Coming home: Thunder land human highlight reel Chase Fraser

by Gary Ahuja

One of box lacrosse’s most dynamic scorers is coming home to Langley as the Langley Thunder have acquired Chase Fraser ahead of the 2026 Western Lacrosse Association season.

Langley received Fraser and Tyson Johnson from the Nanaimo Timbermen in exchange for Aaron Skye, Aden Walsh, and the Thunder’s first-round picks in 2026 and 2027.

Fraser grew up in Aldergrove and will now suit up for the same team he once cheered for as a member of the Langley Minor Lacrosse Association.

“The WLA is a great league with tremendous talent, and competing for a Mann Cup is a challenge I am ready for,” Fraser said. “I grew up in the Langley Minor program and have a lot of friends and former opponents on this team. I’m looking forward to reconnecting with familiar faces and building new relationships as we work together towards our goals.”

Fraser, drafted third overall by Nanaimo in 2017, won WLA Rookie of the Year and earned a Second Team All-Star nod after a 30-goal, 52-point debut campaign. In the National Lacrosse League – where he was drafted in the first round by the Buffalo Bandits – he has scored 151 goals and 259 points in 89 regular-season games, helping the team capture the last three NLL championships. He signed with the Las Vegas Desert Dogs ahead of the 2025/26 season.

“Hard, gritty player with a lit bit of flashiness when scoring. A lot of emotion and energy,” Fraser described of what fans can expect.

Johnson, a member of the Shooting Eagles in the Arena Lacrosse League West Division, is among the league’s top face-off specialists with a .654 winning percentage since 2022.

“We’re thrilled to welcome both Chase and Tyson to the Thunder family. Chase is one of the premier offensive talents in lacrosse – a player who can change a game in an instant with speed, creativity, and finishing ability. He consistently produces at the highest level and brings a dynamic presence that opponents always have to account for,” said Remo Spagnuolo, Langley’s co-general manager.

“And Tyson’s ability to win draws will help us gain valuable extra possessions. We are excited to see the impact both players will have as we build towards a successful 2026 season.”

Skye, a third-round pick, played 64 games on Langley’s back end, while Walsh posted an .824 save percentage over the 2023 and 2024 seasons.

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