Nolan Rutty
Stars of OSL: Nolan Rutty
From Whitby Roots To A Timely Contribution In Belleville
Position: Defence/Transition
Shoots: Left
Hometown: Whitby, Ontario
OSL Team: Belleville Kodiaks
Minor Organization: Whitby Warriors
School: Father Leo J. Austin High School
College: University of Montevallo
Nolan Rutty’s lacrosse journey has taken him from the Whitby Warriors to NCAA field lacrosse and senior competition in Ontario. With the Belleville Kodiaks, his 2026 season included a memorable example of how a defensive player can change a game by recognizing an opportunity to attack.
Against Hamilton in June, Rutty scored a shorthanded transition goal that ultimately stood as the winner in Belleville’s 6–5 comeback victory. It was a timely contribution in a game the Kodiaks had trailed entering the third period.
Early Years
Rutty developed through the Whitby Warriors organization and attended Father Leo J. Austin High School before continuing his education at the University of Montevallo in Alabama.
An archived junior player profile listed him as a left-handed defender and identified strong defensive play as his favourite part of lacrosse. In that same profile, he named his father as his role model and winning the 2016 Lacrosse Summer Games as his favourite lacrosse memory.
Those details offer a glimpse into the background of a player whose development included both box and field lacrosse.
Climbing The Ladder
Rutty continued his field lacrosse career with Montevallo, where he was listed as a midfielder. His college experience included appearances across several seasons, adding NCAA Division II competition to his Canadian box background.
In February 2022, he scored in Montevallo’s 19–5 victory over Palm Beach Atlantic. His contribution that season also extended to the classroom: Montevallo named him among its Bronze Scholars on the Peach Belt Conference Presidential Honor Roll.
Making His Mark In The OSL
Rutty’s OSL experience includes appearances with the Brooklin Merchants before his time with Belleville. A league recap from his Brooklin days records him setting up a Zac Carrigan power-play goal against the Clearview Crushers.
With the Kodiaks in 2026, his most consequential scoring contribution came during a third-period rally against Hamilton.
Belleville entered the final frame trailing 4–2, then scored twice to draw even. While killing a penalty, the Kodiaks struck again through Tim Zdimal. Just 19 seconds later, Rutty finished a Cain Brown pass in transition to extend the lead to 6–4.
Hamilton pulled within one late, making Rutty’s shorthanded marker the deciding goal in a 6–5 Belleville victory. The sequence showed how quickly a defensive situation could become an opportunity at the other end.
Rutty also found the net during Belleville’s tightly contested regular-season finale against Collingwood. His third-period goal brought the Kodiaks within one during an exchange of scoring runs, although the Cruise ultimately prevailed 11–10 in overtime.
Experience Beyond The OSL
Rutty has also competed with the Paris RiverWolves in the Arena Lacrosse League.
A February 2023 league report highlighted a two-goal performance from Rutty as Paris continued working to turn competitive outings into victories. That experience added another senior indoor environment to his development.
Beyond The Floor
Rutty has also given time to developing younger players. His professional profile lists volunteer coaching with Buck Creek Lacrosse, helping an Under-14 boys’ team.
The same profile identifies environmental studies with a pre-law focus as his academic background at Montevallo. Combined with his college academic recognition, it adds another dimension to his story beyond competition.
Accolades
University of Montevallo — midfield
2022 academic recognition
Peach Belt Conference Bronze Scholar
Coaching involvement
Volunteer Under-14 coach with Buck Creek Lacrosse
Gary Groob’s Take
Nolan Rutty’s winning goal against Hamilton is a good example of why a player’s contribution needs to be viewed beyond season scoring totals. With Belleville shorthanded, he helped turn a difficult situation into the goal that decided the game.
His background includes defensive development in Whitby, college midfield experience and senior indoor competition. Add his involvement in coaching younger players, and there are several parts to his lacrosse story worth recognizing.
Gary Groob