Rochester Knighthawks

Last updated
Rochester Knighthawks
Rochester Knighthawks logo 2019.svg
Sport Box lacrosse
Founded 2019
League National Lacrosse League
ConferenceEastern
Location Rochester, New York
Arena Blue Cross Arena
ColorsArmy Green, Gold, Black
   
Owner Terry Pegula
Head coachMike Hasen
General manager Dan Carey
Playoff berths2 (2023, 2024)
Local media WHAM-DT2, WNBL, WHTK
Website rochesterknighthawks.com

The Rochester Knighthawks (also known as the K-Hawks) are a professional box lacrosse team in the Eastern Conference of the National Lacrosse League. [1] They play in Rochester, New York, at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial.

Contents

The Knighthawks are owned by Terry Pegula who purchased the intellectual property of the team from former owner Curt Styres. [2] Styres moved the previous version of the team to Halifax, Nova Scotia as the Halifax Thunderbirds at the end of the 2018–2019 season. As an expansion team they are not a continuation of the previous Knighthawks. [3] All records and championships followed the original franchise to Halifax.

History

The original Knighthawks played in Rochester from 1995 until 2019. They began as members of the Major Indoor Lacrosse League from 1995 to 1997 then became members of the NLL beginning with the league's inaugural 1998 season. [4]

The Knighthawks reached the playoffs in each of their first 13 seasons, from 1995 to 2007. This is a league record going back to the league's original creation, the Eagle Pro Box Lacrosse League. The previous record was 11 straight years, held by the Philadelphia Wings. They were also the first NLL team to win three consecutive championships (2012–14). [4]

On September 13, 2018, owner Curt Styres announced that he would be accepting a new team in Halifax, Nova Scotia and would be relocating the Knighthawks' to the city for the winter 2019–2020 season. The Knighthawks intellectual property was sold to Terry and Kim Pegula (the latter of whom was raised in the Rochester suburbs) along with an expansion franchise to ensure Rochester's uninterrupted presence in the league. [5] The original name was used, but the color scheme and logo changed. The team logo, colors, and other officials were announced on May 29, 2019 in an event at Blue Cross Arena. [6] The new franchise does not count as a continuation of the previous franchise. All championships and records were transferred to Halifax. [3] [2]

On June 27, 2019, the Knighthawks named Mike Hasen, who had coached the original Knighthawks since 2011, as head coach, Dan Carey as General Manager, and Pat O'Toole as assistant coach. [7]

Current roster

Rochester Knighthawks roster
Active (21-man) rosterInactive rosterCoaches
Goaltenders
  • 49 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Rylan Hartley
  •  1 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Riley Hutchcraft
Defensemen
  •  2 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Paul Dawson (C)
  •  4 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Ethan Schott
  •  6 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Brad Gillies
  •  8 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Mitch Ogilvie
  • 15 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Matt Bennett
  • 23 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Curtis Romanchych
  • 27 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Tyler Halls
  • 29 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Tyler Biles
Forwards
  •  5 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Turner Evans
  •  7 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Thomas Vela
  •  9 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Curtis Knight(A)
  • 10 Flag of the United States.svg Connor Fields
  • 18 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Austin Hasen
  • 19 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Holden Cattoni
  • 43 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Ryan Smith
  • 91 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Thomas Hoggarth
Transition
  • 17 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Ryland Rees
  • 67 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Jordan Stouros
  • 81 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Matt Gilray
Practice Squad
  • 25 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Parker Pipher (T)
  • 71 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Jeff Wittig (F)
  • 93 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Pent Eistrat (F)
Injured Reserve
  • 37 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Dan Coates (D)
  • 96 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Cory Highfield (T)
Unable to play
  •  3 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Thomas Whitty (T)
  • 52 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Carter Schott (T)
Head Coach
  • Mike Hasen
Assistant Coaches
Legend
  • * Suspended list
  • (C) Captain
  • (A) Alternate captain

updated 12/5/2023
NLL Transactions

All-time record

SeasonDivision/Conference [a] W–LFinishPCTHomeRoadGFGACoachPlayoffs
2020 North2–104th.1672–30–7115165Mike HasenNo playoffs held
2021EasternSeason cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2022 Eastern4–148th.2222–72–7184221Mike HasenDid not qualify
2023 Eastern10–84th.5566–34–5218214Mike HasenLost Conference Semi-Final
2024 Unified8–108th.4444–54–5214226Mike HasenLost Quarterfinals
Total4 Seasons24–42.36414–1810–24731826
Playoff Total2 Appearances0–2.0000–00–214290 Championships

Playoff results

SeasonGameVisitingHome
2023Conference Semi-FinalRochester 8Buffalo 20
2024QuarterfinalsRochester 6Toronto 9

Head coaching history

#NameTermRegular SeasonPlayoffs
GCWLW%GCWLW%
1Mike Hasen 2020– 662442.364202.000

Award winners

YearPlayerAward
2023 Dan Carey General Manager of the Year

Draft history

NLL Entry Draft

First Round Selections

Notes

  1. ↑ Conference play began in the 2022 season

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References

  1. ↑ "National Lacrosse League - Rochester Nighthawks". National Lacrosse League - Rochester Nighthawks. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  2. 1 2 "SEASON PREVIEW: KNIGHTHAWKS EMBARK ON NEW ERA SATURDAY". Rochester Knighthawks. 2019-11-29. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  3. 1 2 "Knighthawks Unveil New Logo Ahead of Expansion Season". 30 May 2019. Archived from the original on 11 December 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  4. 1 2 "History of the NLL: Championships". HISTORY OF THE NLL. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  5. ↑ "NLL Approves Rochester expansion team using Knighthawks brand – NLL". 13 September 2018. Archived from the original on 14 August 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  6. ↑ "NLL's Rochester Knighthawks Announce Logo & Staff – NLL". 30 May 2019. Archived from the original on 25 February 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  7. ↑ "KNIGHTHAWKS NAME MIKE HASEN HEAD COACH :: Rochester Knighthawks". www.rochesterknighthawks.com. 29 May 2019. Archived from the original on 11 December 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  8. ↑ "2019 NLL ENTRY DRAFT LIVE RESULTS". 2019 NLL Draft Results.
  9. ↑ League, National Lacrosse (2020-09-19). "NLL Draft 2020 Complete List - 6 Rounds, 93 Athletes". Lacrosse All Stars. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  10. ↑ "2022 NLL Entry Draft results: Thomas McConvey taken first overall". The Lax Mag. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
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