NLL Rochester Knighthawks

Knighthawks Add Top Defenseman, Two Scorers

Published on October 10, 2011 under National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Rochester Knighthawks News Release


(Rochester, October 10)... Rochester Knighthawks General Manager Curt Styres announced today that the team has acquired two-time Defensive Player of the Year Ryan Cousins, and forwards Alex Kedoh Hill (pronounced kid-doe) and Andy Secore from the Edmonton Rush in exchange for forward Shawn Williams, goalie Aaron Bold and a second-round selection in the 2012 NLL Entry Draft.

"We are moving in the direction of getting bigger, faster, stronger and younger," said Styres, whose team was 10-6 last season.

Cousins, 30, comes to Rochester after spending the last seven seasons with the Minnesota Swarm. While with the Swarm, he served as the team captain since the team's inception in 2005 and was named the NLL Defensive Player of the Year and a First Team All-Pro in both 2007 and 2008. The Toronto native was also selected to the All-Star Game from 2005-09. In 10 seasons with Minnesota, Arizona and Washington, Cousins posted 78 points (31+47) with 172 loose balls. He brings a championship acumen having won four straight Mann Cups from 2004-07. Cousins and newly acquired Mike Kirk will add more grittiness to the Rochester backend.

"I have been watching him play with the (Six Nations) Chiefs this summer with Rory Glaves and Sid Smith and that's a bonus," said Styres. "We have some guys gelling already because they have played together."

Hill, 21, enters his second in the NLL after completing his rookie season in 2011 with five goals and six assists in nine games. The former third-round pick finished second in Junior "A" lacrosse this summer with 117 points (46+71) in 22 games for the Six Nations Arrows. For the second straight season, he was named to the All-Canadian Second Team by ILindoor.com. In 2010, the gifted offensive talent was a candidate for Junior Player of the Year after scoring 42 goals and adding 51 assists. In his four seasons with the Arrows, he collected 100 goals and 141 assists. The Six Nations product has also played for the Iroquois Nationals U-19 team.

"Last year we gambled with our draft picks and missed out on Alex," said Styres. "Everything has come full circle now by getting him. We are bringing him in from the Six Nations Arrows, which we are involved with and he is a good fit."

The 27-year-old Secore enters his seventh season in the NLL after spending the last three seasons with the Edmonton Rush (2009-11). Last season, he posted 12 goals and 23 assists for 25 points with the Rush. In his career, the forward has recorded 95 goals and 150 assists in just 95 games. In 2008 with the Minnesota Swarm, he was named to the NLL All-Star Game. That season, he led the Swarm in assists (48) and points (76). In 2007, he helped the Arizona Sting reach the NLL Finals. The Hamilton, Ontario, native has excelled internationally playing for the silver-medal winning Iroquois Nationals in the 2007 and 2011 World Indoor Lacrosse Championships.

"He is another player that we have been following since his junior days," said Styres. "He grew up playing for Brampton Junior 'A' and played one year in Six Nations before he went out west. He is very talented offensively."

Rochester parts ways with Williams and Bold. Williams played 10 seasons with the Knighthawks and finished as the team's all-time assist leader (492). The forward placed second with 309 goals and 801 points. The 37-year-old forward was a three-time captain and helped the Knighthawks win the 2007 NLL championship.

Bold played two seasons in Rochester and registered a 2-4 record, an 11.13 goals-against average and a .774 save percentage. The 26-year-old Victoria, BC, native heads back out west after a summer in which he led the Brooklin Redmen to a playoff berth and a second-place finish in Major Series Lacrosse.

The Knighthawks will open their 18th season on Saturday, January 14th in Philadelphia against the Wings. The Knighthawks will open the home portion of their schedule on Saturday, January 21st against the Buffalo Bandits at 7:30 p.m. at The Blue Cross Arena.

This season, the BCA will welcome its millionth Knighthawks' fan to watch the team continue its legacy as one of Rochester's foremost professional sports franchises. Fans can speak to ticket representatives about season tickets by calling (585) 454-HAWK (4295).

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