Magnan taking next step as a defensive leader for Thunderbirds
Feb 13, 2023
Austin Owens I Halifax Thunderbirds
Before becoming a mainstay in the Halifax Thunderbirds lineup, Luc Magnan was just a kid from Manitoba who made his way to Ontario, looking for a chance to play lacrosse at the highest levels.
The Pine Falls, Manitoba native attended The Hill Academy before making his way to Robert Morris to play Division I lacrosse. In the summer of 2010, he began playing for the OJLL’s Toronto Beaches, where he’d spent a year and a half with the Junior A side before returning home. He'd return back to Manitoba, joining the Junior B Manitoba Gryphons where he would tally 12 goals and 31 points in 16 games in 2012.
A year later, he found himself back in Ontario, first re-joining the Beaches before being traded to the Six Nations Arrows. On a team consistently vying for Minto Cups, Magnan was able to hone his game alongside some of the top stars in today’s NLL – including current Thunderbirds teammates Randy Staats and Warren Hill.
“I loved the boys (in Six Nations). It was such a great summer playing with all of them,” Magnan said. “It’s still kind of hard to talk about because we came up short that year. That summer taught me a lot about community and being a part of a team. I’m forever grateful for Six Nations. It’s still a treat to walk into the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena and see our team picture up on the wall.”
Following his junior career, Magnan played in Major Series Lacrosse with the Brampton Excelsiors, where he was able to learn from the likes of Kyle Rubisch, Chris Corbeil, and Sandy Chapman, among others.
Magnan said that before joining Brampton, he wasn’t too sure that he belonged. But after a summer playing and learning from some of the best in the game, he felt ready to make the jump to the National Lacrosse League.
As one of the top defenders available in a strong 2015 class, Magnan was selected by the Toronto Rock with the 17th overall pick.
He appeared in 11 games in his rookie campaign, but heading into his second year, Toronto made a handful of adds on the defensive end through the draft. Magnan knew immediately that he would be in a camp battle for his roster spot. He was released at the conclusion of camp.
“I was shocked in the sense that I wasn’t even offered a practice-roster spot. But that probably ended up being the best thing for me,” Magnan said. “In this league, you’ve got to play games to develop. So, the writing was on the wall for me a little bit. I’m not sure that I was ready in a sense, and I think I might’ve taken it for granted a little.”
It didn’t take Magnan long to find a new home, however. The Rochester Knighthawks came calling, offering him a deal to join the team.
He was able to make it into 13 games in his sophomore campaign and had a new mindset heading into his third training camp.
“Going in, I was just thinking that I can’t let the same thing happen to me that happened in my second camp. So, I trained really hard and really focused. That year, we were bringing in Wiz (Jake Withers), Shanks, and Fannell. It was a really good draft class. We had good, young defensive guys. So, I just wanted to make sure I did everything I could.”
Magnan made the roster and went on to have the best season of his career to date. Appearing in 16 contests, he had a career-high 18 points to go along with 83 loose balls and six caused turnovers.
His momentum and role within the team have continued to grow from there. Playing with the same group for the last four seasons, Magnan is now a player that’s leaned on to log crucial minutes out of the back gate.
With the team now in Halifax, Magnan has taken on a new role within the Thunderbirds’ defence. He’s now focused less on the points and more on helping to be one of the leaders, directing traffic during sets to turn away opposing offences.
Magnan isn’t going to jump off the page when it comes to stats on a nightly basis. But when watching a game, he’ll very rarely get beat or make a mental mistake that costs his team. The 30-year-old is one of the smartest players on the floor. Part of his development in that respect has come due to his summers spent with the Toronto Beaches, where he serves as a defensive coach.
Helping to develop the next wave of lacrosse talents alongside a staff filled with NLL players, Magnan also added that the game-planning gives him a leg up when it comes to playing with the Thunderbirds.
“Just seeing the game from a different perspective, it’s made me such a better player,” Magnan said. “You’re thinking about both sides of the ball and what offensive players are trying to do and how you’re going to stop them. I’m pretty lucky to be involved and have the chance to coach at that high of a level, but what it’s done for my personal game is elevate it to a whole new level.”
During the 2021-22 season, Magnan missed a portion of the year due to injury, leaving him in a position he was unfamiliar with.
Having to sit on the sidelines gave him a new appreciation for the chances he had to be out there with his teammates.
“I just learned that you have to cherish those moments you get out there on the floor. I just tried to be a good teammate,” Magnan said. “...I always want to hold myself to that standard. I think to me, leadership is just being a servant. Just taking care of yourself and your teammates, being a good samaritan, and looking out for each other.”
This season, the team suffered some key losses on the back end, namely Scott Campbell, who retired and took on a front-office role with the team. While Magnan stressed that there is no replacing the Birds’ former assistant captain, the new faces have done a great job playing their roles.
On top of Graeme Hossack and Jake Withers putting up strong numbers, Ryan Terefenko is in the midst of a massive sophomore season, while rookie Max Wilson is putting on strong showings out of the gates. That mix of veteran talent and young players taking the next step in their respective games has Halifax as one of the top defences in the league again in 2023.
“I think we have three defensive players of the year on our team in Hoss, Wiz, and Terry (Terefenko),” Magnan said. “Terry is unbelievable, and the impact that he has on every game…everyone in the league could use a Ryan Terefenko on their team. Guys like him and Trevor Smyth have really taken the next step. I think Trevor is a really underrated defender, and he’s only going to continue to do more.
“Tyson Bell has stepped up, Army (Colton Armstrong) has stepped up. So, I think it’s just kind of the next-man-up mentality, and that’s really what it takes. And with the guys we have on the back end, I think you have a chance to compete every night.”
The team has hopped out to a 4-3 start to the season. In three of those victories, the Thunderbirds have scored over 15 goals and held their opponents to a combined 26 goals – against New York, they scored a Halifax-record 20 markers. The team’s latest win against Rochester was a statement game, as the team handed the previously undefeated squad a loss, 17-7.
The belief within the room is high, and the mix of skill and chemistry makes Halifax one of the top teams to watch for the rest of the season.
“I was thinking the other day about how much I love this team and the guys. I genuinely love all the guys on this team, and I think that’s what makes this group special,” Magnan said. “That’s what drives you a little bit, too. This team picks each other up. I know how hard Graeme Hossack works and how hard Wiz works. You want to do it for them because they deserve it.
“...I think there’s an insane amount of confidence within the team, just knowing how good we are. I think what makes our team dangerous is that anyone could go off on any night. I don’t think the rest of the league has that or the depth that we do. It makes it really hard for teams to cover us.”