Cam Milligan agrees to a 1-year contract with Rochester.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Rochester Knighthawks announced today that they have signed forward Cam Milligan to a 1-year deal. Cam joins the team where his dad, Jim, once served as the Eastern scout.
“Growing up, being a guy from Peterborough, I idolized guys like John Grant Jr. and the Evans (brothers). They were Knighthawks and had great careers there, so I have been a Knighthawks fan since I was a kid,” said Cam Milligan. “I am very excited to be a part of this organization.”
He arrives in Rochester after an impressive rookie season with the Whitby Steelhawks of the Arena Lacrosse League (ALL). Milligan, who was the first overall pick in the 2017 Arena Lacrosse League Draft, finished second in the league in points (79) and assists (49), and fifth in goals (30). He chipped in nine points in one playoff game as the Steelhawks captured the 2018 ALL Championship.
“It just gave me another opportunity to play lacrosse,” he said. “After the draft, I got cut by New England, and I had a little bit of a chip on my shoulder. It gave me a new life to prove myself to everyone that I am a good lacrosse player and have the ability to play. It made me work a little harder, get in shape, and get bigger, stronger and faster.”
Knighthawks Owner and General Manager Curt Styres has built championship-caliber teams with players like Milligan. The 2-time GM of the Year has a knack for signing free agents who develop into key contributors. That list includes Ian Llord, Angus Goodleaf, Scott Campbell, Eric Shewell, Billy Dee Smith, and Luc Magnan.
“We liked him when he was in New England. He has been on our radar since then,” said Styres. “There are so many guys who could be playing. All they need is a shot to get them started. You look at how our team was built and the guys we’ve got, and they have the same story.
“I think guys give it their best shot or they look back and wish they could have done it a different way,” he added. “Then we give them a call, and they realign their priorities, and they become the player they always wanted to be.”
Milligan was selected in the sixth round (54th overall) of the 2017 National Lacrosse League Entry Draft by the Black Wolves. The 23-year-old had a standout 3-year career at the University of Vermont, where he finished third in assists and seventh in points in school history. The Peterborough, Ontario native was a two-time America East All-Conference selection and wrapped up his career with the Catamounts with 170 points (84 +86). In 2017, he was named one of the team captains and had a team-leading 44 points (22+22). In 2015, he was named Vermont’s co-MVP.
At the Junior “A” level, Milligan spent the majority of his six seasons with the hometown Peterborough Lakers. In 2015, he led the Ontario Lacrosse Association in assists (64) and was second in points (98). In 2016, he was traded out west to the Delta Islanders and finished the regular season with five points in three games. During the British Columbia Lacrosse League Playoffs, he erupted for 38 points (13+25) in 12 games. Milligan continued to post impressive numbers as he led the Islanders with 11 points in three Minto Cup games. He concluded his junior career with an impressive 470 points (168+302) in 152 regular season/postseason games.
“He has contributed great numbers in juniors, as well as in his first year in the ALL. He has also played very well at the college level,” said Knighthawks President of Lacrosse Operations Jake Henhawk. “I think he can compete and push for a roster spot. His game will bring instant chemistry with the returning players on the offensive end.”
Milligan has played for the Burnaby Lakers (Western Lacrosse Association) and the Peterborough Lakers (Major Series Lacrosse) during his two years at the Senior “A” level. In 2017, he collected the fourth-most assists in the league with 35, while finishing tied for 10th in points with 51. This summer, Milligan is currently playing in the MSL Finals with the Peterborough Lakers. During the regular season, he collected 10 points in eight games.
In October, Milligan will attend his second training camp in as many years. The righty forward has learned a lot since he was selected in the NLL Draft.
“I can’t wait for training camp,” he said. “It has been a whole year since I played NLL lacrosse. It has been a whole year of me watching my friends play. I am very excited to get back on that floor again and have an opportunity to show what I can do.”