Semiahmoo Rock alumni selected in pro lacrosse draft
Tre Leclaire, Sam La Roue picked by National Lacrosse League teams
NICK GREENIZAN Sep. 21, 2020 12:00 a.m. SPORTS
A pair of Semiahmoo Rock lacrosse alumni have the pro game in their sights after being selected in the National Lacrosse League draft last week.
Last Thursday (Sept. 17), Tre Leclaire was selected fourth overall by the San Diego Seals in the NLL draft, and a short time later, Sam La Roue was picked in the second round, 19th overall, by the Buffalo Bandits.
Both players were teammates with the New Westminster Salmonbellies of the BC Junior ‘A’ Lacrosse League last season, though La Roue – who was the youngest player in last week’s draft – only spent a few games with New West after a late-season loan from the Burnaby Lakers, who selected La Roue first overall in the BCJALL draft in January of 2019. His playing rights have since transferred back to Burnaby.
Only five Semiahmoo Rock members have ever been selected in the NLL draft; Adam and Carter Dickson were both chosen by the Calgary Roughnecks in 2018, 23rd and 45th overall, respectively, and Spencer Bromley, who went on to play lacrosse at McGill University, was picked in the fifth round, 48th overall, by the Saskatchewan Rush in 2016.
While Leclaire’s selection at No. 4 overall was not exactly a shock – the Ohio State University product has long been a star in both box and field lacrosse – the addition of La Roue among the draft eligible players was a bit of a surprise.
Normally, players enter the NLL draft after their junior year of university lacrosse – usually at the NCAA level. La Roue, however, is just 18 and in his first season of post-secondary, but with two major differences than most of his fellow draftees: he attends school in Canada, and plays football.
The former Earl Marriott Secondary quarterback is in his first year with the Western University Mustangs – where two of his uncles formerly played. In order to qualify for the NLL draft, he had to renounce his NCAA eligibility. He can, however, continue his university football career in Canada.
The 2020-’21 U Sports football season has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I realized I wasn’t going to be playing lacrosse (in the NCAA) because I’m playing football here in Canada, so I decided, why not enter the draft? There was nothing really to lose,” La Roue told Peace Arch News.
A draft recap posted to the BCJALL website commends the Bandits for planning ahead by selecting La Roue.
“Good franchises plan ahead in the NLL… and La Roue represents the forward-thinking approach Buffalo has. He may not crack the roster right away, but the kid has at least four more years in junior, and there’s plenty of room to grow.”
In his rookie season in the BCJALL in 2019, La Roue tallied 14 goals and added 25 assists.
In another glowing review of La Roue’s game, insidelacrosse.com called the South Surrey teenager, who is six-foot-three and 200 pounds, “a physical specimen who draws rave reviews for his potential from folks who have been watching him play for awhile.”