Blaze Riorden

Blaze Riorden (born February 13, 1994) is an American professional lacrosse player who plays as a goaltender for the Carolina Chaos of the Premier Lacrosse League and as a forward for the Rochester Knighthawks of the National Lacrosse League, captaining the former. In the PLL, he has won three consecutive Oren Lyons Goalie of the Year awards, making him the first goalie to do so. He is also one of only two field lacrosse goalies to win league MVP at the professional level and is widely regarded as one of the greatest goalies of all time, and the most successful goalie of his generation.

Early life and career Riorden was raised in Fairport, New York, the son of Mike and Jeannie Riorden. He has one brother, Connor. Riorden's family had season tickets to see the Rochester Knighthawks, and he began playing lacrosse at the age of four as an attackman, however he switched to goalie part time as a child when he injured his team's goalie with a shot, and would play both positions throughout high school. While at Fairport High School, he would earn three varsity letters each in lacrosse and football, and won two Section V state championships and committed to play lacrosse at University at Albany where he would have the opportunity to play in goal and on man-up offense.

Riorden has also represented the United States in the 2015 (where he was the only college player) and 2019 editions of the World Indoor Lacrosse Championship, winning bronze medals both times.

NLL statistics

Professional field career

MLL Riorden was drafted 51st overall by the Rochester Rattlers in the 2016 MLL Draft. He would primarily serve as a backup to John Galloway in his first two seasons, though he saw more action in his third season following the team's move to Dallas, in part due to Galloway's participation in the 2018 World Lacrosse Championship. He made his first career start in a 15–9 win over the Chesapeake Bayhawks in which he made 16 saves.

PLL Riorden was part of the original group of players to join Paul Rabil's PLL, being assigned to Chaos Lacrosse Club. During his first season, he was named as an All-Star and won the inaugural Oren Lyons Goalie of the Year Award. He would once again win the award the following season while helping Chaos to the Championship Game. In 2021, he was named as a captain for the All-Star Game, though he was ultimately unable to participate due to injury. He was also a finalist for the Jim Brown MVP Award.

Riorden set the PLL single game save record on June 6, 2025, making 25 saves in a win over the Denver Outlaws.

Playing style Riorden has been called a "once in a generation talent" by the PLL. He is known for using a Butterfly style, similar to a hockey goaltender, being one of the first field lacrosse goalies to do so. He is also known for his stick skills due to his background as an attackman and due to this, he is able to create transition opportunities for his teammates.