The Rochester Knighthawks own six selections in tonight’s 2018 National Lacrosse League Entry Draft. The event, held at Xfinity Live! in Philadelphia, will begin at 7:00 p.m. ET and is open to the public.
Fans will have the opportunity to come and witness the draft firsthand, welcoming their team’s newest crop of talent. The 2018 NLL Entry Draft will be covered in its entirety on B/R Live, beginning at 6:30 p.m. with the pregame show. The event will be free and available worldwide via the following web link, http://bit.ly/2018NLLEntryDraft.
The Knighthawks will make their first two selections with the ninth and 16th overall picks, and conclude the draft with single picks in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth rounds. Rochester has reloaded its team in recent years through the draft by selecting current impact players Jake Withers, Austin Shanks, Eric Fannell, Kyle Jackson, Brad Gillies, and Graeme Hossack. After advancing to the 2018 NLL Finals in June, Rochester has another opportunity to add young talent.
“This is always a great time of year. It marks the next milestone as we approach the beginning of the 2018-19 NLL season, as well as our 25th Anniversary,” said Knighthawks head scout Stuart Brown. “We see a great opportunity to improve our team and add depth to our roster. Our staff has been hard at work, and are well prepared for the many scenarios that could play out between now and the draft.”
The Knighthawks will rely on its seasoned team of coaches, executives and scouts, who have been evaluating talent at the junior, senior and NCAA levels. Two-time NLL General Manager of the Year Curt Styres headlines a group that includes Brown, VP of Player Personnel Jody Gage, Vice President of Lacrosse Paul Gait, President of Lacrosse Operations Jake Henhawk, Alternate Governor Gewas Schindler, Director of Player Development Duane Jacobs, and Western Scouts Kevin Hill and Bruce Clark.
“Our staff has put a lot of work into this year’s draft, and we are looking forward to seeing what players we can add to the Knighthawks in our effort to bring a championship to Rochester in our 25th season,” said Henhawk.
Hill had the farthest commute to the draft as he flew in from Vancouver. Having worked with the Knighthawks since 2009, he understands the time it takes to track and evaluate talent leading up to draft night.
“It’s an exciting and interesting process to watch and be a part of as well,” he said. “It’s great how the team collaborates and works together to find the right person who will be the next Rochester Knighthawk.”
“It’s not something that happens overnight,” added Hill. “It begins two years beforehand because we are looking at players coming up and then tracking their progress.”
Gage, who has attended over 20 NLL Drafts, said he looks forward to this day every year. It’s an opportunity for the staff to come together, pool their resources and see the results of their years of scouting pay off.
OSU players.jpg“It’s an exciting day for the whole organization because those are your future players,” he said. “Let’s face it, you’re hoping the first- and second-picks make an immediate impact, just like last year. All three players we took in the first round had an impact.”
“You are also excited for the players,” added Gage. “Growing up their dream is to play at the highest level, and that’s the National Lacrosse League.”
The lacrosse operations staff is supported by a coaching staff that has won a combined 19 NLL championships. Head coach Mike Hasen, and assistant coaches Pat O’Toole and Mike Accursi lead the staff with five each. Veteran assistant coach Jason Johnson owns three championship rings, while second-year assistant Marshall Abrams won the 2007 title with the Knighthawks. All of them have been through this process as a player and as a coach, and it never gets old seeing the next crop of talent come through the draft.
“The biggest thing is the optimism and the opportunity that awaits the players getting drafted,” said Hasen. “They have so much potential because of their hard work throughout the years. For the players, it’s a dream come true. In one sense it’s great, but in another sense, the hard work is just about to start.”
ROCHESTER’S SELECTION SUMMARY (6 TOTAL PICKS):
1st Round: 9
2nd Round: 16
3rd Round: 36
4th Round: 49
5th Round: 62
6th Round: 73