NLL Insider

Tyler Codron is having a great rookie campaign playing with the Portland Lumberjax of the National Lacrosse League (NLL). He’ll suit up this weekend for the chance to help capture the NLL’s Western Division title and advance to the Champion’s Cup game the weekend of May 16-18.

“He is my choice for rookie of the year,” said Portland GM and head coach Derek Keenan. The ‘Jax have given Codron marquee assignments lately, asking him to defend some of the league’s leading scorers. “He has become our No. 1 shutdown defender. He is very strong and has tremendously quick feet. He is also a very good transition player.”

You’ve already played at a high level, in the Mann Cup championship last summer, but how has the NLL adjustment been for you?
“It’s been pretty good. I’ve found the talent just that much better, and everyone’s so much quicker. Basically, you can’t leave anyone alone for one second or else they’ll get a goal against ya.”

And playing against some of the world’s best like Zywicki last week?
“It’s been very exciting. And it’s also a good feeling that the coaches give me that responsibility to cover the top players in the world. I’m just having such a great time right now.”

Why’d you choose to play defense?
“I don’t know. With football I play defense and I think it just naturally feels better to me. I don’t think I have the stick skills to make it in the league as an offensive guy. And there’s a lot of hitting. I like to hit, so it comes down to that a lot too.”

You mentioned football, which you play at UBC. I’ve actually heard talk that you’re good enough to play that professionally too, in the CFL (Canadian Football League). What’s going on with that?
“Nothing right now, I’m just playing in University. Next year will be the big year to see if I actually have what it takes to make it into the CFL or not. I’m just going to go as it plays right now. Still in University, so nothing special yet… I still have two more years of University football left.”

What are you taking at school? Doing for work?
“History (is the University degree I’m earning). Really I want to be a fire fighter when I’m older… Work-wise, in the summer I mow lawns. It allows me to get outside, not wear a shirt and tan, so it’s nice.”

All right, let’s bring it back to lacrosse. What’s the plan for this weekend? Give the ball to Dawson?!
“I don’t know the offensive plan, but probably that’s what it looks like! No, I don’t know. All of the offensive guys are great players and they all can score. Basically, everyone’s going to have to step up and play their top game in order to beat Calgary. That’s what’s going to have to happen in order for us to move on to the Championship.

Is there a lot of confidence in your dressing room right now?
“There’s confidence in the room, of course. But still I think we’ve all remained level-headed about the situation because we’re not fully there yet. There’s confidence but we’re not cocky.”

What have you learned this season from guys like Dawson and Brodie Merrill?
“Both of those guys are tremendous leaders. As soon as I got there, right away you could see the leadership that just came from them, and their natural talent to play lacrosse it’s amazing. I like playing with Brodie on defense just because you almost know he’s going to be there to help just in case anything happens. His vision on the floor to get the loose balls and everything is just amazing.”

I’m going to sneak one more in. What types of tracks do you guys listen to pre-game?
“(Rookie) Peter Jacobs brings his own music in. We listen to his iPod so it’s a variation of different songs… There’s some rock and rap in there.”

Nice. Good luck this weekend.
Thank you.

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