Austin Shanks agrees to a 2-year deal with Rochester.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Rochester Knighthawks announced today that they have re-signed forward Austin Shanks to a two-year deal. The former first-round pick returns after helping the Knighthawks reach the 2018 National Lacrosse League (NLL) Finals.
“My goal as a pro is to win as many championships as possible,” he said. “Being 2-6 and then winning 8 of our last 10, I saw both sides of the spectrum. I played in a game where the trophy was given out, win or lose. I can take that as an experience and add that as motivation, so the next time I am the one hoisting it up.”
Shanks was selected fifth overall in the 2017 NLL Entry Draft. The Whitby, Ontario, native was part of a historic draft class, as Rochester chose three players from the same university in the first round. Shanks was reunited with former Ohio State University teammates Jake Withers and Eric Fannell, who went second and sixth overall, respectively.
“It was a great experience. No one has been able to do that (in league history),” said Shanks. “I played with those guys from college to pro and played against them in junior and senior. We sometimes played on different teams, but we always followed each other’s careers. Eventually, we ended up together in Rochester. We all had successful years, going to the championship game last season.”
Taking Shanks gave the Knighthawks the missing piece they were looking for on the right side of the offense.
“Austin Shanks put up numbers at both the junior and senior level,” said Knighthawks VP of Player Personnel Jody Gage. “We have been looking for an off-ball righty like him for a while.”
Shanks was an integral part of the Knighthawks’ offense that powered the team to its first Finals since the 2014 season. During the postseason, he finished tied for third in goals (nine) and tied for fourth in points (18). Shanks, who played in 15 regular season games, was also among the top point producers on the team as he placed third on the Knighthawks in goals (27), and fourth in assists (25) and points (52). He was rewarded by being named to the NLL All-Rookie Team, along with Withers and Fannell.
“After just one season, Austin has established himself as one of our top righties,” said Knighthawks Owner and General Manager Curt Styres. “He is a great finisher around the net, good off ball, and has a tremendous lacrosse IQ.”
Shanks made the jump to the pros after posting 83 goals and 40 assists in 60 games at Ohio State. In 2017, he finished second in the nation with nine man-up goals, as part of a 15-goal, four-assist senior season. At the Junior “A” level, Shanks won a Minto Cup with the hometown Whitby Warriors in 2013. The following season, he led the Ontario Lacrosse Association (OLA) in goals (57) and was second in points (104). In 2015, Shanks was named league MVP and the Most Outstanding Player, while leading the circuit in points. He finished his career in Whitby with 129 goals and 140 assists in 72 regular season games.
In his senior career, Shanks has spent parts of five seasons with the Brooklin Redmen, posting 64 goals and 58 assists in 39 games. This summer, the 24-year-old collected nine goals and eight assists in eight Major Series Lacrosse (MSL) games. In the postseason, he heated up with nine goals and 14 assists in seven contests.
After an impressive rookie and summer season, Shanks is poised for a breakout sophomore campaign in the NLL.
“He had a tremendous season,” said Knighthawks assistant coach Mike Accursi. “I couldn’t have asked for a better guy to step in and play. We knew he was slick after watching him in the summer. He is a very good off-ball player and good in the pick-and-roll game. He didn’t disappoint in those areas. As soon as they gave him time and space, he would rip one past them. He lived up to the expectations we put on him. I think he is going to be even better this year.”