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Coquitlam's star lacrosse goalie won't be continuing his pro career in Calgary

Christian Del Bianco played his entire professional lacrosse career for the Calgary Roughnecks after the NLL team selected him in the 2015 draft.
Mario Bartel
Mario Bartel
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Coquitlam lacrosse goalie Christian Del Bianco says he will not be returning to Calgary to play for the National Lacrosse League's Roughnecks after spending his whole professional career with the team.CHRISTIAN DEL BIANCO/INSTAGRAM

Coquitlam’s star lacrosse goalie is coming home.

But whether Christian Del Bianco continues his professional playing career closer to home has yet to be determined.

In a post on social media Tuesday, July 23, Del Bianco said he won’t be resigning with the National Lacrosse League’s (NLL) Calgary Roughnecks so he can concentrate on his Tri-City-based home renovation business, Del Bianco Contracting, and his upcoming marriage.

 

“My life off the floor is my priority,” said Del Bianco, a carpenter by trade.

Del Bianco was selected by the Roughnecks in the second round of the 2015 NLL Entry Draft and he was already part of the team, that plays its games in the winter, when he led the Coquitlam Jr. Adanacs to the 2018 Minto Cup national Junior "A" lacrosse championship that was played in Calgary.

The Sr. Adanacs selected him first overall in the 2019 Western Lacrosse Association’s (WLA) draft, but his stay with the team in the summer circuit was brief, as he was dealt to the Maple Ridge Burrards seven games into the season. 

Del Bianco returned to the Adanacs following the 2019 season and helped the team qualify for the WLA playoffs in 2022, its first post-season berth since 2013.

Del Bianco nows plays his summer lacrosse with the Ladner Pioneers in the West Coast Senior "B" Lacrosse League. Because of its shorter season, It’s an arrangement that gives him more flexibility to work on his business, he told the Delta Optimist.

In Calgary, Del Bianco quickly established himself as a top goaltender in professional box lacrosse. He was named to the NLL’s second all-star team in 2019 after winning 10 of 18 games and in 2023 he was the league’s goalie of the year as well as its most valuable player and a member of the first all-star team.

Del Bianco, who signed a two-year contract with the Roughnecks in 2022, said he’ll always cherish his time in Calgary.

“My teammates have become my best friends,” he said. “My memories will be of you the fans, all of whom I have met and had such great interactions with.”

The feeling among Roughnecks’ fans was mutual.

“You will be dearly missed,” one posted in response to Del Bianco’s Instagram announcement.

“You cannot be replaced,” said another.

Del Bianco was non-committal about his pro lacrosse future.

“Who knows what the future holds with my lacrosse career.”