Angus Goodleaf agrees to a 1-year contract.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Rochester Knighthawks have re-signed Angus Goodleaf to a one-year contract. During the 2018-19 campaign, the goaltender will play in his seventh season with the Knighthawks.
Goodleaf remains on a team that finished one win away from raising the National Lacrosse League Cup. Coming so close has the veteran excited about this year’s possibilities.
“We basically have the same team as last year, with a couple of changes,” he said. “We still have a solid squad; it’s going to be a fun season.”
Goodleaf, who arrived in Rochester as a free agent in January of 2013, has experienced the greatest success of his career with the Knighthawks. He credits Owner and General Manager Curt Styres with making the team one of the league’s top destinations.
“Curt takes care of his players,” said Goodleaf. “Rochester is definitely one of the teams you want to play for, and he’s one of the guys you want to play for. He gives you every opportunity to be at your best. It’s a great place to play.”
During his tenure in Rochester, Goodleaf has posted an 8-7 record, a 10.04 goals-against average and a .794 save percentage. In five career starts with the Knighthawks, he owns an impressive 4-1 record to go along with a 9.20 goals-against average and a .793 save percentage.
In his six seasons with the Teal and Purple, he has won two NLL championships (2013-14) and back-to-back Teammate of the Year honors (2016-17). In 2014, he finished the season with the highest save percentage in team history (.840) for goalies playing 50 or more minutes. The 31-year-old currently also ranks fourth in franchise history in saves.
Last season, Goodleaf appeared in three games and posted a .798 save percentage, which was tied for fifth all-time in single-season team history. His best outing of the season occurred in a relief effort on March 31, when he made 31 saves in a 16-14 win over the Colorado Mammoth. At the end of the season, he was named the 2017-18 winner of the Knighthawks’ Wolf Pack Award, which recognizes heart and dedication to the team.
“He is the ultimate team guy,” said Knighthawks defenseman Scott Campbell. “He does whatever the team asks of him, whether it’s taking extra shots at the end of practice, keeping the dressing room light with his humor, or stepping in and playing big minutes when needed. He has been the best backup in the league for years now and has been more than ready for a starting role. But being the team guy that he is, he has waited for his time to step up.”
Goodleaf’s best start with the Knighthawks was back on April 29, 2017. Playing against the eventual champion Georgia Swarm, he made a career-high 49 saves to backstop Rochester a 9-8 road victory to end the regular season. The performance was just another example of the clutch play that has defined his time in Rochester.
“Over the past six seasons, anytime we’ve called on him he has played unbelievable and has been there for us,” said Knighthawks assistant coach and Hall of Fame goalie Pat O’Toole. “We’re not afraid to put him in, and we’re not afraid to play him and have him step up for us. The times that he has started, he has done a great job.”
“‘Gussy’ has been here for a long time and knows our systems and he understands the guys he has in front of him,” said Knighthawks head coach Mike Hasen. “He knows our culture and what it takes (to win). He has stepped up in moments for us and has been really good. There is confidence in him from the team and the organization.”
Prior to his Knighthawks career, Goodleaf spent three seasons (2010-12) in Buffalo with the Bandits. He was initially selected in the fourth round (51st overall) by the Minnesota Swarm in the 2007 NLL Entry Draft. In his nine-year NLL career, he has appeared in 137 games and notched nine wins, a 10.38 goals-against average and a .784 save percentage.
At the Junior “A” level, Goodleaf was a member of the Six Nations Arrows in 2008 and led the team to a berth in the Ontario Finals. The previous season, he guided Burnaby to an appearance in the Minto Cup. In the Senior “A” loop, he has one championship to his credit, winning the 2010 Mann Cup with the Peterborough Lakers.
The product of Kahnawake (Mohawk Nation) has twice represented the Iroquois Nationals at the World Indoor Lacrosse Championship. Both times (2011 and 2015), he won a silver medal. During the 2015 tournament, Goodleaf earned the starting job and went 4-2 with an 8.73 goals-against average and a .788 save percentage. In the gold-medal game, he made 41 saves against Team Canada.
Goodleaf has spent the past couple of weeks honing his skills with the Iroquois Nationals, as the team builds a roster for the 2019 World Indoor Lacrosse Championship. With his play at the NLL and international levels, Goodleaf has become a much sought-after goalie and has established himself as one of the game’s elite netminders.
“Angus has come in off the bench to get us wins,” said Styres about Goodleaf’s past success. “He is a character player who leads by example and does what is needed, no questions asked. Angus has paid his dues at the pro level and will move to the top of the heap when he puts in the time to study each shooter on every team.”