NLL Rochester Knighthawks

Knighthawks' Top Pick Was a Two-Sport Star

Published on October 25, 2012 under National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Rochester Knighthawks News Release


Defense and transition were the biggest area of need for the Rochester Knighthawks in the 2012 National Lacrosse League Draft. Although their first pick wasn't until the third round, the Knighthawks addressed their need by selecting Robbie Campbell with the 26th overall selection.

Campbell is a native of British Columbia, but played his collegiate lacrosse on the east coast at Stony Brook University. The midfielder set a new personal best with 24 goals as a senior. For the second time in his collegiate career at Stony Brook, Campbell earned All-America East Conference honors, making the First Team this past season.

Despite his success as a senior, it was during his sophomore year when Campbell played the most memorable game of his college career. In the first round of the NCAA Championship tournament, the eighth-ranked Seawolves defeated Denver 9-7, advancing to the first quarterfinal game in program history.

Stony Brook recovered from an early 5-1 deficit against Virginia, the top seed in the tournament, to tie the quarterfinal game at 8-8 in the fourth quarter. However, the Cavaliers would prevail 10-9. Campbell finished the game with a goal and two assists.

"The highlight would definitely be when we made the quarterfinals. It was my sophomore year we played against Virginia in the quarterfinals. It was definitely a big game, close to 11,000 people. It was just an exciting atmosphere," said Campbell. "We lost by one. I wish I could have that game back."

Prior to enrolling at Stony Brook, Campbell was a star athlete at Seaquam Secondary in Delta, BC. He was a tremendous football player as a senior even though it was only his first season with the team.

"I didn't end up playing football until my senior year of high school," said Campbell. "I didn't even really watch football before I started playing it. I kind of did, and I always thought I'd be good at it if I had played it."

Despite his pleas to the coaching staff to let him play offense, Campbell began the season at linebacker.

"I came into the football thing and I wanted to play offense. I told the coach I wanted to be a running back and he put me on defense at linebacker. I did well at linebacker but I didn't really understand the pass coverage, so they moved me to defensive end. All I had to worry about was going and getting the quarterback," said Campbell.

His wish to be a running back would be granted before the end of the regular season. With only three games left, the starter went down with an injury, and Campbell ran away with the opportunity.

In the Provincial semifinals, Campbell rushed for 130 yards, helping the Seahawks advance to the 2006 British Columbia Provincial AA Championship. He went on to catch a pair of touchdowns as Seaquam defeated Hugh Boyd 21-13 for the title. Campbell displayed his athleticism on his first touchdown reception, a 29-yarder, as he broke four tackles, tip-toed the sideline and dragged a fifth defender into the end zone.

After high school, the 2006 British Columbia AA Most Outstanding Lineman went to the University of British Columbia to continue his football career. Although he was redshirted and didn't play that year, it was a valuable experience.

"I got introduced to the weight room and put on a lot of weight and a lot of muscle, kind of came into being a man," said Campbell.

"I just didn't have the option to play lacrosse in college really. I hadn't been scouted by anyone and I hadn't really gotten my name out there. I ended up going with what was available for me, which was football," he added.

Campbell's lacrosse career was jumpstarted after he played for the Canadian U-19 team in the 2008 World Lacrosse Championships. Team Canada earned a silver medal after a 19-12 loss to Team USA, but the scouts from Stony Brook noticed Campbell and offered him a scholarship.

Although he played most of his junior lacrosse career with his hometown Delta Islanders, Campbell was traded to the Coquitlam Adanacs in June of 2010. It was with the Junior "A" Adanacs that he was able to win a Minto Cup, sweeping the Orangeville Northmen 2-0 in the best-of-three series.

Although he played in the Western Lacrosse Association for the Senior "A" Adanacs in 2011, Campbell took this summer off from box lacrosse while living on Long Island. It was a tough choice because he knew that by forgoing the summer season, his draft stock would slide. Fortunately for Rochester Owner and General Manager Curt Styres, Campbell was available when the Knighthawks were on the clock in the third round.

Not long after the draft did Campbell have an opportunity to play with a few of his Knighthawks teammates. When the Dirty Lacrosse Club squared off against Canisius College in an exhibition game on September 29th, Campbell played alongside Cody Jamieson, Stephen Keogh and Matt Vinc.

"It was lots of fun. Those guys are just real skill guys. I really didn't know too many people on it. Just getting to know the guys, I had a lot of fun with it," said Campbell.

Three spots after drafting Campbell, the Knighthawks took Cody Hawkins. Ironically, Campbell was a student counselor for Hawkins' high school. Hawkins, a member of the junior varsity football team when Campbell won the province title in 2006, eventually led the Seahawks to a provincial title game two years later.

Now, the two Seaquam graduates, who were both star football players for the Seahawks, who both played for the Delta Islanders, and who were both drafted in the third round will reunite at Knighthawks training camp.

"It was kind of funny seeing him get drafted. I didn't even realize he was up for the draft. Then I saw his name pop up and I was like, 'No way, Cody Hawkins. I remember him from gym class when I was his peer tutor,'" said Campbell.

Campbell knows he will need to work hard to earn a spot with the reigning NLL Champions. At training camp, he wants to prove he can be an impact player for the Knighthawks like he was for Seaquam and Stony Brook.

"I believe I'm a first-round caliber pick and I just want to kind of demonstrate that to the people at the Knighthawks and the team," said Campbell. "I really like the opportunity. It's definitely special because they are the returning champs."

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National Lacrosse League Stories from October 25, 2012


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