Sign up for the latest news & updates

© 2024 USA Lacrosse. All Rights Reserved.

Chase Scanlan, the former Syracuse lacrosse player whose college career ended after he was arrested on domestic violence-related charges, has signed a free agent contract with the National Lacrosse League's Vancouver Warriors, the team announced on social media Tuesday.

Scanlan once projected as one of the sport's next big stars. A Seneca Nation citizen from Irving, N.Y., he was an All-American as a freshman at Loyola in 2019 before he transferred to Syracuse, where he wore the hallowed No. 22 jersey.

Scanlan was Syracuse's top goal scorer during the shortened 2020 season and was a preseason All-American in 2021. He played in just nine games, however, before he was suspended, reinstated and then suspended indefinitely following his May 2021 arrest.

Scanlan was charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief and second-degree harassment stemming from a physical altercation with a woman at his apartment the previous month. Court documents indicated the victim had bruised ribs and that Scanlan broke her cell phone. A photo of a hole in the wall also surfaced in the investigation.

Scanlan’s teammates had threatened to walk out on practice when he was reinstated prior to his arrest. On the day of his arraignment, several Syracuse players wore athletic tape on their helmets inscribed with the word “1OVE” or showed similar displays of support for the One Love Foundation, which educates young people about abusive relationships, during a game at the Carrier Dome.

Scanlan was arrested again four months later for driving drunk with a suspended license. He had entered the NCAA transfer portal but a third college team never materialized. He declared for the 2021 NLL Entry Draft but was not selected.

According to the Syracuse Post-Standard, Scanlan was on track to have the criminal charges against him dismissed in April upon the completion of a 14-week domestic violence program.

Scanlan moved to British Columbia and resurrected his playing career this summer with the Langley Thunder of the Western Lacrosse Association. He has 14 goals and 24 assists in 11 games for the Thunder, who won the WLA championship and are set to play the Major Series Lacrosse champion Peterborough Lakers in the best-of-seven Mann Cup series starting Friday in Ontario.

“After Chase had settled in BC, he reached out and contacted the team, looking for an opportunity to play lacrosse in the WLA,” the Langley Thunder told Inside Lacrosse in June. “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.”

“Ultimately it was decided that the team would give Chase an opportunity to play lacrosse, within parameters set and monitored by the organization,” the team added. “The organization believes that Chase is committed to delivering upon his words, and hope that he makes the most of his opportunity.”

Scanlan, a forward, was one of two free agents the Vancouver Warriors signed Tuesday. They also inked defender Harrison Smith. There was no statement with the announcement.