Blaze Riorden Bio
Blaze Riorden is an American professional lacrosse player recognized as one of the most accomplished goaltenders of his generation. He plays as a goaltender for the Carolina Chaos of the Premier Lacrosse League and as a forward for the Philadelphia Wings of the National Lacrosse League, captaining both teams. Riorden is widely regarded as one of the greatest goalies of all time and is the first goaltender to win three consecutive Oren Lyons Goalie of the Year awards. He is also one of only two field lacrosse goalies to win league MVP at the professional level.
Born in Fairport, New York, Riorden has built a reputation for blending traditional goalkeeping with unconventional playmaking ability. Standing 6 feet 0 inches tall and weighing 215 pounds, he is known for his butterfly style, his stick skills, and his ability to generate transition opportunities for teammates.
Early Life and Background
Blaze Riorden was born on February 13, 1994, in Fairport, New York. He is the son of Mike and Jeannie Riorden and has one brother, Connor. Riorden grew up in a household with strong ties to the sport, as his family held season tickets to the Rochester Knighthawks.
He began playing lacrosse at the age of four as an attackman. As a child, he accidentally injured his team’s goalie with a shot and stepped into the cage, splitting time between attack and goaltender throughout his youth. At Fairport High School, Riorden earned three varsity letters in lacrosse and three in football, winning two Section V state championships. He committed to play college lacrosse at the University at Albany, where he would have the chance to play both in goal and on man-up offense.
Path to Professional Lacrosse
Riorden’s path to the professional ranks began during his college summers, when teammate Ty Thompson invited him to the Akwesasne Reservation. There he first played box lacrosse as a forward for the Akwesasne Indians in Junior B competition. He returned every summer throughout his collegiate career and, after finishing at Albany, traveled to Brampton, Ontario, to compete in Senior A box lacrosse.
His early box experience helped him earn a spot with the Buffalo Bandits of the National Lacrosse League in 2017, where he played nine games before being released. In 2016, he was also drafted 51st overall by the Rochester Rattlers in the MLL Draft, setting the stage for his professional field career. After his release from Buffalo, he joined the Philadelphia Wings for their inaugural 2018 season and would later be named captain of the Wings ahead of the 2023-24 campaign.
Blaze Riorden Career
Collegiate Career (2013-2016)
Riorden started 18 games in goal as a freshman at the University at Albany, posting 13 wins, the second-most in program history, and earning spots on the America East All-Rookie Team and the Second Team All America East. As a sophomore, he finished third nationally in saves per game and twelfth in save percentage, leading the America East in both categories while earning first-team all-conference honors. He backstopped Albany to its first NCAA Tournament win in seven years, making 13 saves and allowing only six goals in a first-round victory over Loyola, and scored his first career goal on man-up offense against Bryant.
In his junior year, Riorden led the America East in save percentage, saves per game, and goals against average, making 214 saves. He contributed to Albany’s first-ever shutout against UMass Lowell and made national headlines for a coast-to-coast goal against Cornell in the NCAA Tournament, earning an ESPY Award nomination for Best Play. As a senior, he set Albany’s career saves record, was named a Tewaaraton Award finalist, and earned Third Team All-American, First Team All-Conference, and America East Defensive Player of the Year recognition, finishing his career as Albany’s all-time leader with 849 saves.
MLL and PLL Breakthrough (2016-2020)
Drafted 51st overall by the Rochester Rattlers in 2016, Riorden served primarily as a backup to John Galloway during his first two Major League Lacrosse seasons. He saw more action in his third season after the team relocated to Dallas, making his first career start in a 15-9 win over the Chesapeake Bayhawks, recording 16 saves.
In 2019, Riorden became one of the original members of Paul Rabil’s Premier Lacrosse League, being assigned to Chaos Lacrosse Club. He earned All-Star honors in his first PLL season and won the inaugural Oren Lyons Goalie of the Year Award. He repeated as Oren Lyons winner the following season while helping Chaos reach the PLL Championship Game, and was later named a 2021 All-Star Game captain and a finalist for the Jim Brown MVP Award, though an injury kept him out of that contest.
Carolina Chaos Era (2019-Present)
Riorden has remained with the Carolina Chaos since the PLL’s founding, serving as one of the franchise’s cornerstone players. He has continued to collect individual accolades, including his record third consecutive Oren Lyons Goalie of the Year award, cementing his place as the most decorated goaltender in league history. His leadership has been a defining presence for the Chaos defense.
On June 6, 2025, Riorden set the PLL single-game save record with 25 saves in a victory over the Denver Outlaws, underscoring his elite shot-stopping ability. He also serves as captain of the Philadelphia Wings in the NLL, balancing two professional seasons across leagues.
Playing Style and Strengths
Riorden has been described as a once-in-a-generation talent by the Premier Lacrosse League. He employs a butterfly style reminiscent of hockey goaltenders, becoming one of the first field lacrosse goalies to use the technique. His background as an attackman gives him exceptional stick skills, allowing him to create transition opportunities and contribute offensively in addition to his defensive responsibilities.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Riorden’s signature moments is his coast-to-coast goal against Cornell in the NCAA Tournament, which earned an ESPY Award nomination for Best Play. He became the first goalie to win three consecutive Oren Lyons Goalie of the Year awards and set the PLL single-game save record with 25 stops against the Denver Outlaws in 2025. He also represented the United States at the 2015 and 2019 World Indoor Lacrosse Championships, winning bronze medals on both occasions as the only college player on the 2015 roster.
Blaze Riorden Career Wins
Blaze Riorden has accumulated significant accolades across collegiate, box, and field lacrosse. He is a three-time Oren Lyons Goalie of the Year in the PLL, a Third Team All-American, a three-time First Team All America East selection, and the America East Defensive Player of the Year.
Premier Lacrosse League Highlights
Riorden has won three consecutive Oren Lyons Goalie of the Year awards in the PLL, the first goaltender to achieve the feat. He has been named a PLL All-Star and reached the PLL Championship Game with the Carolina Chaos. In 2025, he set the PLL single-game save record with 25 saves in a win over the Denver Outlaws.
Other Wins and Performances
Riorden won two Section V state championships at Fairport High School and was a Tewaaraton Award finalist during his senior year at Albany. Internationally, he won bronze medals with Team USA at the 2015 and 2019 World Indoor Lacrosse Championships and was part of the United States squad that won the 2023 World Lacrosse Championship in San Diego. He was also a finalist for the Jim Brown MVP Award in the PLL.
Blaze Riorden Family
Family Background and Lacrosse Lineage
Blaze Riorden was raised in Fairport, New York, by his parents Mike and Jeannie Riorden. His family held season tickets to the Rochester Knighthawks, which helped shape his early passion for the sport. He has one brother, Connor.
Personal Life
Riorden continues to be active in the Rochester and Fairport community, where he remains closely tied to his family roots. His dual role as a PLL goaltender and NLL forward reflects the diverse lacrosse background nurtured by his family from an early age.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has been a defining year for Blaze Riorden. On June 6, 2025, he set the Premier Lacrosse League single-game save record with 25 saves in a win over the Denver Outlaws, further cementing his reputation as the league’s premier goaltender. He also secured his third consecutive Oren Lyons Goalie of the Year award, becoming the first goalie in league history to do so.
Riorden continued to serve as captain of the Carolina Chaos, anchoring one of the PLL’s most consistent defenses. His leadership and shot-stopping have positioned the Chaos as contenders in the PLL playoff picture heading into the closing stretch of the season.
With his unique blend of goalkeeping excellence and offensive creativity, Riorden remains a central figure for the Chaos and one of the most influential players in the league. His 2025 campaign reinforces his standing as the most successful goalie of his generation and a transformative presence in modern professional lacrosse.
