Syracuse’s Finn Thomson Went No. 1 as Four Orange Were Picked in NLL Draft
NXTbets Pro | Published On: October 1, 2026
Syracuse draft haul
Four Syracuse men’s lacrosse players came off the board in the 2026 National Lacrosse League Entry Draft on Thursday night, with Finn Thomson setting the pace at the top of the board for the Rochester Knighthawks. Rochester made Thomson the first overall pick. Thomson finished his Syracuse career with 159 points, and he led Syracuse with 45 goals last season. The first round kept moving with more Syracuse talent, too, as Joey Spallina went fifth overall to the Calgary Roughnecks. Spallina left Syracuse as the program’s all-time leader in points and assists with 333 points. Buffalo joined the run a few picks later. The Bandits took Dante Bowen sixth overall, then came back for Kyle Gonsiorek in the sixth round at No. 64. By the end of the draft, Syracuse had four selections spread across three teams, with Rochester, Calgary and Buffalo each taking a piece of the group.
Utah draft haul
Three University of Utah lacrosse players were selected in the 2026 National Lacrosse League Draft last week, led by Ryan Stines going 25th overall to the Colorado Mammoth. Stines finished his Utah career with a program-record 230 points, and he ranked second in Utah history with 141 goals and 89 assists. Utah’s other draftees also found homes in the league. Joel Mullen went to the Vancouver Warriors in the third round, and Connor Gorman was selected by the Halifax Thunderbirds. The three selections added more names to the pool of college players moving into the pro ranks.
Vancouver and Halifax
The draft also delivered a Princeton note and another early Vancouver pick. Halifax used the 12th overall selection in the first round on Princeton’s Nick Crowley, who played 44 games for the Tigers and finished with 32 ground balls, 19 caused turnovers and one assist. Vancouver also worked the top of the draft board. The Warriors took Matt Collison third overall. Halifax, meanwhile, paired Crowley with Connor Gorman as part of its class.
