NLL Rochester Knighthawks

Knighthawks and Rattlers named to Team USA roster

March 20, 2007 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Rochester Knighthawks News Release


(Rochester, NY)... Seven lacrosse players with ties to the Rochester Knighthawks and Rattlers learned today that they will play for Team USA at the 2007 World Indoor Lacrosse Championship. The tournament will take place will be held at the Halifax Metro Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia, from May 14th to 20th.

Pat Cougevan, Chris Schiller, Pat Dutton, Regy Thorpe, Scott Ditzell, Casey Powell and Rochester native Joe Walters will participate in the eight nations world championship. Cougevan is in his ninth season with the Knighthawks and Powell and Walters are members of the Rattlers. Schiller, Dutton, Ditzell and Thorpe play for both the Knighthawks and Rattlers.

What is even more impressive is that three of the players are Rochester natives. Schiller is from Penfield and is in his sixth season with the Knighthawks. This season, he has played in eight games, and has three goals and three assists. This past summer, he finished his fifth season with the Rochester Rattlers of Major League Lacrosse. In 2003, the defensive midfielder scored a career-high six goals and led the Rattlers with 46 ground balls in 12 games.

"Chris is one of the classic grinders of the NLL. He is a hard worker that you can rely on to do his job every game," said Team USA Head Coach Tom Ryan. "He will be a great asset on the USA Squad."

Dutton, a native of Webster, is in his third season with the Rochester Knighthawks. The forward also plays field lacrosse for the Rochester Rattlers of Major League Lacrosse. In 2006, he had a career year, recording 22 points (9+1+12) in 12 games.

Walters spent the 2006 MLL season with the Rattlers and played in 12 games, recording 21 points (12+1+8). The Irondequoit High School product was the Rattlers' first-round selection (first overall) in the 2006 MLL Collegiate Draft. Last summer, he also completed a storied college career at the University of Maryland. With the Terrapins, he was a four-time All-American and the 2006 recipient of the Jack Turnbull Memorial Award as the Attackman of the Year. He also won a silver medal with Team USA at the 2006 World Lacrosse Championships in London, Ontario.

Joining Walters are Rattlers' teammates Casey Powell and Scott Ditzell. Powell played for the Rattlers from 2003 to 2005, and was a member of the Knighthawks from 1999 to 2000. The former Syracuse University standout is expected to be back in a Rattlers' uniform this summer. The forward is second in Rattlers' history in goals (96), assists (86) and points (184). He currently plays in the NLL for the New York Titans.

Ditzell is in his second season with the Knighthawks and will enter his second season with the Rattlers this summer. The Syracuse University product is a tough and physical defenseman. Another defenseman in that mold is Pat Cougevan. The Penn Yan native is a solid defenseman for the Knighthawks and once played for the Rattlers, as well. Cougevan, who played his college lacrosse at Syracuse, has been with the Knighthawks since the 1996 season.

Thorpe rounds out the Rochester defensemen named to Team USA. The veteran has played in every season of Knighthawks lacrosse and is the franchise's all-time leader in games played (165), penalty minutes (330) and loose balls (862). Thorpe also has been with the Rattlers since the team's inception in 2001. Last season he served as the team's player/assistant coach. Thorpe is another Rochester player that attended Syracuse University.

"Regy is the heart and soul of the Rochester Knighthawks," said Ryan. "He's tough, he's smart and he's a hard worker. We are proud to have him as one of the leaders on Team USA."

The USA will compete against Canada, Australia, England, Ireland, the Czech Republic, Scotland and the Iroquois Nationals. Each team will play a three game round-robin schedule, with the top six teams advancing to the playoffs. For more information, please visit www.usindoorlacrosse.org.

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