5 Rochester players will represent Team Canada.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Rochester Knighthawks will have plenty of representation at the international exhibition game between Team USA and Team Canada on Saturday, Oct. 21 in Hamilton. In fact, six Knighthawks players will suit up in the fourth annual Heritage Cup, which will face off at 7 pm at FirstOntario Centre.
“Playing for your country is the greatest honor you can have as a proud Canadian,” said Dan Dawson, who has played in three indoor world championships. “Playing in the Heritage Cup is a great opportunity to showcase and grow the indoor game.”
The roster, which was released on Thursday, includes the members of the 2015 squad that captured the gold medal at the 2015 FIL World Indoor Lacrosse Championship. Canada has five Knighthawks on its roster, including Matt Vinc, Scott Campbell, Dan and Paul Dawson, and newly signed defenseman Billy Dee Smith. Playing in the Heritage Cup will mark the second time Paul Dawson will represent his country.
“I’m super excited,” said Paul Dawson. “Anytime you get to throw the maple leaf on, it’s an honor and privilege. You never know when it will be your last time, so I’m excited to do it one more time in front of friends and family.”
Knighthawks Hall of Famer Paul Day will once again be behind the Canadian bench with former NLL Coach of the Year and past Rochester coach Ed Comeau. Team Canada returns all of its staff from the 2015 Worlds, which also includes Derek Keenan and Glenn Clark.
The United States’ roster features Hamburg, N.Y. native and Knighthawks veteran forward Joe Resetarits. Last season, Resetarits led Rochester in goals (27), assists (39) and points (66), reaching career highs in all three offensive categories. The 28-year-old made his Team USA world championship debut in 2015, helping the Americans capture the bronze medal.
“Anytime you get to represent your country, it’s a feeling you can’t describe,” said Resetarits. “Getting selected to represent the team is an amazing feeling.”
Team USA is under the direction of former Knighthawks defenseman Regy Thorpe. Fellow Knighthawks Hall of Famer Chris Schiller will serve as an assistant coach, while Knighthawks American scout Brian Hobart is back as the assistant general manager. Thorpe, who last played for the United States in 2007, will coach a roster filled with some of the biggest names in the game, such as Paul Rabil, Rob Pannell, Joel White, and Resetarits.
“Having the opportunity to lead this group of young men against the cream of the crop in Team Canada is exciting,” said Thorpe. “They have set the standard for what everyone is chasing.”
In Heritage Cup history, the series between Canada and the United States is tied at one win apiece. The inaugural contest took place in Mississauga, Ontario in 2002, and saw the U.S. defeat Canada by a score of 21-16. The Canadians rebounded two years later, winning 17-8 in Denver. Before the latest installment of the Heritage Cup, the future stars of the game will hit the turf as Team Canada battles the Iroquois Nationals in a U17 game.
Tickets for the full day of international competition are available at www.ticketmaster.ca