New York Riptide Select 11 Players in NLL Expansion Draft

NEW YORK, July 9, 2019 – The New York Riptide added 11 players to their roster today in the NLL Expansion Draft, a major milestone for the new team as they prepare for the 2019-20 NLL season.

“We are excited to add these 11 quality players to the New York Riptide roster,” said Regy Thorpe, Head Coach and General Manager for the Riptide. “We have some great seasoned veterans and young players with tremendous upside that we feel really represent the gritty, passionate DNA of the team we are looking to build. I am excited to get our new players out in the New York and Long Island community to meet with fans and really accelerate our community engagement efforts.”

Left-handed forward Jordan Durston from the Buffalo Bandits was the Riptide’s first-round pick (second overall). In 18 games during the 2018-19 regular season, the 25-year-old Durston scored 15 goals and added 32 assists for 47 points. In 71 career games over four seasons, Durston has scored 81 NLL goals and added 112 assists for 193 points.

Defenseman and Yorktown, New York native John Ranagan from the Georgia Swarm was the Riptide’s second-round selection. The six-foot, three-inch, 218-pound Ranagan has played five seasons and 83 career games in the NLL.

In the third-round, the Riptide selected forward Connor Kelly from the San Diego Seals. The Easton, Connecticut native, selected in the third round, 33^rd overall, in the 2018 Entry Draft, played in seven games during his rookie season recording nine goals and eight assists.

Defenseman Dan MacRae from the Calgary Roughnecks was selected in the fourth-round by the Riptide. The nine-year NLL veteran has played 145 games with the Roughnecks and was Captain of the 2018-19 Championship team. MacRae also has New York ties, having attended Rochester Institute of Technology.

In the fifth-round, the Riptide added NLL veteran Jeff Cornwall from the Saskatchewan Rush. The six-foot, three-inch, 220-pound transition player has played 121 career games and registered 76 total points.

The Riptide selected left-handed forward Kieran McArdle from the Toronto Rock in the sixth-round. In three seasons with the Rock, McArdle has played in 47 games and in 2018-19 recorded a career high 40 points. McArdle is a Ronkonkoma, New York native who attended St. John’s University.

In the seventh-round, the Riptide added defenseman and Penn Yan, New York native Mike Manley from the Halifax Thunderbirds. The six-year NLL veteran has played in 58 career games, spending two seasons each with Rochester, Philadelphia, and New England where he was drafted in the fourth-round in the 2012 Expansion Draft.

Left-handed forward Dawson Theede from the Halifax Thunderbirds was selected in the eighth-round. In his first season in the league in 2018-19 he played eight games, registering three goals and seven assists.

The Riptide added forward Tyler Digby from the New England Black Wolves in the ninth-round. The six-year NLL veteran has played in 102 games, registering 151 goals and 192 assists.

In the tenth-round the Riptide selected Goalie Alex Buque from the New England Black Wolves. Buque has five seasons experience for a .771% career save percentage for 89 games played. Buque was named to the 2015 NLL All-Rookie team.

In the eleventh and final round, the Riptide selected left-handed forward Jean-Luc Chetner from the Vancouver Warriors. The 23-year-old played 11 games in his rookie season netting five goals and 11 assists.

The NLL awarded the New York franchise to live events and sports media entertainment company GF Sports in December 2018. The Riptide will play home games at NYCB LIVE, Home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum when it begins play in December for the 2019-20 NLL season.

Fans can place a deposit on season ticket memberships at www.NewYorkRiptide.com or speak to a customer service representative at 516-888-6879 and follow the team @NewYorkRiptide to receive behind the scenes information as the team prepares for the 2019-20 season.