Knighthawks Preparing for 'Mammoth' Matchup
Published on March 27, 2012 under National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Rochester Knighthawks News Release
(Rochester, March 27)... The Rochester Knighthawks will host the West-Division leading Colorado Mammoth on Saturday, March 31st at 1:05 p.m. at The Blue Cross Arena. The first 3,000 fans will receive Knighthawks light-up keychains. The game is sponsored by Ricoh. After the game, the Knighthawks will host Kids Fest at Total Sports Experience starting at 4:00 p.m. Fans can meet the players, dance team and the mascot, R. Thunder. The event features inflatables, laser tag, face painters and air brush tattoos from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Head-to-Head: The K-Hawks meet the Colorado Mammoth for the second time this season. The Mammoth won the first meeting 14-11 on January 28th. Rochester trails Colorado in the all-time series with a 3-5 record. The game marks the first time John Grant Jr. will play against his former team at The Blue Cross Arena. The Knighthawks' all-time goal-scoring leader was dealt to Colorado in a deal that brought Matt Vinc to Rochester in 2010.
Scouting the Knighthawks: Rochester has won three of its last four games at home, suffering its only loss on March 24th to the Toronto Rock, 13-7. The Knighthawks (5-6) enter the week tied for second place in the East Division with the Rock. Goalie Matt Vinc made 42 saves in the loss to remain third in the NLL in saves (419) and fourth in goals-against average (11.79). He also recorded his 1,000th save as a Knighthawk. Last Saturday, Cody Jamieson led the offense with four points to reach the 60-point plateau. He leads the team in goals and points and ranks sixth in both league categories. He now has 22 points (9+13) in his last four games. Jarrett Davis, who last played on February 24th, had a breakout game with two goals and one assist. Brad Self, who came over to Rochester in the trade to get Vinc from Colorado, is only one of two Knighthawks to have points in all 11 games this season. The other is Mike Accursi.
Scouting the Mammoth: The Mammoth lead the NLL in wins with a 9-3 record and hold a half-game lead over the Calgary Roughnecks. Colorado became the first team in the NLL to clinch a playoff spot, following a 16-15 overtime victory over the Philadelphia Wings on March 25th. Colorado goalie Chris Levis made 42 saves, including nine in overtime. Rookie Adam Jones netted the winner at 9:38 of OT, as part of a nine-point game (4+5). After missing his last two games with an injury, John Grant Jr. returned with 19 points (9+10) in two games, including a 12-point effort (3+9) against the Wings on March 25th. Colorado boasts three of the top five point producers in the NLL in Grant (87), Gavin Prout (66) and Jones (61). Grant, who leads the NLL in goals and points, played in Rochester from 2000-10 and finished with one NLL title (2007) and the team records for goals and points. All-Pro defenseman Mac Allen made his 2012 debut on March 25th in the win at Philadelphia. Levis leads the NLL with 471 saves and is fifth with an 11.82 goals-against average.
Next Game: The game against Colorado is the first of three straight against the West Division. Rochester embarks on a home-and-home series with the West Division's Calgary Roughnecks. The two-game set begins on Friday, April 6th in Calgary at 9:00 p.m. The second contest shifts to Rochester on Saturday, April 14th at 7:30 p.m.
Teddy Bear Auction: Fans can bid on bears made by the players at the home game and online, courtesy of GobuyRochester.com. The auction, to benefit CURE Childhood Cancer Association, ends at midnight on Monday, April 2nd. The minimum bid is $50 with additional bids accepted in $10 increments. Bids can be placed online at gobuyrochester.com.
National Lacrosse League Stories from March 27, 2012
- MidCountry Bank Partners up with the Minnesota Swarm to Host Lacrosse Clinic - Minnesota Swarm
- Knighthawks Preparing for 'Mammoth' Matchup - Rochester Knighthawks
- Bandits to Sell Commemorative Portrait - Buffalo Bandits
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