Carpooling with Codron

Published on January 27, 2012 under National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Edmonton Rush News Release


Edmonton, AB---Many people drive themselves to work. Though that task is not performed often by National Lacrosse League stars most gamedays -- it will be the case this weekend for Edmonton Rush players Tyler Codron and Tom Johnson - who'll make the trek from Vancouver to Everett, Wash., for a Saturday evening matchup against West rival Washington Stealth.

At least the duo will be riding in the High Occupancy Vehicle lane before and after battling their former mates.

Codron, a 25-year-old defensemen from Port Coquitlam, B.C. and Johnson, a 26-year-old forward from Vancouver, will by-pass the usual flying routine many NLLers get on a weekly basis, by making the two-hour, 175 kilometre drive along BC Highway 99 and Washington's Interstate 5.

"Me and Tommy are going to drive down together," said Codron, a six-foot, 205-pound defender.

"I've driven down with him before when we both played in Washington together. We'll probably just listen to some music and chat about the game.

"We'll talk strategies to work on because Tom knows the offensive guys and their characteristics, so he'll help me out and give me a few pointers on some guys," added Codron, who was part of Washington's Champion's Cup winning-squad in 2010 before he was acquired by Edmonton from the Stealth last season.

The two have plenty in common to keep the conversations going as the twosome not only share an NLL title, they have similarities from a storied past of competition playing with and against each other.

"He played in Delta for junior and I played in PoCo and we had a big series against each other in the playoffs and that's where it all developed," said Codron, taken sixth overall at the 2007 NLL Entry Draft, followed by Johnson at No. 7.

"We became real good friends and got along real well. He then came to UBC and played football with me and we just have built up a good friendship. It's been awesome. Now he's in Edmonton, which I was really happy with when he signed."

"We've battled against each other so much over the years and I think that's why we've become such good friends," chipped in Johnson, who signed in Edmonton thanks in part to a good work from Codron. "He played defence growing up in lacrosse and I played offence. He played halfback in football and I played slot. He was the captain for PoCo juniors and I was the captain for Delta."

Codron, a two-time Canada West all-star in the defensive backfield for the Thunderbirds -- also shares with Johnson in the recovery from major surgery to repair separate ACL injuries suffered while both played football at UBC -- that initially derailed the two-sport athletes' promising careers.

Prior to the 2010 NLL campaign, Codron was moved to the Stealth from the Toronto Rock as part of a blockbuster deal that saw Colin Doyle return to Toronto and Lewis Ratcliff arrive out west. After missing the majority of the lax season thanks to his recovery, Codron then hit the carpet again down the stretch and into the playoffs and Washington went on to defeat the Rock for the NLL crown.

Two seasons later and rather than laying a lick to oncoming receivers on the gridiron, Codron looks to maintain his championship-calibre and hard-nosed style of defense in lacrosse in his first full season with the Rush.

"I'm expecting big things from Tyler this year," said Edmonton head coach/GM Derek Keenan about Codron, twice named as the hardest-hitting defender in the NLL. "He's finally back to 100-per-cent after his injury a few seasons back.

"He's always prepared and a real professional and our fans haven't seen the best of him yet."

Now Codron and the Rush (0-1) -- coming off a hard-fought 13-12 season-opening loss against the Colorado Mammoth last weekend -- prepare for another West matchup, a contest against the Stealth at Comcast Arena.

"I'm really looking forward to playing those guys this weekend," he said. "Just to go back there; it's always fun to beat the team you got traded from.

"And I'm also looking forward to just getting back on the floor and playing. It's tough spending the week after a loss, so I just want to get out there and get a win for Edmonton."

The winless Stealth, coming off back-to-back Champion's Cup appearances, has fallen to both Philadelphia and Calgary early in the season and Codron hopes to continue to Washington's losing skid with a lunch bucket effort and win from the visiting Rush.

"Although they're 0-2, they have a very good team there," he said. "We're just going to have to battle real hard, don't stop moving our feet and hustling after every ball. We have to work together as a team and it's going to come down to us out-working them and that's how we're going to beat them."

That's life in the fast lane.

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