Ilija Gajic wanted to make a Mammoth move into the National Lacrosse League, which he did literally by being selected second overall, but he’ll have to settle, for now at least, at being a Knighthawk.

The former Burnaby Jr. Lakers captain and two-time playoff MVP for the New Westminster Salmonbellies, had wanted to join older brother Nenad with the Colorado Mammoth, especially since he’d been going to the University of Denver the past couple of years.

But the Rochester Knighthawks, who owned the first two picks, took easterner Sid Smith and Gajic to start Wednesday’s draft off. Colorado didn’t get to pick until fifth, when they took Gajic’s younger brother Alex.

“I’ve got no problem with Rochester,” said Gajic following Wednesday’s 10-8 Salmonbellies victory over the Brampton Excelsiors in Game 5 of the Mann Cup at Queen’s Park Arena on Wednesday.

At that point he hadn’t talked to Rochester or decided if we would play for the Knighthawks. “I’m not 100 per cent sure.”

All of the Gajics grew up in Cariboo Heights and played junior for Burnaby. Nenad is also with the Salmonbellies, but Alex was taken in this year’s Western Lacrosse Association draft by the Langley Thunder, although he has yet to play for them.

Colorado also took ex-Jr. Laker Cliff Smith fourth overall. The Toronto Rock took two Jr. Lakers in the first round, selecting former B.C. Junior A scoring champ Garrett Billings sixth overall and Stephen LeBlanc 11th. Both played this season for the Thunder.

In keeping with the former Jr. Lakers theme, the Mammoth picked up Brad Richardson in the second round and Shaun Dhaliwal in the third.

Faceoff specialist Bob Snider, another Burnaby junior, was taken in the second round by the Philadelphia Wings joining his older brother Geoff.

In the third round, the Edmonton Rush took New West junior Brett Mydske, the BCJALL defensive player of the year, while the Washington Stealth selected former Jr. Laker goalie Ray Hodgkinson.

ggranger@burnabynewsleader.com