Men's Lacrosse | 9/26/2017 3:36:00 PM
MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- The
Robert Morris men's lacrosse team has paved quite a path to the pros since its inception just 12 years ago, and another of its former stars recently traversed that path.
RMU alumnus JonPatrik "JP" Kealey, with one of three first-round picks, was taken tenth overall by the New England Black Wolves of the National Lacrosse League (NLL) Sept. 18. While uniting with another former Colonial, Kyle Buchanan, Kealey became the 20th player in the history of the men's program to be drafted into the indoor circuit.
Kealey, known for his work ethic and offensive flair, joined Robert Morris in 2014 as a 6'0", 180-pound attackman/midfielder from Ottawa, Ontario following a stellar junior career. He started in all 14 games for the Colonials that year, leading them with 23 goals, finishing fourth on the team with 40 points and earning a selection to the All-Northeast Conference Rookie Team. He recorded three hat tricks in his first and only full collegiate season, including a five-goal outburst against Michigan in an Apr. 26, 2014 non-conference game.
A knee injury wiped out his 2015 season, and he only appeared in two games for RMU in 2016, scoring a goal and an assist. Still, Kealey's resume read well enough to impress the Langley Thunder of the Western Lacrosse Association, another Senior A (top-tier) professional indoor league, in British Columbia. This summer he registered 43 points on 20 goals and 23 assists in 12 contests for the Thunder, including a pair of three-goal, three-assist games.
The Black Wolves, a legendary franchise formerly known as the Philadelphia Wings, welcome Kealey to a club that has made the NLL postseason in two of its first three seasons in its new home, Uncasville, Connecticut. New teammate and alternate captain Buchanan, in fact, strengthened the team's Robert Morris ties by scoring the first goal since its 2015 relocation.
The current Colonials practiced again at Joe Walton Stadium today in advance of what is perhaps the highlight of fall ball, an Oct. 8 scrimmage with Team Canada in Buffalo, New York. The Canadian national team is preparing to defend its world team title next summer in Netanya, Israel.
Robert Morris is coming off a 9-7 campaign in 2017 and a berth in the NEC semifinals. It returns several key players for 2018, including top goal scorer
Matt Schmidt (32 in '17), points leader
Tyson Gibson (41 points on 19 goals, 22 assists) and goaltender
Alex Heger, last season's NEC leader in save percentage (.564) and NCAA co-leader in saves per game (12.75).
Below is the complete list of Robert Morris players taken by NLL teams since 2005.
National Lacrosse League Draftees
JP Kealey – Sept. 2017 (first round, 10th overall, New England Black Wolves)
James Rahe – Sept. 2016 (second round, Vancouver Stealth)
Luke Laszkiewicz – Sept. 2016 (fifth round, Rochester Knighthawks)
Luc Magnan – Sept. 2015 (second round, Toronto Rock)
Michael Seidel – Sept. 2015 (third round, Georgia Swarm)
Jacob Ruest – Sept. 2015 (fourth round, Calgary Roughnecks)
Mitch Wilder – Sept. 2013 (second round, Buffalo Bandits)
Tyler Digby – Sept. 2013 (third round, Vancouver Stealth)
Kevin Neufeld – Sept. 2013 (third round, Vancouver Stealth)
Jake Hayes – Sept. 2013 (fourth round, Calgary Roughnecks)
Kevin Brownell – Oct. 2012 (third round, Buffalo Bandits)
Kyle Buchanan – Oct. 2012 (sixth round, Washington Stealth)
Kiel Matisz – Oct. 2012 (first round, 3rd overall, Minnesota Swarm)
Trevor Moore – Sept. 2011 (fourth round, Washington Stealth)
Patrick Smith – Sept. 2011 (fourth round, Minnesota Swarm)
Corbyn Tao-Brambleby – Sept. 2011 (second round, Minnesota Swarm)
Jordon Sealock – Sept. 2010 (fourth round, Calgary Roughnecks)
Mike Fleming – 2008 (second round, Toronto Rock)
Andrew Watt – 2008 (first round, 8th overall, Minnesota Swarm)
Jeff Gilbert – 2006 (second round, Toronto Rock)
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