Rochester is one game out of a playoff berth entering the weekend.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Rochester Knighthawks made several player moves prior to Thursday’s National Lacrosse League roster deadline. The Knighthawks now can focus on their goal of making the 2017 NLL Playoffs. Entering the week just one game behind third-place New England (6-7), Rochester’s next test comes Saturday with a showdown against the Calgary Roughnecks.
“These guys have battled hard and put themselves in a great spot where we still control our own fate,” said Knighthawks head coach Mike Hasen. “They got us here so we are counting on them to get us where we need to be.”
To prepare for a run at the postseason, the Knighthawks (5-8) promoted two players, Luke Laszkiewicz and Marty Hill, and re-signed forward Torrey VanEvery. Rochester also placed transition man Andrew Suitor and forward Dan Dawson on the Suspended List.
Laszkiewicz was the Knighthawks’ fifth-round selection (43rd overall) in the 2016 NLL Entry Draft. The former Robert Morris University standout played well in the preseason, scoring two goals and adding two assists in two games. This year, he has also been playing for the Six Nations Snipers of the Arena Lacrosse League, where he has posted 11 goals and 12 assists for 23 points.
Like Laszkiewicz, Hill and VanEvery have also been impressive with Six Nations. Hill collected five points in five games and won nine of 15 faceoffs for the Snipers. The Knighthawks brought Hill back to the organization on March 17. Originally drafted by Rochester in 2010, he is now one step closer to realizing his dream of playing in a NLL game.
“I’m pretty excited to finally get a chance to achieve a dream of mine,” he said. “It’s been seven years since I was drafted; it goes to show to always keep working hard and never give up on your dream.”
During his lacrosse career, Hill has achieved success at every level. Three times he raised a championship trophy, with the last time coming in 2012 with the Canadian Lacrosse League’s Ohsweken Demons. With the Junior “B” Six Nations Rebels, he won back-to-back Founders Cup titles (2007-08). Hill was also a standout with the Junior “A” Six Nations Arrows and at Herkimer County Community College, where he was an All-Region and Conference Midfielder of the Year selection in 2010.
VanEvery returns after starting the season with the Knighthawks. The Six Nations product signed with the team on Dec. 23and was a member of the practice squad for the first four games of the season. VanEvery has since played in three games with the Six Nations Snipers and notched impressive numbers. The forward has scored eight goals and added seven assists, which included a six-point effort against the Peterborough Timbermen on March 19.
The 6-foot-3, 225-pound forward has won four championships in his lacrosse career. While playing in CLax, he won the Creator’s Cup in 2012 with Ohsweken and in 2013 with the Iroquois. VanEvery also captured back-to-back Founders Cups with the Junior “B” Six Nations Rebels.
VanEvery was thrilled to re-sign with the Knighthawks as the team fights for a spot in the 2017 National Lacrosse League Playoffs.
“It’s the best news I could get right now,” he said. “I am doing whatever I can to help the team out, and help them get that playoff spot.”
Here is the roster breakdown:
Forwards (6): Kyle Jackson, Dan Lomas, Luke Laszkiewicz, Quinn Powless, Joe Resetarits, Cory Vitarelli
Defensemen (9): Adam Bomberry, Scott Campbell, Paul Dawson, Dylan Evans, Brad Gillies, Graeme Hossack, Ian Llord, Luc Magnan, Sid Smith
Transition (3): Jarrett Davis, Marty Hill, Sean Young
Goalies (2): Angus Goodleaf, Matt Vinc
Practice Squad (3): Brayden Hill, Wayne Van Every, Torrey VanEvery
Suspended List (2): Dan Dawson, Andrew Suitor
Injured Reserve List (2): Josh Currier, Cody Jamieson
Hold Out List (2): Josh Becker, Joel Matthews