Rochester opens its 24th season on Dec. 9 against the Roughnecks.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Rochester Knighthawks will kick off their 24th season in the National Lacrosse League with a 7:30 pm showdown against the Calgary Roughnecks on Saturday, Dec. 9. The Knighthawks will usher in the 2017-18 season with a two-game homestand at Connors & Ferris Field at the Blue Cross Arena.
Following opening night, the Knighthawks will be back in action on Saturday, Dec. 23, as they battle the Buffalo Bandits at 7:30 pm. The game is the first of four against their Thruway rivals. It marks the first time since the 2014 season that the Knighthawks will play the Bandits four times during the regular season.
Rochester will wrap up the 2017 portion of its schedule with a Saturday, Dec. 30 trip to take on the defending champion Georgia Swarm. With the early start to the season, Rochester will play three or more games before the new year for only the second time in team history. The only other occasion was during the 2001-02 campaign, when the Knighthawks played five games before Jan. 1 to open the season.
Knighthawks fans will have a variety of opponents to watch this season as seven different teams will visit the Flower City. The 2017-18 home schedule includes single games against the Saskatchewan Rush, Georgia Swarm, Colorado Mammoth, Toronto Rock, and Calgary Roughnecks, and a pair of games versus the New England Black Wolves and Buffalo Bandits.
Rochester’s schedule features two 2-game weekends, with the first coming in early January against two divisional foes. On Friday, Jan. 12, the Knighthawks will travel to Toronto to battle the Rock. The following evening, Rochester will return home to entertain the New England Black Wolves.
The second two-game set comes less than a month later. This time Toronto comes to town for a Saturday matchup on Feb. 10. The next day, the Knighthawks will take on the Georgia Swarm in Duluth, Ga. for a 5:05 pm faceoff.
Rochester will end the season with three straight divisional games, which could have playoff implications for all three clubs. The Knighthawks will travel to play Toronto on Friday, April 13 at the Air Canada Centre. The following weekend, Rochester will conclude the home portion of its schedule by hosting New England on Saturday, April 21 at 7:30 pm.
Rochester will end the regular season on Saturday, April 28 with a 7:30 pm contest in Buffalo against the Bandits. To follow all the action, fans can purchase Knighthawks season tickets, starting at $90, by visiting www.knighthawks.com or by calling (585) 454-4295.