Long before Ernie Clement was a star with the Toronto Blue Jays and Ryan Lanchbury was among the top playmakers in the National Lacrosse League, they were promising athletes and teammates with Brighton native Brett Randall. It was Randall who brought his two friends together, which created a bond that is still going strong to this day.
Randall, the son of Nazareth head coach Rob Randall, was born into lacrosse. Growing up in Brighton, like many lacrosse players, he also played travel hockey. That’s where he met Clement. They played when Randall was in eighth grade, and Clement was in high school, and they stayed connected ever since.
Randall continued his lacrosse career after high school at the University of Richmond, where he met Lanchbury, long before he had thoughts of playing in Rochester. The two hit it off and by their senior year, became roommates.
It seemed inevitable after college, with Lanchbury living in Toronto and Clement playing there, that they would eventually be brought together by their mutual friend.
“My college roommate Brett Randall is one of Ernie’s best buddies,” Lanchbury said. “We got introduced in college a couple times when I would visit Rochester, and then once Ernie got traded to the Jays, Brett would come up and stay with me, or Ernie, and we’d go to the Jays game.”
“Lanch is the man. I’m glad Brett introduced us,” Clement said. “We’ve grabbed a couple of drinks up in Toronto a couple times and a couple more here in Roch. It’s been really fun, and I‘ve been able to follow his career now. Any time he needs a ticket to a Blue Jays game, he’s got one.”
Thanks to that new friendship, Lanchbury invited Clement out to watch a Knighthawks game and meet the team on Jan. 17. Clement, who now lives in Rochester during the offseason, was quick to say yes.
“I went to these games as a kid with my buddy Adam, who used to be a season ticket holder,” Clement said. “I just remember the energy in the crowd, and how excited Rochester people get for their teams. I did not think I was gonna be walking onto a lacrosse field any time soon, and I’m really excited. It was such a cool experience just getting to hang out with the guys.”
ROCHESTER, NEW YORK – Ernie Clement dropping the opening faceoff between the Knighthawks and Toronto Rock: January 17, 2026 in Blue Cross Arena, Rochester, NY, USA (Photo by Micheline Veluvolu)
ONE NIGHT IN JUNE
The friendship all started through Randall during college, but grew with a dinner this past summer.
“I can’t remember the first time, but the most significant time that I remember was last June,” Randall said. “I went up to catch a game in Toronto, and Ernie and I were gonna go golf, and Lanch was in town. So I got up there; Lanch met me at the game, and then Ernie, Lanch, and I went and had dinner post-game.“
“Lanch ended up inviting a couple of his buddies, Dan Lomas was there,” Randall continued. “Lanch had made previous plans, and he just said, ‘Hey, come hang out with me, Ernie, and our friend Brett.’ We ended up having one of the funniest nights that I can remember. We ended up sitting at a corner table at this place for God knows how long, and as we kept going, the conversations just got more and more entertaining. Ever since then, it’s bridged the gap between me and Lanch or me and Ernie.”
WORLD SERIES
In 2026, you can no longer talk about Ernie Clement without talking about the 2025 World Series. Not only was it a historic run for the city of Toronto, but it was a record-setting run by one of Rochester’s own. Clement broke the MLB playoff hitting record with 30 hits in two fewer games than the previous record holder. He also broke a hitting streak for the Blue Jays that had stood since 1992, with 13 games.
For Randall and Lanchbury, sitting in the stands or watching from home, it was a bit different seeing him go to work.
“I still get goosebumps thinking about it,” Randall said. “On the biggest stage in the world, arguably, and this guy is just a kid that I grew up playing high school hockey with. So to see that transition and that growth out of him, I’m super proud of him, and it’s still kind of just unbelievable, right?”
Lanchbury, being a lifelong Toronto sports fan, was able to truly see the moments of the run in real time.
“It was special, I’ve never seen the city like that, never even for the Leafs,” Lanchbury said. “Obviously, the Leafs are the franchise of all franchises in Toronto, but I think the Jays got more notoriety than the Leafs, at least as long as I’ve been alive. I texted him after, I said, ‘I’ve never seen the city like that. Keep your head high.’ And how special that run was, it was just really awesome.”
“I got to hang out with a lot of my friends and watch the games, went to a couple games during the playoffs, but it was just really special,” Lanchbury continued. “Staying up late for that 18 inner, until three in the morning with all my buddies just screaming in our apartment. Felt like every night we were looking forward to watching them go to work.”
ROCHESTER, NEW YORK – Ernie Clement and Ryan Lanchbury exchanging jerseys: January 17, 2026 in Blue Cross Arena, Rochester, NY, USA (Photo by James Baehr)
SIMILARITIES
There is an irony to a friendship between an athlete from Toronto playing in Rochester and one from Rochester playing in Toronto. In the time they’ve known each other, they’ve been able to pick up on a few things.
“I feel like you can always learn from other guys,” Lanchbury said. “Just watching Ernie play 162 games a year, it’s a little different from us, where we have a bit more downtime week-to-week, but just watching him play every week and just the effort and hustle and the consistency he had into the playoffs. That was pretty special just to pick up on some things from him and get to root him on.”
For Randall, having played with both of them at different times in their lives, he’s been able to see where they are alike.
“Playing with Lanch in college,” Randall said. “I got to pick up on how locked in he gets before games. He doesn’t really talk to anybody, just follows his routine and whatever superstitions he follows on a nightly basis. He’s always very calm, very collected.”
“Ernie is also very superstitious,” Randall continued. “Like this past year, he’d have a certain bat that he’d start getting hot with, and he wouldn’t want to change up the bat. Same with the glove. His glove, I think there was a story that went around; he bought it on eBay just because it was already broken in, or his gloves, or that red belt he had. It’s just kind of more things that make him feel comfortable playing, and I think Lanch is the same way.”
That ability to find a clear mind before they play clearly factors into both Clement’s and Lanchbury’s performance in their respective sports. It led to the pair signing contracts a week apart.
It’s all a testament to how strong bonds can be from sports. Not only can you gain lifelong friends through teammates, but you can also find a shared experience with athletes you never played with, in a completely different sport.
ROCHESTER, NEW YORK – Ernie Clement hearing about Ryan Lanchbury’s contract extension: January 17, 2026 in Blue Cross Arena, Rochester, NY, USA (Photo by Chamberlain Bauder)