Sam La Roue, the 23-year-old athlete from South Surrey, B.C., is making a surprising return to football despite recently focusing on professional lacrosse. Following the Western Mustangs’ 51-31 loss to Wilfrid Laurier in the 2024 Yates Cup, La Roue considered his football career finished. However, he will suit up once again at the CFL’s invitational combine on Friday at the University of Waterloo’s Feridun Hamdullahpur Field House, showcasing his talent with hopes of advancing to the national CFL combine in Edmonton later this month.
Transitioning Between Sports: Lacrosse and Football Training
Currently a defenceman for the Halifax Thunderbirds in the National Lacrosse League (NLL), La Roue has spent the past several years balancing professional lacrosse with his earlier football career. Despite a break from gridiron since 2024, he acknowledges the physical and strategic similarities between the two sports, which have helped maintain his athletic edge. The combine will test his strength, speed, and agility through various drills, including the 40-yard dash, bench press, and positional one-on-one challenges, all observed by scouts from every CFL team.
Towards my last season at Western, I realized it (football) was probably going to be over and I’d kind of come to terms with that,
La Roue said Tuesday.
But that last game against Laurier was a bit of a struggle for me in terms of wrapping my head around that was going to be my last experience playing football.
He described the excitement of returning to football this way:
It’s exciting to have another opportunity to put the pads on again and go compete on the football field.
La Roue’s Football and Lacrosse Background
La Roue first joined the Western Mustangs in 2020; however, pandemic disruptions canceled that season. He played from 2021 to 2024, initially as a quarterback before transitioning to a receiver role, while contributing on special teams. His time at Western included notable achievements such as winning the Vanier Cup in 2021 and securing two Yates Cup championships in 2022 and 2023.
Parallel to his university football career, La Roue was selected 19th overall in the 2020 NLL draft by the Buffalo Bandits. He spent over three years with Buffalo, playing on championship-winning squads in 2022 and 2023, before being traded to the Ottawa Black Bears. Recently, Halifax added him to their practice roster. Across 15 career NLL games, La Roue has contributed five assists and collected 22 loose balls.
Adapting Skills Between Two Sports
La Roue points out the overlapping footwork and defensive techniques between lacrosse and football, particularly noting how his lacrosse experience shaped his ability in blocking and special teams play.
There are parallels regarding how you move your feet and body and play defence in lacrosse to being in a blocking position in football,
he explained.
I think why I was successful playing special teams — especially the return game — and blocking as a receiver (at Western), a lot of that was due to the skill I developed playing defence in lacrosse and being able to take away angles.
Professional Maturity from Lacrosse Experience
In addition to athletic skills, La Roue credits his time in professional lacrosse with helping him develop a mature mindset, different from college sports environments.
I’ve been in a professional locker room for the past five years,
he said.
I’ve kind of developed that maturity aspect from being around men who have kids versus a college locker room.
I’ve been able to kind of develop what a rookie would typically go through … I’ve been able to work out those kinks, if you will.
He explained the demanding lifestyle of pro lacrosse players, who often hold full-time jobs alongside their athletic commitments. Alongside his athletic career, La Roue works as an associate at a financial advisory firm in Toronto, juggling his responsibilities with rigorous lacrosse schedules.
It’s a bit of a grind but it’s a great sport,
La Roue commented.
I do think (lacrosse) will gain some traction in the future because it’s such an entertaining game to watch.
Focus on Present Opportunity Over Future Prospects
Looking ahead, La Roue is eligible for the 2026 CFL draft scheduled for April 28. Nonetheless, he remains concentrated on the immediate chance to compete at the invitational combine rather than dwelling on draft possibilities.
No, I’m honestly just taking this as an opportunity to put the pads on again and compete as a football player,
he said.
Getting drafted would be awesome and going to a camp would be great, I’d love that.
But I’m not focusing on that, just more on what we’ll have going on Friday.
Significance of La Roue’s Return and Upcoming Combine
La Roue’s unexpected return to football after establishing himself in professional lacrosse offers an intriguing storyline ahead of the CFL combine. His unique background, combining diverse athletic experiences and professional maturity, could attract interest from CFL teams seeking versatile and disciplined players. The March 27 combine will be a critical moment for La Roue to demonstrate his athletic ability and potentially revive his football career at a professional level.
As scouts closely monitor the invitational participants, La Roue’s performance could set the stage for a rare crossover success story between two Canadian professional sports leagues, potentially influencing how future athletes balance multi-sport careers.
