NLL Rochester Knighthawks

Four Knighthawks Among MSL Mid-Year Award Contenders

June 28, 2012 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Rochester Knighthawks News Release


Stephen Stamp published his Major Series Lacrosse mid-year award contenders on Ilindoor.com. Four Rochester Knighthawks were recognized for their play this summer: Alex "Kedoh" Hill, Jamie Batson, Scott Campbell and Brad Self.

Hill was selected the top contender for MSL Rookie of the Year, with Batson running a close second. Hill is tied for fifth on the Six Nations Chiefs with 13 points (8+5) in seven games. The former Six Nations Arrows star was acquired last season by the Rochester Knighthawks. This summer, he has shown his versatility in his inaugural season with the Chiefs.

"I am playing all right. I am getting into games playing offense and defense. I am a utility man," said Hill.

Batson, who was a rookie in 2012 with the Knighthawks, has made a huge leap in his development over the past year. Batson was the Defenseman of the Year at the Senior "B" level before cracking the Knighthawks' lineup in 2012. This summer, he has shown his continued improvement by making the Kitchener-Waterloo Kodiaks' roster. On Tuesday, he was part of a defensive effort that limited the first-place Six Nations Chiefs to five goals in a 7-5 victory.

"Last night was a big win for us against Six Nations," said Batson. "It has been a good year."

He has come a long way since getting signed out of Knighthawks' Rookie Camp last November. Batson has a full season of professional lacrosse under his belt, and has used that knowledge in his first season in the MSL.

"It was a huge help," said Batson. "I learned a lot from just practicing and watching the games. It taught me about defensive awareness and positioning. I am a completely different player than I was last year."

In the transition spots, Rochester's Scott Campbell and Brad Self were highlighted as two of the best in the game. Campbell is coming off a five-point effort (2+3) in the Brooklin Redmen's 13-11 victory over the Peterborough Lakers on June 20th. In 2011, he was named the Rochester Knighthawks' Unsung Hero.

"The best of the bunch so far is probably Scott Campbell from Brooklin. The 30-year-old is an established defender who plays with some edge and will stand up to anyone," Stamp commented. "He's also got the wheels to take off and the hands to finish, plus the smarts to know when to go to goal and when to peel out."

Self has provided tough defense and added offense in transition for the Peterborough Lakers. In six games, he has five goals and five assists. This season with the Knighthawks, Self played in a career-high 16 games and collected a career best 87 loose balls. He also had a six-game goal-scoring streak.

"He's upped the ante physically and is more committed to stopping other teams' top players than to breaking out to lead the rush," wrote Stamp. "He's so fast, though, that he can still get up to the other end with a chance for a good shot and his touch is returning with five goals already this summer."

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