Blue Devils goaltender drafted to NLL

London Community News

By Jonathon Brodie/London Community News / Twitter: @jonathonbrodie Tyler Glebe will be looking for a few lucky hops from the ball, some big skips across the net to pull off unbelievable saves and a big jump from league-to-league to fulfill his lacrosse dream. After wrapping up his second season goaltending for the London Blue Devils, from the Ontario Junior B Lacrosse League (OJBLL), Glebe was picked up in the sixth round (52nd overall) by the Toronto Rock of the 2012 National Lacrosse League Draft last week (Oct. 1) to become the second Blue Devils player ever to be chosen straight off the team. “In the back of my mind there was that thing where I entered in a year early and I didn’t have that Junior A experience that usually everyone has when they go in the draft,” Glebe, 20, said. “I had a great year in Junior B and I showed at the combine and throughout the year that I could really play.” As the only goalkeeper selected in this year’s draft, he was also one of only a handful of players picked out of the OJBLL. Before the draft Glebe interviewed with the Rock and Minnesota Swarm, as well as spoke with staff from the Rochester Knighthawks after the combine. One of the most popular questions, Glebe said, was why stick with Junior B lacrosse, but if you look at the netminder’s stats last year it might have been a no-brainer. As the only goalie to see time in all 20 of his team’s regular season games last year, the Blue Devils’ goaltender finished with 6.97 goals against average and .694 save percentage to earn the West Conference’s Goalie of the Year Award. The Kitchener native also helped London win its first ever playoff series in its 10-year history last season. “London is a great team to play for and going into that (2012) season I knew that we could really make a run for the Founders (Cup) and just the support of London, the players and the coaching staff, it really made me stay,” Glebe said. “I think I do want to make the jump from Junior A next year, just for my final year, but Junior B London is still in the back of my mind though.” For Glebe, possibly making the jump to the professional level is a dream come true for someone who has been playing lacrosse since he was five years old. After his name was called as a pick by the Rock he was donned with the team’s jersey—something he slept in and didn’t take off until the next morning for work. “Even just hearing my name was amazing and my heart was going berserk and it was an awesome experience. To put on a Rock jersey or a practice jersey would be amazing,” Glebe said. “Growing up you want all these guys autographs, you watch them on TV and it’s always your dream to be that guy on TV one day being part of that organization.” Find us on Facebook: London Community News