(Rochester, NY)… The Rochester Knighthawks opened the 2026 Dispersal Draft today by selecting reigning National Lacrosse League Defensive Player of the Year Callum Jones with the third overall pick.
“Callum is a hard-nosed, high-compete player who doesn’t take a shift off,” said Knighthawks President and General Manager Dan Carey. “He’s strong, smart, prepared, and willing to do whatever the team needs him to do to win. We are excited to welcome him to the Knighthawks.”
Jones joins the Knighthawks after playing three seasons with the Ottawa/New York franchise. In three campaigns, he posted 25 points (7+18), 331 loose-ball recoveries, 69 caused turnovers, and 29 blocked shots. He is coming off a breakout season in 2025-26, notching a career high with three goals and 11 points, and also setting career bests on the defensive side of the ball. The Burlington, Ontario, native scooped up 173 loose balls, which was third in the league. He also tied Matt Hossack for second in the league with 32 caused turnovers.
By becoming a Knighthawk, Jones will be reunited with his Junior “A” teammates Ryan Lanchbury, Ryan Smith, and Drew Hutchison, giving him an immediate connection to the team. He also has a special bond to Rochester, having traveled to the Flower City as a fan to watch the original Knighthawks play. Now, years later, he has the opportunity to return to Rochester and wear the Knighthawks jersey himself, bringing that connection full circle.
“Playing for the Knighthawks is a huge honor,” he said. “I grew up going to Rochester, NY, to watch John Grant Jr., so having the opportunity to now play for the Knighthawks is something that is extremely special to me.”
“I’m also excited to be teaming back up with fellow Burlington players I’ve grown up playing with,” he added. “Having the opportunity to compete for a championship alongside them is incredibly special. I’m extremely excited to be a part of an already loaded roster and doing whatever I can to help win!”
Jones was selected third overall in the 2023 NLL Entry Draft. The defensive stalwart’s path to the pros started with the Junior “B” Oakville Buzz before taking him to the Junior “A” ranks with the Burlington Blaze, where he played parts of six seasons. In 2018, he was named the recipient of the John “Gus” McCauley Memorial Award, given to the Ontario Junior Lacrosse League’s Outstanding Defensive Player. His resume also includes a season in the Arena Lacrosse League with the Paris RiverWolves (2017) and stints with the Senior “A” and Senior “B” Oakville Rock from 2021-24.
At the collegiate level, Jones was a two-sport athlete at DIII Norwich University, playing hockey and lacrosse. In three seasons with the lacrosse program, the midfielder posted 57 goals and 47 assists for 104 points in 31 games. In 2023, he was named to the New England Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (NEILA) All-Academic Team. The previous season, he was a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) First Team All-Conference selection and GNAC Tournament MVP in 2022, when he scored 47 goals and dished out 31 helpers.