Brad Gillies, Dan Lomas, and Luke Laszkiewicz are the co-winners of the award.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Rochester Knighthawks recognized three players today for their service to the Rochester community during the 2017 season. Brad Gillies, Dan Lomas and Luke Laszkiewicz were named the co-winners of the Diamond Packaging Community Service Award.
Photo provided/From left, Dan Lomas, Luke Laskiewicz, Brad Gillies.
The players were rewarded for their commitment to growing the game in the Rochester area, and for their countless hours spent doing community outreach programs. Visiting dozens of schools throughout the year, Gillies, Lomas and Laszkiewicz taught kids about lacrosse, the dangers of bullying, and the importance of living a healthy lifestyle.
“It was great to get out into the community this season,” said Gillies. “Getting out to a ton of schools for assemblies was very rewarding, and anytime we can introduce a kid to lacrosse it’s a fun experience.”
Each week, the Knighthawks players attended practices and games, providing youngsters with world-class instruction. From Lacrosse 101 to camps and clinics, they invested their time into the local lacrosse community.
That was very evident by their season-long commitment to helping East High grow its lacrosse program. With the support of Diamond Packaging, the players had all the resources and Under Armour® equipment they needed to provide the high school athletes with a first-class lacrosse experience.
“It’s been an absolute blessing to be so involved in the Rochester community this year,” said Lomas. “The community welcomed us with open arms and really embraced what the Knighthawks had to offer. I made memories I will never forget and grew as a person because of the great people of Rochester.”
Gillies, Lomas and Laszkiewicz also expanded the Knighthawks’ box lacrosse footprint in the marketplace. Not only did they take over the Jr. Knighthawks program, but they were instrumental in establishing two first-time indoor events in Rochester. In late July, the players will conduct the team’s first box-specific lacrosse camp for youth players. The Knighthawks will then host their inaugural Upstate Box Lacrosse Invitational, which is a USBOXLA sanctioned event, from August 12-13.
Two weeks later, Gillies, Lomas and Laszkiewicz will coach the Jr. Knighthawks at the fifth annual Jr. NLL Tournament in Oakville, Ontario. For Laszkiewicz, sharing the sport he grew up playing back home is what being a professional athlete is all about.
“I have been working in the community for the past few months and the support behind Rochester youth lacrosse is pretty inspiring,” said the Oshawa, Ontario native. “I have been playing lacrosse since the age of 4, and I am excited to have the opportunity to share my experience and love for the sport with a younger generation.”