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Buffalo Bandits add three in NLL Draft

Sep 26, 2018 | Sports Scene

The Buffalo Bandits selected three players in the 2018 NLL Draft this evening, a draft class that includes two transition players and a goaltender.

With the third pick of the draft, the Bandits selected transition player Matt Gilray, a native of Oshawa, Ontario. During the 2018 season, Gilray (6’3”, 215 lbs., 5/15/1995) spent time with both the Peterborough Lakers of the MSL and the Denver Outlaws of the MLL. He played in six games with the Lakers, scoring one goal and one assist before appearing in one game with the Outlaws, scoring one goal.

Gilray spent four seasons playing college lacrosse for Bucknell University before turning pro. In 53 games with the Bison, Gilray recorded five goals and five assists in addition to scooping up 149 ground balls. A team captain his junior and senior seasons, Gilray earned Second Team All-Patriot League honors three times (2016, 2017, 2018).

With the fourth overall pick, the Bandits selected transition player Ian MacKay. MacKay (5’10”, 210 lbs., 5/31/1994) spent the 2018 season with the Chesapeake Bayhawks of the MLL, appearing in five games and scoring 11 goals and notching one assist. He was named the Week 8 Cascade Rookie of the Week after scoring four goals, including the game-winner, against the Ohio Machine.

Prior to joining the Bayhawks, MacKay spent four seasons with the University of Vermont Catamounts, serving as team captain in both 2017 and 2018. In 62 games played, MacKay recorded 150 goals and 80 assists for 230 points. He earned America East First Team All-Conference honors three times (2015, 2016, 2018) in addition to being named the America East Offensive Player of the Year (2016) and America East Rookie of the Year (2014). MacKay, a native of Part Elgin, Ontario, is also a member of the Canadian Men’s National Team.

With their final selection, the Bandits drafted goaltender Devlin Shanahan, a native of Mississauga, Ontario, 43rd overall. Shanahan (6’0”, 177 lbs, 2/10/1999) has spent the past three seasons (2016-2018) playing for the Mimico Mountaineers of the Ontario Junior A Lacrosse League. In 21 games with the club, Devlin holds a 12-6-0 record, with a .612 save percentage and a 7.53 goals-against average. He was named the Most Valuable Player of the Mountaineers’ Junior B affiliate in 2015.

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