By Staff Writer - Burnaby NewsLeader April 04, 2012

The New Westminster Salmonbellies have snagged a free agent sniper just days after the Western Lacrosse Association gave him his freedom.

The Salmonbellies signed Tom Johnson, who was taken first overall in the 2007 WLA entry draft by the Langley Thunder. He was traded to Burnaby and played a season and a half for the Lakers.

He has not played in the WLA for the past two seasons and had been on the club’s injured reserve or holdout list. Up until 2010, a player on those lists who didn’t play in any other Canadian box lacrosse league could become a free agent. But after the 2010 season, the transfer rules changed so rights of players on those lists would remain with the team that had them.