In the 2002–03 season, Lawson was the starting goaltender for the Fort Wayne Komets and recorded a banner year in claiming the UHL Championship.
In the 2006–07 season, Lawson embarked on pursuing a European career and signed a one-year deal with Lukko Rauma in the Finnish SM-liiga.
He then moved to Russia, signing as the starting goaltender for the 2007–08 season with CSKA Moscow (the "Red Army Team") of the Russian Superleague.
Becoming the first Canadian to feature in goal for the Red Army, Lawson led the RSL in wins, shutouts and games played.
[2] After his successful stint with the Red Army, Lawson signed a two-year contract with Sibir Novosibirsk for the inaugural season of the new top level Russian tier, the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).