Earning His Way: Knox finding evolving game in third pro season
Feb 3, 2026
Maki Jenner I Halifax Thunderbirds
Previously featured in our January 31st edition of Inside the Nest
Jason Knox has spent his lacrosse career learning how to adapt. Whether it was changing schools, changing cities, or even watching a professional team fold beneath him, the path has never been straightforward. But each challenge has shaped the player Knox is today, one who understands that nothing is given and every role must be earned.
The Huntsville, Ontario, native was born into a family of lacrosse legacy. His grandfather, the late Jack Bionda, is a member of the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame and remains one of the most revered players in the game’s history. Although Knox never had the chance to meet him, that connection has always been present through the sport they share.
“He’s always been there in spirit,” Knox said. “Sometimes, it feels unfair that I never got to meet him, but that’s also pushed me to find excellence in this game, because it’s the one way I can really connect with him.”
That pursuit of excellence first became evident during Knox’s collegiate career at Hobart College. As a freshman, he broke the program’s first-year scoring record with 36 goals in just 16 games. Over three seasons, Knox continued to pile up accolades, earning a spot on the NEC All-Rookie Team, being named NEC Rookie of the Week four times, breaking the conference single-game goal record with 10, and appearing twice on the Tewaaraton Award watch list.
With success came another change. Knox transferred to The Ohio State University, continuing to test himself at the highest level of collegiate lacrosse.
Following his graduation from OSU, Knox entered the 2022 NLL Draft, where he was selected fifth overall by Panther City. In his rookie season, he produced 50 points, finishing as the team’s fourth-leading scorer while helping establish a franchise still finding its footing. Then suddenly, the team was gone.
“We heard rumours that there wasn’t going to be a team here next year, let alone anywhere, and it was a really weird time,” Knox said. “I was living down in Fort Worth, my lease was coming up, and next thing you know, there’s no more Panther City team.”
With the league announcing a dispersal draft, Knox found himself once again navigating uncertainty. Conversations with general managers and coaches followed, as he waited to learn where his career would take him next. When Halifax selected him ninth overall, another new chapter began. Opportunity, however, didn’t come without challenge.
The Thunderbirds’ offence during the 2024–25 season was loaded. On the right side, Clarke Petterson, Randy Staats, and Thomas Hoggarth formed a three-headed monster. On the left, Cody Jamieson, Dawson Theede, and rookie standout Mike Robinson provided depth and experience. For Knox, carving out a role meant finding ways to contribute beyond the ball.
“I realized I wasn’t going to have the ball in my stick as much,” Knox said. “So I really prioritized getting good off-ball. So setting picks, clearing space, and doing whatever I could to help the offence.”
That adjustment carried into the offseason. Knox took an unconventional approach, stepping away from lacrosse entirely to focus on strength, conditioning, and mindset, a decision that paid off when training camp arrived.
“Honestly, I think taking the summer off from lacrosse was really good for me,” he said. “I just wanted to be faster, bigger, and stronger. Coming into camp, I wanted to do all the little things right. Every year is new, and you can’t come in expecting anything; it has to be earned.”
Knox earned his spot, but the work hasn’t stopped. With Dawson Theede’s departure in a January 21 trade with the Oshawa Firewolves, a new opportunity has opened for the young left-handed forward. He wanted to build on the foundation he’s established in Halifax and blend his off-ball growth with the offensive skill he’s always possessed.
“There’s only one ball, so you’ve got to make yourself useful without it,” Knox said. “That’s something I’ve had to learn in this league. I feel like I’ve started to figure it out, and now there’s an opportunity to step up and assert my role.”
For Knox, adaptability has never been a setback; it’s been a necessity. And as his role continues to evolve with the Thunderbirds, he’s proving that the work done away from the stat sheet can be just as important as what shows up on it.