Mayea Gearing Up For First NLL Campaign

Brayden Mayea was the Roughnecks’ fifth-overall pick in this summer’s NLL Draft for a reason… many reasons. The 23-year-old lefty forward showcased his deadly accuracy as well as consistency to get that shot off anywhere on the floor with speed.

“I’m feeling really good,” Mayea said Sunday after the first session. “It’s great to get out here with the guys and get that connection. It’s good to be on the floor with these guys out here.”

The former High Point University standout scored 168 goals in 61 games over four seasons of NCAA field lacrosse, but he has not played box since 2021. However, he said earlier this offseason that he does not see that as a problem coming into training camp.

(Photo Courtesy: High Point University Athletics)

“I’ve played box lacrosse my whole life growing up until then, so I think it’s a lot like riding a bike, you just pick up where you left off,” he explained. “It’s not like I wasn’t playing lacrosse at all. I was at High Point playing lacrosse… and for the Chaos (Premier Lacrosse League) this past season. Box is definitely my favorite sport, so I’m looking forward to getting back to it.”

The Windsor, Ontario rookie said the biggest difference he felt during the first weekend of the 2024 NLL Training Camp presented by Warrior was the pace of play.

“It’s definitely a lot quicker,” he described. “It’s a lot faster. You have to think quicker – the ball moves quicker as well. You always have to be one step ahead, two steps ahead even.”

Mayea’s play should speak for itself once he gets comfortable with the group, he said.

“I just want to show what I can do,” he said. “I want to show what kind of player I know I am, and that they (the coaches) can trust me, and my teammates on the floor. I just want to build that chemistry early.”

With the first week of camp wrapped up, Mayea and the Roughnecks now look ahead to two scrimmages in Toronto this upcoming weekend. On Saturday, they battle the Rock, and then finish off the weekend with a game against the Philadelphia Wings.

Calgary looks to improve upon their 8-10, 11th-place finish to the 2024 season. Mayea relayed that Head Coach Josh Sanderson’s message to the team is to take another step, and reiterated he wants increased intensity. Lastly, he stated that the team, “has to get our sticks and our legs going early. We have to keep building that chemistry, play fast, play smart and keep making the right decisions.”

The Roughnecks will look to carry their high-intensity style of play into their season opener on the road at Halifax on Saturday, December 7, 2024, at 5pm ET.