In the first expansion draft in 10 years for the National Lacrosse League, the Philadelphia Wings and San Diego Seals each selected nine players to build their rosters for their inaugural 2018-19 seasons.

With the first overall selection, the Wings drafted Toronto Rock forward Brett Hickey, who ranked fifth on the team in points (40) in 2017. The Seals followed with their first pick in fellow Rock forward Turner Evans, who tallied 20 goals, 52 assists and 108 loose balls in his two seasons with Toronto.

“Today marks another exciting step for the franchise,” Wings head coach and general manager Paul Day said. “Our goal is to build a team with players that have Philadelphia ties, strong character, and can compete year in and year out. With our selections today, we are poised to put a team on the turf that will win games and make Philadelphia proud.” 

With the 1st pick in the 2018 @NLL Expansion Draft, the Wings select @hix1122! #PhillyGetsItsWings pic.twitter.com/qd7zyZR4Zh

— Philadelphia Wings (@NLLwings) July 16, 2018

The next two picks for each team hail from the 2017 and 2018 NLL champions, the Georgia Swarm and Saskatchewan Rush. 

Going third and fifth overall, Swarm forwards Kiel Matisz and Jordan Hall, the later being a 12-year NLL veteran having played for the Wings from 2013-2014, went to Philadelphia. 

San Diego selected Rush defensemen Brett Mydske and Adrian Sorichetti in the second and third rounds, respectively. 

Several players with Philly connections returned home, including New England forward and Glenside, Pa., native Matt Rambo, going 11th overall to the Wings. Philadelphia also gained an extra man in Buffalo defenseman Zac Reid when it selected Vaughn Harris in the eighth round.

Plus, in a trade with Buffalo, after selecting Colorado defenseman Bryce Sweeting in the fifth round, the Seals gained a second-round selection in the 2018 entry draft and defenseman Ethan Schott.

“We’ve drafted a strong foundation,” said Seals general manager and head coach Patrick Merrill. “All nine of the players are quality guys on and off the floor. I couldn’t be more excited to build around this group.”

No current NLL team was allowed to lose more than two players. 

With the second overall pick in the 2018 NLL Expansion Draft, the San Diego Seals select Turner Evans. Welcome to the team, Turner! #NLLExpansionDraft #SurfacingSoon pic.twitter.com/XR6GmZmKcD

— San Diego Seals (@SanDiegoLax) July 16, 2018

2018 NLL Expansion Draft

Round 1

1. Philadelphia – Brett Hickey, F, Toronto Rock
2. San Diego – Turner Evans, F, Toronto Rock 

Round 2 

3. Philadelphia – Kiel Matisz, F, Georgia Swarm
4. San Diego – Brett Mydske, D, Saskatechewan Rush 

Round 3

5. Philadelphia – Jordan Hall, F, Georgia Swarm
6. San Diego – Adrian Sorichetti, D, Saskatechewan Rush 

Round 4

7. Philadelphia – Josh Currier, F, Rochester Knighthawks
8. San Diego – Cam Holding, D, Colorado Mammoth 

Round 5

9. Philadelphia – Frank Brown, F, Rochester Knighthawks
10. San Diego – Bryce Sweeting, D, Colorado Mammoth*
*Traded to Buffalo Bandits for Ethan Scott and second-round selection in 2018 NLL Entry Draft.

Round 6

11. Philadelphia – Matt Rambo, F, New England Blackwolves
12. San Diego – Frank Scigliano, G, Calgary Roughnecks

Round 7

13. Philadelphia – Anthony Joaquim, D, New England Blackwolves
14. San Diego – Garrett McIntosh, D, Calgary Roughnecks

Round 8

15. Philadelphia – Vaughn Harris, F, Buffalo Bandits*
16. San Diego – Casey Jackson, F, Vancouver Stealth
*Also acquired Buffalo defenseman Zac Reid with this pick.

Round 9

17. Philadelphia – Davide DiRuscio, G, Buffalo Bandits
18. San Diego – Brendan Ranford, D, Vancouver Stealth

Here's a look at the @NLLwings & @SanDiegoLax selections in the Expansion Draft... who do you think won? pic.twitter.com/UKrA5DgV3k

— Tyson L. W. Geick (@TysonLW) July 16, 2018

Here's who each team lost in the @NLL Expansion Draft:

BUF: DiRuscio/Harris
CAL: Scigliano/McIntosh
COL: Holding/Sweeting
GEO: Matisz/Hall
NE: Joaquim/Rambo
ROC: Currier/Brown
SAS: Mydske/Sorichetti
TOR: Hickey/Evans
VAN: Jackson/Ranford #NLLExpansionDraft

— Pat Gregoire (@PGreggy) July 16, 2018