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Rochester Knighthawks

Knighthawks Honor 'Knabber'

May 18, 2015 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Rochester Knighthawks News Release


Rochester Knighthawks Fan Tim Knab
Rochester Knighthawks Fan Tim Knab
(Rochester Knighthawks)

Tim Knab was hardly recognizable when he accepted the lacrosse stick for being named the Season Ticket Holder of the Game during Game One of the East Division Finals against the Toronto Rock. He was wearing his trademark No. 95 "Knabber" jersey with his Knighthawks jeans, but something was missing: his purple and teal face paint.

"It's funny because most people don't know my first name and a lot of people don't know who I am unless I have face paint on and I love it," Knab said.

Most people don't know him by his first name since the nickname Knabber stuck in high school. But he has been widely known in the lacrosse community for his love for lacrosse even before a team came to Rochester in 1995. His passion for the Knighthawks has been unmatched since then.

It started in high school when Knab saw a group of guys playing lacrosse outside of his classroom. He asked them about it and tried it out. That intrigued him enough to learn about everything that lacrosse had to offer. He started going to Buffalo Bandits games a few times a year, but the commute wasn't easy. He always saw so many fans from Rochester making the trip and wondered why a team couldn't be successful there.

"Seeing all of the Rochester fans coming to Buffalo, absolutely I knew a team in Rochester would work," Knab said. "We won the first game and it was an amazing game. I knew this city would react great to this game because of how avid they are for the (Rochester) Americans. I said 'you haven't seen nothing yet' because most people hadn't seen box lacrosse. That season we had in 1995 was something that built this franchise."

Knab looked around the league and noticed that every popular team around the National Lacrosse League had a fan club except for the Knighthawks. In 1996, he took the initiative to start the "Knighthawks Krew."

"I reached out to some of the people I saw at the games and we started it up. We're celebrating our 20th anniversary next season as the Official Fan Club of the Rochester Knighthawks and I love it," Knab said. "It has introduced me to so many great people from all over the world that are in the Krew - from Australia to Brazil, even military servicemen. It's a touch point back to Rochester."

The fan club arranges pregame parties, plans road trips for away games, does things to benefit charity and welcomes anyone who loves the Knighthawks. Before every game, the Krew goes to the Stock Exchange Restaurant on East Main Street to have dinner. There's an incredible wall in the restaurant  dedicated to Knighthawks lacrosse that's only getting larger, all thanks to the fan club.

"Seven years ago, Tim walked in and asked him to open on weekends for pregame and add televisions for viewing parties. John (Terrigino) caters to everybody. He's gone all in as a sponsor and embraced Knighthawks lacrosse. The restaurant has completely changed because we're there and it's great," Jen Knab said. Her husband added that it's just one example of how much of an influence the Knighthawks have on the city of Rochester.

"It's not just about the guys on the field cause those guys change. The fans have always been here," Tim said. "There are people that I met at the first game that are still my friends. I'll be honest, it's a lacrosse family, and I hate to use the word family outside of my immediate family, but it is. We've helped each other. There's been emergency situations where I know I can count on people that I've met through lacrosse and 'bam', they're there for me."

His wife, Jen, couldn't help but to laugh when she was talking about some of the instances when someone from the lacrosse family was there to help. Once when the couple was at a game in Buffalo, Jen suffered a muscle injury after celebrating a goal and needed medical attention. Knab was outside the arena and didn't know what happened.

"We have so many friends in lacrosse that his phones were blowing up from Bandits fans telling him 'your wife is in the EMS station, you need to get to her,'" Jen said.

During games at The Blue Cross Arena, the couple's 8-year-old son, Dylan, will often run off with friends who he has made at Knighthawks games and not come back to his parents until the game is over. In most environments the Knabs wouldn't let Dylan leave their side, but being part of such a tight-knit community gives them comfort.

"It's a big family, he's made a ton of friends just coming to these games. We have the little man running around, but we know he's safe here," Jen said. "He can go pretty much everywhere because there are eyes on him everywhere and to know that we can have that comfort level here is great."

Dylan loves coming along for the games because of how exciting they are. He played organized lacrosse for a year before quitting, but he still plays at home all the time.

"He has the love for lacrosse because he was born into a lacrosse family," Jen said. "He has a withdrawl from it, every time he sees the games he tells us he wants to play again. We support him in whatever he wants to do."

On Saturday, Tim was awarded a signed lacrosse stick as the Season Ticket Holder of the Game. Knab, who has an entire closet full of Knighthawks gear, plans to donate the stick to a local charity.

"To have all the players sign it is just awesome. I know the Season Ticket Holder of the Game is for me but it's not just me, it's Rochester," Knab said. "I accept that stick on behalf of Rochester because the fan base in this city is amazing, it's what keeps me coming back every week. I love this city and I love this team."

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Rochester Knighthawks Fan Tim Knab
Rochester Knighthawks Fan Tim Knab
   

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