Mike Board’s biggest decision at the National Lacrosse League Entry Draft came before the Calgary Roughnecks called a single name.
The general manager chose to be bold.
Board sent the 10th overall pick and a 2027 first-round selection to San Diego for No. 5, vaulting the Roughnecks into position to grab Syracuse scoring star Joey Spallina. For a club coming off a 6-12 season, the message was clear: improving the offence could not be left to chance.
Calgary did finish with three wins in its final four games, offering a glimpse of momentum. But that surge arrived after the playoff door had effectively closed, leaving Board to find more finishing talent before the Saddledome farewell season begins in December.
Spallina offers production in massive quantities. The new Roughneck finished his NCAA Syracuse career with 143 goals and 333 points in 71 games. He earned second-team All-American recognition and joined an exclusive seven-player group in Orange history with both 100 goals and 100 assists.
His box-lacrosse credentials include helping the United States claim silver at the 2024 world championship. He also entered the draft with professional field experience from playing with the Maryland Whipsnakes.
The price of moving five places was steep, particularly with another first-rounder leaving Calgary’s cupboard next year. Board clearly believed the chance to secure a potentially immediate difference-maker justified it.
Calgary doubled down two selections later.
At No. 7, the Roughnecks chose Chad Palumbo, another forward with a crowded college scoresheet. Palumbo accumulated 102 goals and 163 points in 53 Princeton appearances, collected first-team All-Ivy League honours as a senior and suited up professionally for the Carolina Chaos.
Board believes both first-round forwards can challenge for NLL work immediately.
“It couldn’t have gone any better for us,” he said in a statement. “We filled some needs, and the two guys we got early in the first round can come in and play right away and add to our offence.”
The rest of Calgary’s seven-player class took a sharp positional turn. After choosing two scorers, the Roughnecks devoted every remaining selection to defence.
That run began with a hometown player carrying a fresh piece of Canadian lacrosse history. Calgary selected Zach Moen 14th overall after the defender helped the Okotoks Jr. A Raiders become the first Alberta team to capture the Minto Cup. Moen, a University of Ottawa player, contributed eight points and 30 penalty minutes in 13 RMJALL games.
In Round 2, Calgary used pick No. 31 on Kaden Kublinskas, a Brampton Excelsiors defender who attended Laurier.
The Roughnecks did not own a third-round selection, but picked twice in Round 4. They chose Calgary Mounties and Simon Fraser defender Luke Soenen 45th, followed by Penn State defender Alex Ross at No. 51. Ross also plays professionally for the New York Atlas.
Port Coquitlam Saints defender Zach Vanderwal completed the class when Calgary called him with the 54th choice in Round 5.
Seven selections produced two forwards and five defenders, but the headline was the trade. Calgary sacrificed future draft capital to bring Spallina into a new-look offensive group alongside Palumbo.
