Warriors sign Chase Scanlan after both team & league investigate player’s past & present
Vancouver Warriors (Photo: Jaclyn McKee)
Yesterday, the Vancouver Warriors signed Chase Scanlan to a one-year contract.
The National Lacrosse League transaction sparked significant outcry on social media due to Scanlan’s controversial past. A similar social skewering occurred earlier this summer when Scanlan signed with the Western Lacrosse Association’s Langley Thunder.
The Lax Mag has learned that both the Warriors and the NLL have performed in-depth investigations into Scanlan’s legal past and current personal situation prior to a contract being offered to the player.
For those unaware of Scanlan’s recent legal troubles, here’s a timeline of events going back to a domestic incident on April 17, 2021.
Scanlan, a second-year sophomore attackman with Syracuse during the 2021 collegiate season (he previously played his freshman year at Loyola), was arrested on May 7, 2021 for what Syracuse.com described as a “misdemeanor domestic violence-related charge”. Syrcacuse.com further reported:
“The arrest stems from an April 17 domestic incident at a South Campus apartment. Scanlan is accused of destroying a woman’s phone and a physical altercation with her, the DA said.
“The misdemeanor criminal mischief charge stems from her broken phone.
“Scanlan is separately charged with harassment, a violation, in connection with the physical altercation, the DA said. Harassment is a non-criminal charge, akin to a traffic ticket. Under state law, Scanlan cannot be charged with an assault unless there are provable injuries from the dispute; physically attacking someone is not enough.”
Chase Scanlan, Langley Thunder (Photo: Langley Events Centre)
An in-depth piece by The Daily Orange recounts the victim’s statements in a police report regarding her relationship with Scanlan, making multiple claims of domestic violence and anger management issues. Click here to read the article. As mentioned previously, only the incident regarding the destruction of the victim’s phone and harassment were chargeable offenses with the evidence police had. No assault charges were ever filed.
Scanlan was suspended by the school two days after the incident. Syracuse players would later protest his reinstatement, team captains threatening that players would walk off the field if Scanlan was ever brought back. Instead, Scanlan would be suspended again, not playing for Syracuse for the remainder of the 2021 NCAA season.
He eventually entered the NCAA’s transfer portal, but was not picked up by any programs. At one point a highly touted pro prospect, Scanlan would forgo his remaining collegiate eligibility and declare early for the 2021 NLL Entry Draft, the league informing teams, “If selected, will be subject to investigation and may result in disciplinary action by the League as a result of his off-field conduct.” Scanlan was not drafted on the day.
Just a few weeks after the NLL draft took place, Scanlan was arrested again, this time for driving while intoxicated and driving without a valid driver’s license.
Chase Scanlan, Langley Thunder (Photo: Langley Events Centre)
Earlier this summer, Scanlan signed with the WLA’s Thunder, the team providing the following statement to Inside Lacrosse regarding his status and their decision to sign him this season.
“After Chase had settled in BC, he reached out and contacted the team, looking for an opportunity to play lacrosse in the WLA.
“The Thunder organization listened to his request. Repeatedly in those discussions he acknowledged that he had made mistakes, and while he cannot change the past, he was avoiding consuming any alcohol now, he had completed the programs and was observing all conditions imposed upon him as a result of his past actions, and he was beginning to try to move forward.
“The Thunder governors discussed the situation, then discussed it with staff, and then included some of the player leadership group. Ultimately it was decided that the team would give Chase an opportunity to play lacrosse, within parameters set and monitored by the organization.
“The organization believes that Chase is committed to delivering upon his words, and hope that he makes the most of his opportunity.”
The Lax Mag has learned that the Warriors’ and NLL’s investigation included thorough in-person interviews with Scanlan and telephone interviews with his lawyers. It has been confirmed through court documents that all charges against Scanlan have been dismissed, the former Syracuse player completing all court-mandated programs related to his case. Similar assurances Scanlan provided the Thunder regarding his previous reckless behaviour and drinking issues were also apparently communicated to the Warriors and league. Sources confirmed with The Lax Mag that Scanlan has made significant lifestyle changes over the past year.
Scanlan, who is just days away from representing Langley at the 2022 Mann Cup against the iconic Peterborough Lakers, had an extremely productive WLA regular season (29G, 15A) and playoffs (14G, 24A) while suiting up for the Thunder.
A standout scorer while attending Silver Creek Central High School in Chautauqua County in Western New York, Scanlan also spent two seasons playing Junior A lacrosse for the Coquitlam Adanacs (BCJALL), winning a Minto Cup with the team in 2018 while also leading the Adanacs in point production (14G, 16A) during the national tournament.
NLL team training camps typically start in late October.