Only 3 players on the roster are unrestricted free agents heading into the 2019-20 season.
By CRAIG POTTER / C&C Worldwide Sports Director
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Rochester Knighthawks played their final game under Owner/General Manager Curt Styres Saturday night on Fan Appreciation Night before 6,158 fans at the Connors & Ferris Field at the Blue Cross Arena.
The Knighthawks fell behind early as they lost 14-12 to the New England Black Wolves, and former Knighthawks Joe Resetarits and Adam Bomberry.
The defeat insured the Knighthawks would finish with their worse record (6-12) in their 25-year history.
Only 3 players on the roster are unrestricted free agents, according to a Knighthawk official, now that their season is over. They include goalie Angus Goodleaf, and forwards Ryan Benesch and Stephen Keogh.
The players Styres will be taking to Halifax next season are either under contract or are restricted free agents.
Goalie Warren Hill has played the last 5 games for Rochester, posting a 4-1 record. Overall he finished with a 4-3 slate for the season.
Goodleaf, 32, appeared in 13 games for Rochester this season with a 2-9 record. This was his 7th season with the Knighthawks as he served as backup to Matt Vinc, who signed with the Buffalo Bandits in the offseason.
Goodleaf relieved Hill in goal 4 minutes into the second quarter after the Black Wolves had built a 6-0 advantage.
Benesch, 33, was acquired in a trade from the Colorado Mammoth during the present season. This is his 13th year in the NLL, and first with Rochester. Coming into the season, Benesch ranked 10th all-time in assists and points, and 11th in goals.
He scored 4 goals and had 3 assists to pace the Hawks in the loss to the Black Wolves.
Keogh, 32, is in his 8th season and 7th with Rochester. He began the year also with Colorado and was re-acquired by the Knighthawks during the campaign. Keogh was not in the lineup for the game against New England.
Keogh spent parts of three seasons in Denver after being traded to the Mammoth from the Knighthawks in February of 2017. With Colorado, he played in 29 games and collected 47 goals and 45 assists for 92 points. Keogh returned to Rochester where he played parts of 6 seasons (2012-17).
All 3 players will be eligible to sign with the expansion Knighthawks under owners Terry and Kim Pegula, who also own the Buffalo Bandits, or with any other team in the NLL.
Styres will be taking the remaining players with him as he is the owner of the Halifax Thunderbirds, who will begin play next season, as will the expansion Knighthawks and New York Riptide franchise.
There will be an expansion draft in September, from the current NLL rosters, to begin filling the Knighthawks and Riptide rosters. The current NLL teams can lose a maximum of 2 players from their unprotected roster in the expansion draft.
The Halifax Thunderbirds will receive all of the current Rochester Knighhawks entry draft picks as the current Knighthawks will become the Thunderbirds for the 2019-20 season.
The new Rochester Knighthawks, starting in the 2019-20 season, will have their own entry draft picks as an expansion team.
Styres also will take many of the current front office personnel to Halifax with him.
Jody Gage, who works for the Pegulas with the Rochester Americans, will not be going to Halifax. When asked, at the final Amerks home playoff game April 21, if he will have a position with the expansion Knighthawks, Gage said, “I won’t know that until after the season is over.”
To date, the only staff named for the expansion Knighthawks by the Pegulas is that Dan Carey is the General Manager and Vice President of Lacrosse Operations. That was announced on Dec. 13, 2018. The team still will need a coaching staff as well as front office and broadcast personnel.
Team awards and post game reflections
The team awards were given to Steve Abbamonte (Dedication to the Team), Craig Rybczynski (Seventh Man Award), James Barclay (Rookie of the Year), Brad Gillies (Community Service Award), Jake Withers (Wolf Pack Award), Graeme Hossack (Defensive MVP and Team MVP), and Cody Jamieson (Offensive MVP).
Jamieson mentioned, in an after game interview from www.knighthawks.com, that Rochester was where he always wanted to play and that he was grateful for his time in the city.
“I have never really told anybody this, but I have always wanted to be in Rochester,” Jamieson said. “When my best friend Sid [Smith] was draft eligible the year before I had one more year left at school, and it was tough to stay.”
Rochester head coach Mike Hasen noted that although he has experienced ups and downs in Rochester, the fans and the city always will hold a special place in his heart.
“It has been a rollercoaster ride, my kids have grown up here,” he said. “Through it all, I have only ever wanted to be a Knighthawk.”
Jamieson echoed Hasen’s sentiments after the game.
“I could not imagine playing for somebody else,” he said. “I am thankful to have been here for as long as I have. We had a lot of good times.”
The Knighthawks remain the only NLL franchise to capture 3 consecutive playoff championships (2012, 2013, 2014) as Hasen and Jamieson played key roles in that success.