Chris Attwood finally played his first NLL game more than two years after his professional lacrosse journey started. The 24 year old scored a goal in Rochester’s preseason opener at Blue Cross Arena on December 6, marking his return to the team that drafted him, and then cut him, in 2012. That same team has now named him to their 2015 roster.
The professional success has been a long time coming for the man who has won championships at other levels. In the Knighthawks, he joins a team ready to make their bid for a fourth consecutive NLL title.
Attwood has been a part of four championships in his career, winning a Founders Cup (Jr. B) with the Six Nations Rebels, a President’s Cup (Sr. B) with the St. Catharines Saints, and two Creator’s Cups (CLAX) with the Ohsweken Demons and Iroquois Ironmen. Individually, the offensive player has been making a name for himself in the Ontario leagues and Canadian Lacrosse league, winning scoring titles and making all-star teams.
In 2012, CLAX’s inaugural season, he won the league scoring title, was named Offensive Player of the Year and Most Outstanding Player, and was voted to the first all-star team. In the playoffs, he was MVP of the Creator’s Cup championship. Of note, his brother Mike Attwood was named the 2012 CLAX season MVP. In 2013, he made the second all-star team. This past season, he once again led CLAX in scoring and made the first all-star team as well as being named Most Outstanding Player.
Success also followed him to Sr. B beginning in 2013, when he was voted Rookie of the Year and was the top scorer in the President’s Cup championship. He also led the Sr. B league in scoring in 2014.
Rochester cut Attwood in 2012 because they felt he was too small for the pro game – he needed to add weight. His short stature of 5’9” was not appealing to the Knighthawks either. However, Attwood has added some pounds, and made himself a name that the NLL just cannot ignore. Should Attwood stick out the year in the NLL, CLAX will be missing one of their brightest stars. As much as CLAX has established itself as a great league for players, the NLL is where they all eventually want to be. For Attwood, that dream has finally come true.
