Defenseman Paxton Leroux and forward Mark Vradenburg agree to terms with Rochester.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Rochester Knighthawks announced on Friday that the team has signed a defenseman and a forward to contracts.
Defenseman Paxton Leroux agreed to a 2-year deal while forward Mark Vradenburg signed a 1-year contract.
Paxton Leroux
Referred to “as being tough as nails” on draft day, the former professional hockey player has just the right attributes for the Rochester defense.
“He’s 6-foot-4, 215. That sounds like a pretty good fit for our left side,” said Knighthawks Owner and General Manager Curt Styres. “He’s in great shape and brings a lot to the table. He’s strong, gritty and tough.”
“He is a tough, physical defender who has sound defensive positioning,” said Knighthawks head coach Mike Hasen. “He will be a physical presence on the backend.”
Leroux will attend his first National Lacrosse League training camp in October as he makes his return to the game. The Peterborough, Ontario native was originally drafted in the fifth round (40th overall) by the Minnesota Swarm in the 2014 NLL Entry Draft.
“It’s a sigh of relief (signing with the Knighthawks),” said the 25-year-old. “I just started up again and, especially going there, it couldn’t be much better.”
Leroux has spent the past three years playing pro hockey in the ECHL, where he racked up 254 penalty minutes and five points in 75 games. Before joining the Quad City Mallards in 2014-15, he played for the London Knights and the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). The punishing forward even earned two invites to the NY Rangers’ training camp.
“It was pretty cool to see the work you have to do to get to that level,” he said. “Just going on the private planes was a trip itself, to be honest.”
This year, Leroux will give lacrosse another shot after choosing the hockey route in 2014. A lacrosse defenseman by trade, he played his Junior “A” lacrosse with the Peterborough Lakers. From 2011-14, Leroux appeared in 27 games and posted two points and 226 penalty minutes. In the summer of 2018, he played for the Ennismore James Gang and notched two goals and 100 penalty minutes in 13 games. Being with the Senior “B” club helped him to get reacclimated to the box game.
“The good thing is that I was playing hockey, so I kept myself in pretty good shape,” he said. “I had really good coaches there that helped me transition back from hockey.”
Residing in one of the lacrosse meccas of Canada allowed the full-time hockey player to remain close to his second favorite sport.
“Being from Peterborough, I have had the stick in my hands because everyone is always playing in the summer,” he said. “It was just getting out there and getting comfortable with the defense and the X’s and O’s side of things.”
Leroux, who has been attending training camps most of his life, will now prepare for an NLL camp. Knighthawks defenseman and 2018 NLL Rookie of the Year Jake Withers, who played parts of four seasons with Leroux, gave fans a preview of what to expect from his former Laker teammate.
“‘Pax’ is a hardworking and gritty player who will do anything for his teammates,” said Withers. “He’s a very smart defender, which will help him fit into our systems. He’s also a real big team guy who is always trying to bring everyone together on the floor and in the locker room. I’m excited to play beside him in camp and come together as teammates.”
Mark Vradenburg
The high-scoring forward will get his first chance to crack a National Lacrosse League roster when he comes to camp in October.
“It feels amazing just to be given the opportunity,” he said. “I am ecstatic to join the Knighthawks and play with the best players in the world and show them what I’ve got.”
The news comes days before Vradenburg will depart for his fifth Senior “B” President’s Cup tournament. The Ottawa, Ontario native recently helped the Capital Region Axemen sweep the Kahnawake Mohawks to win the Quebec Senior Lacrosse League (QSLL) title.
“I am excited for him, and I am sure he is going to do well there,” said Styres.
“For the past couple of years, we have been keeping an eye on him,” added Styres. “We kept our options open, and this season he led his team in scoring. Like so many other players, with the new teams coming in, all these guys need is an opportunity and they are going to run with it.”
With the Axemen this season, Vradenburg posted 18 goals and 30 assists in 12 regular season games. His 48 points were good enough for second in the QSLL and Three Nations Lacrosse League (TNLL) scoring race. Over the past two seasons, he has recorded 110 points (45+65) in 24 games with Capital Region. In 2017, he completed his finest season, winning the league’s scoring title with 62 points (27+35).
This winter, Vradenburg also displayed his offensive abilities with the Peterborough Timbermen of the Arena Lacrosse League (ALL). The 25-year-old led the Timbermen in assists and points, while his 43 helpers were fifth best in the league. His 58 points tied him for 10th in Arena Lacrosse League.
“Mark brings a good skill set that can translate well to the pro game. He also has a very good game IQ,” said Knighthawks President of Lacrosse Operations Jake Henhawk. “He has been able to produce at every level, and we are excited to see what he can bring to the Knighthawks.”
Before joining the ALL, the 6-foot-1, 190-pound forward played two seasons in the Canadian Lacrosse League (CLax). In his inaugural campaign of 2015, he registered 16 points for the Niagara Lock Monsters. In his second year, Vradenburg tallied eight goals and three assists in eight games and helped the Durham TurfDogs capture the Creator’s Cup.
At the collegiate level, he played three years with the Brock Badgers in the Canadian University Field Lacrosse Association (CUFLA). In his senior season, he connected for 24 points (14+10) in 12 games as the Badgers advanced to the 2014 CUFLA Semifinals. In 2011, he made a trip to the Baggataway Cup Finals.
At the NLL level, Vradenburg attended an open camp with the New England Black Wolves, but this will be his first time attending an NLL training camp. When he joins the Knighthawks, he plans to use his extensive lacrosse background to compete with other prospects and seasoned veterans.
“In terms of the experience I bring, I have played with and against some top-quality ballplayers,” he said. “With that (in mind), I try to watch and learn from their play and apply it to my own game. It’s taking that experience and using it to do my best at camp.”