MISL CLUBS BOLSTER ROSTERS THROUGH DRAFT
Harrisburg selects Justin Labrum with first pick
(Westport, Conn., August 16, 2002) – Major Indoor Soccer League Commissioner Steve Ryan announced today the results of the 2002 MISL/St. Louis Steamers Dispersal Draft, which was held on Thursday, August 15. A total of 16 players were selected from the roster of the St. Louis Steamers. The Steamers will not participate in active play during the 2002-03 season as the team focuses on the organizational and business standards set forth by the Commissioner.
Draft order was determined by the winning percentages of clubs during the teams’ previous regular season of play. The team with the lowest winning percentage, the Harrisburg Heat, held the first selection. The Cleveland Crunch picked second followed by the Baltimore Blast, Kansas City Comets, Dallas Sidekicks, San Diego Sockers, Philadelphia Kixx, and Milwaukee Wave.
The Heat chose forward Justin Labrum with the draft’s top pick. Labrum, who was acquired by St. Louis in February’s 2002 MISL Allocation Draft, led the World Indoor Soccer League’s Utah Freezz in scoring during the 2001season with 22 goals, nine assists, and 31 points in 24 games played. The 1999 WISL Rookie of the Year was named to the 2001 All-WISL Second Team for his efforts.
The Cleveland Crunch then selected midfielder Jeff DiMaria with the draft’s second pick. DiMaria appeared in 19 games for the Steamers last season and posted eight goals, seven assists, and 15 points.
The Baltimore Blast used the third selection in the draft to choose goalkeeper Brett Phillips. A member of the Blast in
1998-99, Phillips registered an 8-12 record and a 5.28 goals against average in 20 appearances with St. Louis last season.
Goalkeeper Chris Smith was then taken by the Kansas City Comets with the fourth pick. Smith posted a 3-1 record in four games played a year ago with a 4.95 goals against average. Dallas utilized the draft’s fifth selection to choose forward Mark Moser. A veteran of the indoor game, Moser finished second on the Steamers roster in scoring last season with 20 goals, six assists, and 26 points.
Midfielder Sterling Westcott was the San Diego Sockers’ selection with the sixth pick. Westcott, who was acquired by the Steamers in the 2002 MISL Allocation Draft, appeared in 17 games for the Utah Freezz during the 2001 season and posted 17 goals, 10 assists, and 27 points. Philadelphia then took defender Matt Caution with the eight pick. Caution’s rights were originally acquired by St. Louis from Cleveland in exchange for Clint Regier. The St. Louis native posted five points and 31 blocks in 25 games with the Crunch last season.
Milwaukee concluded the draft’s first round by selecting midfielder Temoc Suarez with the ninth pick. Suarez, who was also part of the deal that brought Clint Regier to Cleveland, recorded eight goals, seven assists, and 25 points in 21 games for the Crunch during the 2001-02 campaign.
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Per draft regulations, St. Louis was permitted to designate four players: DiMaria, Fernando Errecalde, Labrum, and Phillips, whose rights will revert back to the Steamers should the club participate in active play during the 2003-04 campaign. If St. Louis does not field a team during the 2003-04 season, the rights to the four designated players will remain with the club which selected them in the draft.
The Major Indoor Soccer League, launched in August of 2001, is a single-entity organization featuring a coast-to-coast presence with eight teams located across the United States. The MISL is the single major league of indoor soccer and will open its
2002-03 season on Saturday, September 28. For more information on the MISL, visit the League’s website at www.MISL.net.
Complete draft results are as follows:
First Round
|
Selection |
Team |
Player |
Position |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Harrisburg Heat |
Justin Labrum |
Forward |
|
2 |
Cleveland Crunch |
Jeff DiMaria |
Midfielder |
|
3 |
Baltimore Blast |
Brett Phillips |
Goalkeeper |
|
4 |
Kansas City Comets |
Chris Smith |
Goalkeeper |
|
5 |
Dallas Sidekicks |
Mark Moser |
Forward |
|
6 |
San Diego Sockers |
Sterling Westcott |
Midfielder |
|
7 |
Philadelphia Kixx |
Matt Caution |
Defender |
|
8 |
Milwaukee Wave |
Temoc Suarez |
Midfielder |
Second Round
| Selection |
Team |
Player |
Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 |
Harrisburg Heat |
Jake Atkin |
Midfielder |
| 10 |
Cleveland Crunch |
DJ Nelson |
Midfielder |
| 11 |
Baltimore Blast |
<pass> |
|
| 12 |
Kansas City Comets |
Fernando Errecalde |
Midfielder |
| 13 |
Dallas Sidekicks |
Tim Tedoni |
Defender |
| 14 |
San Diego Sockers |
Kevin Quigley |
Midfielder |
| 15 |
Philadelphia Kixx |
Kevin Kalish |
Defender |
| 16 |
Milwaukee Wave |
<pass> |
Third Round
| Selection |
Team |
Player |
Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 |
Harrisburg Heat |
<pass> |
|
| 18 |
Cleveland Crunch |
Brandon Gibbs |
Forward |
| 19 |
Baltimore Blast |
<pass> |
|
| 20 |
Kansas City Comets |
<pass> |
|
| 21 |
Dallas Sidekicks |
<pass> |
|
| 22 |
San Diego Sockers |
<pass> |
|
| 23 |
Philadelphia Kixx |
Kevin Hundelt |
Defender |
| 24 |
Milwaukee Wave |
<pass> |
*All eight MISL clubs elected to pass on fourth round selections, marking an end to the draft.
*Players in bold type will return to St. Louis if the Steamers participate in active play during the 2003-04 campaign.
*St. Louis General Manager/Head Coach Daryl Doran was not eligible for the draft. Doran will remain with the Steamers through the 2002-03 season.
---MISL---