The Rochester Knighthawks
(sometimes abbreviated as the K-Hawks
) are a professional lacrosse team in the National Lacrosse League. They play in Rochester, New York at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial. The Knighthawks were previously members of the Major Indoor Lacrosse League from 1995 to 1997. They have been members of the NLL since the league's inaugural 1998 season.
The Knighthawks reached the playoffs in each of their first 13 seasons, from 1995 to 2007. This is a league record (going back to the league's original creation, the Eagle Pro Box Lacrosse League). The previous record was 11 straight years, held by the Philadelphia Wings.
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ROCHESTER KNIGHTHAWKS TICKETS
| EVENT | DATE | AVAILABILITY |
|---|
| Buffalo Bandits vs. Rochester Knighthawks Tickets 12/28 | Dec 28, 2024
Sat, 7:30 PM |  | | Georgia Swarm vs. Rochester Knighthawks Tickets 1/4 | Jan 04, 2025
Sat, 7:30 PM | | | Rochester Knighthawks vs. Halifax Thunderbirds Tickets 1/11 | Jan 11, 2025
Sat, 7:00 PM | | | Halifax Thunderbirds vs. Rochester Knighthawks Tickets 1/18 | Jan 18, 2025
Sat, 7:00 PM | | | Rochester Knighthawks vs. Colorado Mammoth Tickets 1/25 | Jan 25, 2025
Sat, 7:00 PM | |
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History
The Rochester Knighthawks have been one of the league's most successful franchise since its formation in the
1995 season despite playing in the leagues oldest arena and smallest market. Even with these limitations the Knighthawks have been consistently near the top of the league standings every season.
In their inaugural season they finished 3rd during the regular season and dispatched the
Boston Blazers in the playoff semifinals to get to the finals as an expansion team. As they would do three times later on, they found themselves coming up just short in the championship game, falling in overtime to the
Philadelphia Wings.
Just two seasons later, the Knighthawks would find their way to the top of the MILL heap, claiming the final North American Cup before the merger with the
National Lacrosse League prior to the
1998 season. It would be ten years before the Knighthawks claimed their second title.
2007 season
After starting the season a pedestrian 2-2, the Knighthawks beat
Toronto 19-15 in Toronto, where they had only won twice before in team history. The Knighthawks followed this victory up with 11 more, finishing the season with a franchise-record 12 regular-season-game winning streak and a 14-2 record. The Knighthawks were a perfect 8-0 at home, becoming the first team since the
2003 Bandits to post a perfect record at home.
[1] The winning streak was extended to 13 games after they defeated the Rock 10-6 in the division semi-finals;
[2] and to 14 after beating the Bandits in
overtime, 14-13, for the East Division title.
[3] After the season, head coach
Ed Comeau was named the 2007
Les Bartley Award winner.
[4]
Despite having the best overall record, they could not host the championship game due to a scheduling conflict with the
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus at the Blue Cross Arena.
[5] Playing the game instead in Arizona, the Knighthawks defeated the Arizona Sting 13-11 on
May 12,
2007, to win their first NLL championship.
John Grant, Jr., regular-season league MVP, was named MVP of the game.
The winning streak continued during the
2008 season, as the Knighthawks defeated the
Buffalo Bandits in the opening game on
January 11,
2008.
[6] However, the next night in Rochester, the streak was halted at 16 games as they were defeated by the Bandits 14-9.
[7]
Lease issue
During the 2007 season, a dispute over concession revenues between owner Steve Donner and the Sports Management Group, operators of the Blue Cross Arena, jeopardized the continued play of the Knighthawks in Rochester. Donner claimed that the Knighthawks and the
Rochester Americans of the
American Hockey League had lost over $500,000 the previous two seasons, and without concession revenue sharing, he would be unable to continue to operate the teams in Rochester. An agreement was reached between the Amerks/Knighthawks SMG, and the City of Rochester on a one-year lease extension on
May 11,
2007 that will allow for long-term negotiations to continue through both teams' 2008 season. Under the extension, the Amerks/Knighthawks have agreed to an independent audit of their finances and the city agreed to forgo additional luxury suite revenue from the arena and to loan the Amerks an additional $100,000, added on to a $500,000 loan that is now past-due. All parties involved will now work diligently to reach a long-term agreement by the start of the
2007–08 AHL season in October 2007. However on June 16 2008 the Knighthawks and Americans announced a new five year lease with the Blue Cross Arena.
Sale of team
On
May 28,
2008 the National Lacrosse League's Board of Governors approved the sale of a majority stake of the Knighthawks to the President of
Arrow Express Sports Curt Styres at a price of $5,575,000, the highest price paid for a team in league history. The league's approval is conditional upon whether or not the Knighthawks and Sports Management Group can secure a new lease for play at the Blue Cross Arena.
[8] Styres had also recently been approved by the
American Hockey League to purchase the Americans.
[9]
Fan traditions
Throughout the Knighthawks tenure at the Blue Cross Arena, several traditions amongs the fans have developed. These tend to be lead by the fans sitting in the, "Hawks' Nest", an area of elevated seating behind the Court Street goal. Several times during a quarter where the Knighthawks are defending the opposite goal, it is common for the fans sitting there to chant the visiting team's goaltender's name three times, followed by a very loud, "You Suck!". Much like the fans of the
Philadelphia Wings, Knighthawks fans shout, "Sucks," after each of the opposing teams' players are announced via loudspeakers. Whenever Pat O'Toole makes a good save, the announcer or a fan shouts, "What time is it?" The fans will chorus, "'Toole time!"
Awards and honors
| Year
| Player
| Award
|
| 1997
| Steve Dietrich
| Championship Game MVP
|
| 2000
| John Grant, Jr.
| Rookie of the Year
|
| 2003
| Pat O'Toole
| Goaltender of the Year
|
| 2004
| Paul Day
| Les Bartley Award
|
| 2005
| Andrew Turner
| Defensive Player of the Year
|
| 2007
| John Grant, Jr.
| Most Valuable Player [10]
|
| Ed Comeau
| Les Bartley Award |
| Steve Toll
| Transition Player of the Year [11]
|
| John Grant, Jr.
| Champion's Cup MVP [12]
|
Roster
All-time record
| Season
| Division
| W-L
| Finish
| Home
| Road
| GF
| GA
| Head Coach
| Playoffs
|
| 1995
|
| 4-4
| 3rd
| 3-1
| 1-3
| 97
| 94
| Barry Powless
| Lost Championship
|
| 1996
|
| 6-4
| 4th
| 4-1
| 2-3
| 148
| 137
| Barry Powless
| Lost in semifinals
|
| 1997
|
| 5-5
| 4th
| 2-3
| 3-2
| 156
| 136
| Barry Powless
| Won Championship
|
| 1998
|
| 6-6
| 3rd
| 3-3
| 3-3
| 168
| 159
| Paul Day
| Lost in semifinals
|
| 1999
|
| 8-4
| 3rd
| 4-2
| 4-2
| 169
| 160
| Paul Day
| Lost Championship
|
| 2000
|
| 8-4
| 3rd
| 5-1
| 3-3
| 187
| 149
| Paul Day
| Lost Championship
|
| 2001
|
| 10-4
| 3rd
| 6-1
| 4-3
| 198
| 159
| Paul Day
| Lost in semifinals
|
| 2002
| Central
| 13-3
| 2nd
| 8-0
| 5-3
| 261
| 202
| Paul Day
| Lost in semifinals
|
| 2003
| Central
| 12-4
| 1st
| 6-2
| 6-2
| 214
| 173
| Paul Day
| Lost Championship
|
| 2004
| Eastern
| 8-8
| 2nd
| 6-2
| 2-6
| 173
| 186
| Paul Day
| Lost in Division semifinals
|
| 2005
| Eastern
| 10-6
| 3rd
| 5-3
| 5-3
| 193
| 179
| Paul Day
| Lost in Division finals
|
| 2006
| Eastern
| 9-7
| 2nd
| 6-2
| 3-5
| 196
| 180
| Ed Comeau
| Lost in Division finals
|
| 2007
| Eastern
| 14-2
| 1st
| 8-0
| 6-2
| 249
| 194
| Ed Comeau
| Won Championship
|
| 2008
| Eastern
| 8-8
| 5th
| 4-4
| 4-4
| 197
| 171
| Ed Comeau
| Missed playoffs
|
| 2009
| Eastern
| 7-9
| 4th
| 6-2
| 1-7
| 169
| 197
| Paul Gait
| Lost in Division semifinals
|
| Total
| 15 seasons
| 128-78
|
| 76-27
| 52-51
| 2,775
| 2,476
|
|
|
| Playoff Totals
|
| 12-12
|
| 5-3
| 7-9
| 294
| 293
|
|
|
Playoff results
| Season
| Game
| Visiting
| Home
|
| 1995
| Semifinals
| Buffalo 8
| Rochester 10
|
| Championship
| Rochester 14
| Philadelphia 15
(OT)
|
| 1996
| Semifinals
| Rochester 10
| Buffalo 18
|
| 1997
| Semifinals
| Rochester 15
| Philadelphia 13
|
| Championship
| Rochester 15
| Buffalo 12
|
| 1998
| Semifinals
| Rochester 14
| Baltimore 15
|
| 1999
| Semifinals
| Rochester 14
| Baltimore 12
|
| Championship
| Rochester 10
| Toronto 13
|
| 2000
| Semifinals
| Rochester 15
| Buffalo 11
|
| Championship
| Rochester 13
| Toronto 14
|
| 2001
| Semifinals
| Rochester 11
| Philadelphia 12
|
| 2002
| Quarterfinals
| Vancouver 10
| Rochester 11
|
| Semifinals
| Rochester 10
| Albany 14
|
| 2003
| Semifinals
| Buffalo 13
| Rochester 16
|
| Championship
| Toronto 8
| Rochester 6
|
| 2004
| Division Semifinals
| Buffalo 13
| Rochester 9
|
| 2005
| Division Semifinals
| Rochester 17
| Buffalo 16
|
| Division Finals
| Rochester 10
| Toronto 12
|
| 2006
| Division Semifinals
| Rochester 16
| Toronto 8
|
| Division Finals
| Buffalo 15
| Rochester 10
|
| 2007
| Division Semifinals
| Toronto 6
| Rochester 10
|
| Division Finals
| Buffalo 13
| Rochester 14
(OT)
|
| Championship*
| Rochester 13
| Arizona 11
|
| 2009
| Division Semifinals
| Rochester 10
| New York 11
(OT)
|
*The Knighthawks had the overall top seed in the playoffs, but were unable to host the Championship game due to a scheduling conflict at the
Blue Cross Arena.
Head coaching history
| #
| Name
| Term
| Regular Season
| Playoffs
|
| GC
| W
| L
| W%
| GC
| W
| L
| W%
|
| 1
| Barry Powless
| 1995—1997
| 28
| 15
| 13
| .536
| 5
| 3
| 2
| .600
|
| 2
| Paul Day
| 1998—2005
| 114
| 75
| 39
| .658
| 13
| 5
| 8
| .385
|
| 3
| Ed Comeau
| 2006—2008
| 48
| 31
| 17
| .646
| 5
| 4
| 1
| .800
|
| 4
| Paul Suggate
| 2009
| Resigned prior to season
|
| 5
| Paul Gait
| 2009—present
| 16
| 7
| 9
| .438
| 1
| 0
| 1
| .000
|
Draft history
NLL Entry Draft
First Round Selections
- 1994: Cam Bomberry (1st overall)
- 1995: Derek Collins (5th overall)
- 1996: Cory Bomberry (3rd overall)
- 1997: None
- 1998: Casey Powell (1st overall) & Brad MacArthur (5th overall)
- 1999: John Grant (1st overall) & Ben Hunt (9th overall)
- 2000: Lindsay Plunkett (8th overall)
- 2001: Teddy Jenner (11th overall)
- 2002: Pete Benedict (11th overall)
- 2003: Scott Evans (5th overall)
- 2004: Mike Morrison (8th overall)
- 2005: Shawn Evans (2nd overall)
- 2006: Jack Reid (10th overall)
- 2007: Matt McLeod (8th overall) & Andrew Potter (14th overall)
- 2008: None
NLL Dispersal Draft
- 2002 from Montreal Express: Steve Penny (10th overall); Declined to pick
(22nd overall)
- 2003 from Ottawa Rebel: Mat Giles (10th overall); Shawn Zettel (21st overall); Declined to pick
(32nd overall)
- 2004 from Vancouver Ravens: Chris McKay (5th overall); Peter Morgan (14th overall)
- 2005 from Anaheim Storm: Cam Bergman (8th overall)
- 2007 from Arizona Sting & Boston Blazers: Jack Reid, Boston (12th overall); Matt Lyons, Arizona (13th overall); Alex Smith, Arizona (36th overall)
- 2008 from Arizona Sting: Lindsay Plunkett (5th overall); Matt Brown (18th overall)
- 2008 from Chicago Shamrox: Mike Kirk (4th overall); Bobby McBride (16th overall); Craig Robertson (24th overall); Pat Saunders (25th overall); Brock Boyle (26th overall)
NLL Expansion Draft
- 1999 to Albany Attack: Josh Sanderson (2nd overall)
- 2001 to Calgary Roughnecks, New Jersey Storm, Vancouver Ravens & Columbus Landsharks: Randy Mearns, Calgary (8th overall); Marc Landriault, Calgary (14th overall); Lindsay Plunkett, Vancouver (16th overall); Kevin Howard, Calgary (30th overall)
- 2004 to Minnesota Swarm: Jon Harasym (N/A overall)
- 2005 to Portland Lumberjax & Edmonton Rush: Pat Campbell, Edmonton (8th overall); Mat Giles, Portland (9th overall)
- 2006 to Chicago Shamrox & New York Titans: Carter Livingstone, Chicago (17th overall); Ryan O'Connor, Chicago (19th overall)
- 2007 to Boston Blazers: Brian Croswell (13th overall)
- 2008 to Boston Blazers: Matt Lyons (3rd overall)
References
- Week 16 News and Notes
- Knighthawks Edge Rock 10-6
- Knighthawks Advance to Championship Game
- Ed Comeau Wins Les Bartley Award
- Arizona To Host Championship Game
- K-Hawks Top Bandits in Friday's Opener, 12-9
- Bandits end K-Hawks Streak with 14-9 Win
- Knighthawks sold for nearly $6 million, Rochester Democrat & Chronicle 28 May, 2008
- Also on June 16th 2008 the Knighthawks and Americans announced a new five year lease with the Blue Cross Arena.ARROW EXPRESS SPORTS ANNOUNCES MAJORITY OWNERSHIP OF AMERKS, Amerks.com
- John Grant Wins Dodge Nitro MVP Award
- Toll named Transition Player of the Year
- John Grant Named Championship Game MVP