The program will be open to boys born in 2007 and 2008.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Rochester Knighthawks announced today that they are offering an intro to the Junior Knighthawks Box Academy. The introductory box lacrosse program is open to boys born in the years 2007 and 2008.
The sessions will be held at Bill Gray’s Regional IcePlex on Tuesdays from 6-7 pm on July 11, 18, 25, and Aug. 8. The cost is $50 and spots are limited to 25 runners and 2 goalies. There are no tryouts, and it’s first-come, first-serve. Equipment can be provided for the goalies.
“This is a great opportunity for kids to be introduced to the box game at the Novice age,” said Knighthawks transition man Brad Gillies. “It will help build a foundation for what the box game can do to take your field game to the next level.”
The Novice players will learn from Gillies and Knighthawks forward Luke Laszkiewicz.
Gillies, who hails from Oakville, Ontario, had a career season in 2017 and was one of the National Lacrosse League’s top transition players. The former RIT star was a first-round pick of the Knighthawks in 2015. At the Junior “A” level, he won Minto Cups in 2009 and 2012 with the Orangeville Northmen.
Laszkiewicz, who played collegiately at Robert Morris University, outside Pittsburgh, completed his rookie season in the NLL in 2017. In four years with the Colonials, he finished second in school history in goals (125), eighth in assists (42) and third in man-up goals (18). The Oshawa, Ontario, native also won a Minto Cup with the Junior “A” Whitby Warriors. Laszkiewicz is a true student of the game who has benefitted from playing both brands of lacrosse.
“The indoor game is great for sharpening and developing stick skills because of the close proximity,” he said. “Unlike the field game, you are unable to run away from defenders so you are forced to play under pressure from stick checks. “Starting the box game at an early age develops stick skills that are very transferable to the field game. Canadians are known in lacrosse for having great stick skills, I believe that it is attributed to playing the box game at a young age.”