Feb 2, 2007 -- Goals. The Coquitlam Adanacs need them, and Wednesday's Western Lacrosse Association junior draft should help get them some.

It could also land them a home-grown favourite in the process.

Coquitlam native and Jr. Adanacs graduate Steve McKinlay could very well become a Sr. ‘A’ Adanac when the team chooses fourth overall at the Firefighters Club in Burnaby

Unlike past years when Adanacs general manager Les Wingrove kept his draft cards tighter to his chest than his shirt buttons, he offered a good look at his ace via the phone Thursday. And it looked exactly like the six-foot-one, 175-pound McKinlay.

“If Steve’s available, in all likelihood we’ll take him,” Wingrove said. “He’s a good all-around ball-player who can put the ball in the net.”

Wingrove doubts he’ll have a shot at drafting Tom Johnson, Ilija Gajic or Jamie Shewchuk, who are generally considered the top-three draft-eligible prospects. Johnson, a Delta Jr. Islanders grad, could go No. 1 to the Langley Thunder, leaving former Burnaby Jr. Lakers Gajic and Shewchuk –– the B.C. Jr. ‘A’ league scoring champ last year –– presumably bound for the New Westminster Salmonbellies, who hold the No. 2 and No. 3 selections.

McKinlay, who’s currently on a university field lacrosse scholarship with the Ohio State Buckeyes, may be the next most stick-gifted player, although Wingrove said Jr. Lakers’ grad, Cliff Smith, “is another good all-around player.”

Regardless, the Adanacs need scoring. They averaged a fraction over 10 goals per game last season, down substantially from the 14 per outing they averaged in the 2005 campaign. The next draft-eligible proven scoring threat after Johnson, Gajic and Shewchuk is ex-New West Jr. Salmonbellie Curtis Hoyland, who clicked for 52 points, including 29 goals, in 18 outings last year.

“We can use a little more scoring than we had last year, but whether we get it through the draft or through free agency has yet to be seen,” Wingrove said.

McKinlay racked up 23 points in just nine appearances with the Jr. A’s last season. He was called up by the Sr. A’s for two regular-season contests, in which he scored twice, and their five playoff games, where he managed two goals and one assist.

Wingrove conceded having McKinlay from Coquitlam would be an added draw for Adanacs’ fans.

“Anytime you get the opportunity to get a good ball player from the local area, it’s always a bonus,” Wingrove said. “You don’t want to get Coquitlam talent just to get it, but it’s something you take advantage of if it’s there.”

Salmonbellies general manager Dan Richardson said he’s considering McKinlay “very strongly,” although it’s likely he’ll take Gajic and Shewchuk ahead of him. New West got the second and third overall selections through off-season trades involving Langley and the Maple Ridge Burrards.

“[Gajic] is the kid we made the deal for,” Richardson said.

As for the small-sized, hugely-gifted Shewchuk, he has already proved his worth with the National Lacrosse League’s Colorado Mammoth, with whom he has 17 points, including nine goals, in five games thus far.

“Some people say he’s somewhat on the small size, but I wouldn’t put too much into that. Just look at what he’s doing already in the NLL,” Richardson said.

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