he registered 102 goals and 156 points all in just 26 games. He turned around and scored 42 goals in only 14 games with the Six Nations Arrows of the Junior A ranks.

San Diego held the tenth and eleventh picks and used them to select a duo of Connors in Connor Fields and Connor Kearnan. Fields ended his collegiate career second in Division I history with 364 career points. He also was a three-time Tewaaraton Trophy nominee (the Lacrosse equivalent of the Heisman) and was an All-American at the University of Albany.

With the fifteenth overall pick, the Seals selected Rylan Hartley, a goaltender who was named the Most Valuable Player in the Ontario Junior A league. Hartley also won the Chris Sanderson Award as the Most Valuable Goalie plus being simultaneously named a first-team All-Star. Graydon Bradley came to San Diego with the seventeenth overall pick out of Coquitlam.

An awesome Watch Party moment was as other teams were announcing their picks, the Seals front office managed to surprise the assembled fanbase with a FaceTime call with their first-round picks stepping away from their draft table to say hello to the gathered fans.

Meanwhile, the Seals finished up their draft with the selections of Derek Lloyd, Connor Kelly, and Jules Henningburg in Round 3. Austin Divitcos, Zach Bryant and Zac Christianson went to San Diego in the fourth round. Sean Mayle was the lone fifth-round pick and closed out their draft by taking Jake Cook in the sixth and final round.

Seals Head Coach and General Manager Patrick Merill expressed his thoughts on his team’s draft, confirming to the team’s website that the draft was a success.

“We got the top guys on our draft board,” said Merill. “We’re laying a solid foundation and secured a core to build around. We addressed needs at all positions. We should have a very competitive training camp.”

A great night spent with the assembled member of the team front office and above all else, with the fanbase that will continue to grow as the time to progress. December 8th will be here before you know!