Rochester trades forward Shawn Evans and signs a defenseman and a goalie.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Rochester Knighthawks General Manager and Vice President of Lacrosse Operations Dan Carey announced on Wednesday that the team has acquired a second-round selection in the 2023 NLL Entry Draft and a future first-round NLL Entry Draft compensatory pick from the Halifax Thunderbirds in exchange for forward Shawn Evans.
“I’m immensely grateful for Shawn and his commitment to the Rochester Knighthawks organization,” said Carey. “Shawn is one of the most talented and competitive players the NLL has ever seen, and he will always be an important part of our history being the first player chosen in our expansion draft leading into our inaugural season in 2019-20.”
Evans, acquired by Rochester first overall in the 2019 NLL Expansion Draft, recorded 47 points (9+38) in 10 games this season with the Knighthawks.
“I have nothing but respect and gratitude for the city of Rochester, the fans, my teammates and players I battled beside each and every night,” said Evans. “I want to thank everyone in the Rochester organization, the fans and my fellow teammates for their support and friendship. I had nothing but great times here in Rochester and now it’s time to move onto the next chapter of my pro lacrosse career.”
Pair sign
Carey also announced that the team has agreed to terms with defenseman Jared Conners and goaltender Lucas Nagy on one-year contracts for the remainder of the 2021-22 season, pending league approval.
Selected by Rochester in the third round (45th overall) of the 2020 NLL Entry Draft, Conners is one of the most decorated players to come out of the University of Virginia. A three-time Inside Lacrosse All-American selection, Conners completed his collegiate career with 35 points (20+15) – the most all-time among Virginia’s long-pole scorers – and 278 ground balls while appearing in all 77 games over his five seasons with the Cavaliers.
Conners, who was one of several players to utilize the NCAA’s extra year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic, led Virginia to back-to-back NCAA National Championships in 2021 and 2019, the first of which was the program’s second title of the decade and first since 2011. He was named the Lt. Donald MacLaughlin Jr. Outstanding Midfielder of the Year for the 2020-21 season after producing 10 points (4+6) in 18 games while also leading all non-faceoff players in the nation with 77 ground balls.
As a senior, the 6-foot-5, 215-pound defenseman scored three goals with one assist, earning Inside Lacrosse All-American First Team honors despite only appearing in six games prior to the cancellation of the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He was also one of four team captains for the Cavaliers.
A native of Pittsford, Conners completed his first season in the Premier Lacrosse League this past summer with Archers Lacrosse Club, who selected him fifth overall in 2021. In eight games, he recorded three shots and 12 ground balls in addition to three caused turnovers.
It was during his time in high school that Conners established himself as one of Rochester’s most dynamic lacrosse players. A four-year letter-winner at Pittsford, Conners was named an Under Armour All-American and was twice named a US Lacrosse All-American. He also earned First-Team All-County and All-Greater Rochester honors in addition to being a two-time Section V Defensive Player of the Year selection. As a senior, the two-time captain was listed as the fourth-best defenseman in the country and was ranked among the top 20 recruits overall by Inside Lacrosse.
Nagy, 21, most recently spent the truncated 2021 summer season playing with the Burlington Chiefs of the Ontario Junior ‘A’ League, recording 57 saves and a 7.03 goals-against average in five starts with the team.
Prior to joining Burlington, the Brantford, Ontario, native played three seasons of Junior ‘B’ ball with the Hamilton Bengals, during which he assembled a 17-2-1 career regular-season record with a 6.70 goals-against average and a .834 save percentage in 27 appearances. His best season came during the 2019 campaign when he posted an astounding 10-1-1 record in the regular season while finishing second among all netminders in both goals-against average (6.08) and save percentage (.843) in 15 games. Additionally, Nagy contributed offensively with 11 assists over his three seasons with Hamilton.
Nagy also boasted a 7-5 record in 13 playoff contests, totaling 543 saves to go along with an 8.47 goals-against average and a .837 save percentage.
Internationally, the 6-foot-5, 225-pound netminder backstopped Team Canada to the gold medal at the 2019 World Junior Lacrosse Championship. He appeared in one game, earning a win over Israel while notching 33 saves.C&C Worldwide sports, SportsROC, Rochester Sports, Rochester Knighthawks, NLL, BCA, Dan Carey