Rochester Knighthawks Name Regy Thorpe General Manager
Published on August 20, 2008 under National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Rochester Knighthawks News Release
(Rochester, NY)... Longtime Rochester Knighthawks defenseman Regy Thorpe was named the team's general manager today at a press conference at The Blue Cross Arena. Thorpe, who has been with the organization since its inception in 1995, now moves into his new role in the Knighthawks' Front Office.
"I am excited and look forward to the challenges that lies ahead. I feel confident that I can help build on the past success of our organization," said Thorpe. "I look forward to working with the coaches, players, management and staff. I am honored that Curt (Styres) and Lewis (Staats) have entrusted me with this position and look forward to bringing them their first Champion's Cup.
"It is truly an honor to have played for the same organization for all these years. I feel we have the best fans and arena in this league. I know that we will continue to build on the excitement the new ownership has brought, along with the urgency to give the fans a winner year in and year out," he added. "Our fans can expect a tough, very conditioned, hardworking, and gritty team in 2009. The community can expect a very involved team that will be committed to reaching out and helping the people of Rochester and its surrounding areas."
"I have had the opportunity to get to know Regy on a personal level over the past two summers when he came up to coach the Six Nations Arrows Express," said Knighthawks President Lewis Staats. "His personal commitment and dedication to our team went a long way to showing me what type of a person Regy really is. He led the Arrows Express to the National championship last year and to provincial finals again this year.
"As you all know Regy has been symbolic with the Rochester Knighthawks. For many years he brought to the floor every night - a gritty and hardnosed approach - that teammates love and other teams hate to play against," he added. "I am confident that Regy will bring that same dedication and work ethic to Knighthawks management team and we look forward to many more years of success under his leadership. Curt and I are excited with this new role Regy will play and we are confident we can build on past success and by working together to bring us future championships."
Thorpe brings both head coaching and playing experience to the position. For the past two seasons, he has coached the Six Nations Arrows Junior "A" lacrosse team. In his first season, the Arrows won the 2007 Minto Cup, which is the national junior championship in Canada. This season, he led the Arrows to the OLA Junior "A" Finals.
It's on the field, however, where Thorpe made a name for himself and placed him among the greatest names in National Lacrosse League history. He ends his 14-year career fifth in league history in penalty minutes, 10th in loose balls and seventh in games played.
What's more impressive is that the Elbridge, NY, native spent his entire career in Rochester, where he stands as the team's all-time leader in games played (180), loose balls (910) and penalty minutes (353). Thorpe also played in every postseason game in franchise history (23), guiding Rochester to six title games and 13 playoff berths in 14 seasons. More importantly, Thorpe is the only player in team history to play for both championship teams: 1997 and 2007.
The defensive stalwart was also the team captain in 2008 and served as an alternate captain from 2005 to 2007. He also wore the "C" after Mike Hasen was injured in 2007 and captained Rochester to its second championship. Thorpe also won numerous team individual accolades along the way, winning the team's Unsung Hero three times and earning the Connors & Ferris Comeback Player of the Year twice. In 2005, he was also named to the Knighthawks' All-Time Team.
Thorpe will now direct his former Knighthawk team as the team's inaugural Director of Team Operations. In this newly-created position, he will spearhead the Knighthawks' travel, practice scheduling, as well as other administrative duties including managing the budgeting, scouting and player personnel issues.
"I look forward to helping the coaches get the personnel needed to win here in Rochester and working with the players to take things off their plates so their main focus is lacrosse. I am also committed to assisting the management and staff to meet their budget requirements in order to run a healthy organization not only for this season but for years to come."
Thorpe played his college lacrosse at nearby Syracuse University (1992-93). He was one of the co-captains on 1993 team that captured the Division I National Championship. That season, he earned Honorable Mention All-American honors. In 1991, Thorpe was named an All-American and Defensive Player of the Year at Herkimer County Community College. He continued his field lacrosse career, playing for the Major League Lacrosse Rochester Rattlers from 2001 to 2006. In 2002, he was named to the MLL All-Star team. He has also worked as an assistant coach with the Major League Lacrosse Rochester Rattlers (2007 to present).
Regy resides in Elbridge, NY, with his wife, Amy; son, Gale; and daughter, Ella. In his community, he serves as an assistant lacrosse coach at Jordan-Elbridge High School and coaches youth lacrosse in the Jordan-Elbridge area.
National Lacrosse League Stories from August 20, 2008
- Rochester Knighthawks Name Regy Thorpe General Manager - Rochester Knighthawks
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