Former Whitby Warrior looking forward to shot in NLL
Sep 25, 2008 - 01:50 PM
By Shawn Cayley
OAKDALE, N.Y. -- Though it's been a couple of weeks since he was drafted, it still has yet to set in with Whitby's Nick Cotter that he is bound for the National Lacrosse League.
Quite frankly, the former Whitby Warrior hasn't had a whole lot of time to bask in the glory of seeing his dream come true.
"It definitely has not set in yet that I have been drafted," he said recently. "I am still finishing up at school (Dowling College in New York State) which has taken a toll. School has been my focus as I plan to graduate in December with a degree in elementary education. I think it's going to sink in during training camp though and definitely hit me during my first NLL game."
Cotter was the first player taken in the second round, 14th overall to the Boston Blazers. The draft was actually in Boston at the TD Banknorth Garden and Cotter was on hand to hear his name called and was welcomed to the stage by coach Tom Ryan.
The sense of accomplishment in that moment for Cotter was almost overwhelming after dealing with the mixed emotions of excitement and nervousness prior to the draft.
"Ever since I was a little kid it was my dream to play in the NLL and hearing my name called up on stage, I was like wow, finally after all these years of conditioning and playing lacrosse it's finally paid off," he said.
Leading into the draft Cotter, who played this past Major Series Lacrosse season with the Peterborough Lakers, had an inkling Boston was interested in picking him after he scored four times in the combine game.
Then, a call came in from Ryan the morning of the draft inquiring about Cotter's interest in possibly moving to Boston during the season should they select him. That sort of reassurance helped in fighting the nerves.
A former student at Henry Street in Whitby, Cotter is looking forward to making the jump to the pro ranks after a host of success at Dowling, which included being named an All-American three times. While he admits to having countless influences in his life that have help pave such a successful road including his parents and several coaches in Whitby, Cotter says he owes a lot to Tim Boyle and Mike Taylor, his coaches at Dowling.
"They not only gave me the chance to play lacrosse at an NCAA school but also the opportunity to get an education," said Cotter.
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