The games will be played at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena in Ontario, Canada.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Rochester Knighthawks closed out the second day of this weekend’s training camp Sunday, leaving the players and coaches excited for what the next phase of the preseason schedule will have to offer.
For 23-year-old forward Josh Currier, it was a thrill to attend his first professional training camp and join a world-class team like the Knighthawks. Like the rest of the team, Currier is itching to get on the field this weekend as the Knighthawks play two preseason games at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena in Six Nations.
“I’m excited to get to know the team and just move forward with the guys,” said the Knighthawks’ first-round pick. “I love playing the game and it’s been a while since the summer season has ended, but I’m ready to get back out there for the rest of training camp and the preseason games.”
After one more practice this week, the Knighthawks will embark on a pair of preseason games. Rochester will host the Buffalo Bandits at 1 p.m. at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena on Saturday, Dec. 3. The following day, Rochester will entertain another East Division foe when it takes on the New England Black Wolves at noon. The games at the ILA are closed to the public.
Quinn Powless, who the Knighthawks acquired from New England back in February, was a standout at camp Sunday as he showcased his speed and strength. He is excited to be back and healthy as this training camp signified a new beginning for the 23-year-old forward.
“I’m feeling good. I feel like I’m coming into camp in good shape,” said Powless. “I’m ready to fully take the season on. I’ve played with these guys over the summer. It’s just a matter of getting used to a few new guys and getting back into the system that we have here, but we’re doing pretty well.”
As for Knighthawk Brad Gillies, coming to camp this year signified the start of his second season in the NLL. After playing in six games last season and putting up four points (4+4), he has his sights set on becoming a full-time part of the defense. Training Camp was just the first step in the RIT Alum’s journey to crack the starting lineup.
“I think we improved a lot even from the first day,” said Gillies. “I think we’ve got a good group. The training we’re doing is new for most of us and I think it will only help us in the long run. It’s going to make us a lot better athletes and push us. We’re going to be thrown right into the fire the next couple weeks. I feel pretty good and we’ve got a lot of guys who will step up and perform well so we’re going to just go in there and work our hardest and see what happens.”
Everyone on the team is excited to see the results of the changes that were made in the offseason, as they head into week two of camp. As the preseason moves forward, they are dedicated to continue to stand by the motto “I can and I will”.
“To me it means just that,” said Powless. “It means everyone adapting to our system and buying into it. We just believe in each other and are going to come together as a team.”