By CRAIG POTTER
Rochester scores just 5 goals while giving up 12 to the Rock at the BCA.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Rochester Knighthawks did not get off to the kind of start the team was looking for to begin the 2017 season following a 12-5 loss to the Toronto Rock before 8,137 fans at the Connors & Ferris Field at the Blue Cross Arena on Thursday night.
Trailing 2-0 and 3-1 in the first period, the Hawks rallied to knot the count 3-3 by the end of the stanza.
Rookies Wayne Van Every and Josh Currier each scored their first pro goal for Rochester before Joel Matthews netted the tying marker.
“It was an adjustment and I would have liked a different outcome but it was good to get out there and get the first game under our belts,” said Currier. “We’ve got to put it behind us and learn from our mistakes.
“We’ve got to cut off that transition and play five-on-five. Our defense and goalies are really good, so we should be fine (if we make little changes).”
“He was shooting the ball well and he was moving his feet well,” said Knighthawks head coach Mike Hasen of Currier. “He’s quick. He’s got quick feet and quick hands so it was good to see. There were a lot of firsts here tonight for us – both positive things and things we know we’ve got to fix. But there were also a lot of good things out there for us as well.”
However, the Rock scored a short-handed goal by Brett Hickey early in the second quarter to take the lead for good. Hickey finished with 3 goals and 2 assists and was named the No. 1 Star of the game.
Toronto outscored Rochester, 6-1, in the second period to take control of the contest.
Quinn Powless, who played 9 games for the Knighthawks late last season, accounted for Rochester’s final 2 goals in the fourth quarter.
Following last season’s 7-11 record, a number of changes were made in the lineup for this season, including 10 new players on the roster for this season.
Two key veterans, Cody Jamieson and Cory Vitarelli, currently are out with injuries, which affected the Knighthawks offensive output. Veteran Dan Dawson, who extended his “iron man” streak to 234 games, was held to just one assist as he accounted for 95 points a year ago with 40 goals and 55 assists.
“It was the first time we played at home so there may have been some jitters there,” Hasen said. “Game one is done now. Its lessons we take away from this game.
“It is what it is tonight and we will just move forward. I thought they were good, they were strong. So we take it and we’ll be better next week.”
Of the veterans in the lineup against the Rock, Joe Resetarits was next with 43 points (17g + 26a) a year ago. He also had only one assist on this night.
The Hawks were out-performed in every facet of the game: faceoffs (12-9), shots on goal (56-48), and ground balls (79-62).
The Knighthawks return to action on Saturday, Jan. 7 at the BCA at 7:30 pm against the New England Black Wolves.
Links
Rochester Knighthawks – www.knighthawks.com
Videos
Brett Hickey SH goal – https://youtu.be/5SQA01QabsY
Quinn Powless 2 shots – https://youtu.be/UQOiOuEGVB8
Josh Currier interview – https://youtu.be/sIIUn5niGnY
Coach Mike Hasen interview – https://youtu.be/x9b-1MkLHG8