The two Rochester knighthawks will play in a pair of international exhibition games in Denver.
Rochester Knighthawks Graeme Hossack and Kyle Jackson will play in a pair of international exhibition games this weekend in Denver. The Knighthawks will represent their country as Team Canada battles the University of Denver and the United States Air Force Academy on Oct. 22 and 23, respectively.
Canada will kick off its two-day schedule with a 3:00 p.m. (ET) showdown against the 2015 NCAA Division champion University of Denver Pioneers at Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium. Team Canada will conclude its trip out west with a Sunday contest against Air Force. Canada’s roster includes 11 players who will represent Canada for the very first time and seven members of the gold medal winning squad from the 2014 FIL Men’s World Lacrosse Championship. Two of the newcomers are Rochester’s Graeme Hossack and Kyle Jackson.
“It’s going to be a good experience getting to know some of the guys I haven’t played with before,” said Hossack. “It’s also a great honor to be wearing Canada’s jersey.”
The 24-year-old, who hails from Port Perry, Ontario, was recently named to the NLL’s All-Rookie team after a freshman campaign in which he led the team with 21 caused turnovers to go along with five points in 18 games. He also finished second in the NLL in loose balls among rookies with 91. Rochester drafted Hossack second overall pick out of Division II Lindenwood University, where he was ECAC Specialist of the Year (2014 and 2015), First Team All-ECAC (2013-15) and Team MVP (2013-14).
Jackson, who was selected by the Knighthawks seventh overall in the 2016 NLL Entry Draft, joins Team Canada after completing a storied career at the University of Michigan. The Sarnia, Ontario native graduated as the school’s all-time leading scorer with 88 goals and as the all-time point producer with 113 points. While playing at Michigan, he was a two-time team Offensive MVP (2015-16), an All-ECAC First Team selection (2014), and the team’s Most Valuable Player (2016).
The 23-year-old Jackson will continue his field career this weekend in Denver as he dons the maple leaf of Team Canada.
“The experience of playing for your country is something that sits extremely deep in my heart,” he said. “I am thrilled to have the experience and chance to put on the Canadian red and be amongst a tremendous group of skilled lacrosse players. I can’t wait to get out to Denver. I am honored to be selected to be a member of this team.”
The men’s field lacrosse national team, led by head coach and former Knighthawk Randy Mearns, will use this event to help plan for the upcoming 2018 FIL Men’s World Lacrosse Championship that will take place in Manchester, England.
“This training event in Denver will begin the journey toward the world championship in 2018,” said Mearns, “but it’s just the first step in a complex two-year process. We are excited to get started.”