Rochester travels to Saskatchewan to take on the defending champion Rush on Saturday.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Rochester Knighthawks travel to Western Canada to battle the Saskatchewan Rush at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday night. The contest is the Knighthawks’ first road game of the season. More importantly, it is the first road trip for a quartet of rookies, who are taking the National Lacrosse League by storm this season.
For Kyle Jackson, Josh Currier, Dan Lomas, and Wayne Van Every, the 3-hour, 35-minute flight from Toronto to Saskatoon is another new experience for the fledgling professional lacrosse players.
“We have had two home games which has allowed us to get our feet wet with so many new faces in the lineup,” said Knighthawks forward Jackson. “It will be great to get on the road and spend some quality time with the team as we search for our first road win of the season.”
Rochester (1-1) enters the game in third place in the East Division, following a 15-8 win over the New England Black Wolves on Jan. 7. The Knighthawks were powered by their four rookies, who combined for 23 points. Jackson led the way with two goals and nine assists, while Currier (3+2) and Lomas (2+3) each chipped in five-point efforts. Van Every also posted one goal and one assist.
“It was exciting to get out there and play with the guys,” said Lomas. “More importantly, it was exciting to get our first win.”
The Knighthawks will now hit the road to take on the Rush (0-2), who are still looking for their first win of the season after suffering setbacks to Toronto and Georgia. Saskatchewan is kicking off the home portion of its schedule Saturday as it welcomes Rochester to the SaskTel Centre.
“Road trips are great for getting to know your teammates better, so I’m really looking forward to that,” said Currier. “I’m really just itching to get back on the floor after that bye week.”
Currier, who is second on the team with seven points, has made a huge impact since making his professional debut on Dec 29. The sixth overall pick has scored four goals and dished out three assists in two games. Lomas, who made his pro debut on Jan. 7, cannot wait to hit the road to play in his second professional game. The former High Point University standout was the Knighthawks’ second-round selection in the 2016 NLL Entry Draft.
“I am excited because you hear a lot about these guys. They are trying to do what Rochester did in the past and win three in a row,” he said. “It’s great to be able to get on the road with these guys because that’s when you really start bonding with everybody.”
Unlike the previously mentioned rookies, Van Every took a different route to the NLL. Having spent one season on a practice squad and attending an additional training camp, the 27-year-old has found a home in Rochester. When asked about this weekend, he echoed the sentiments of Lomas before he boarded the plane to Saskatoon.
“I am looking forward to it,” he said. “It’s going to be a new experience. It is going to definitely bring the team closer together.”