Knighthawks Announce 2009 Roster
Published on December 22, 2008 under National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Rochester Knighthawks News Release
(Rochester, NY)... The Rochester Knighthawks' 23-man active roster was announced today and it includes 10 players that will make their Rochester debuts during the 2009 National Lacrosse League season.
With season-ending injuries to perennial All-Pro John Grant and high-scoring Scott Evans, the Knighthawks made numerous moves to shore up their offense. This season, the team welcomes newcomers like NLL Hall of Famer Gary Gait, six-year NLL veteran Aaron Wilson and Major League Lacrosse star Joe Walters. They will complement two-time NLL All-Pro Shawn Williams, Shawn Evans, Ken Millin, Shawn Wilkins and Mat MacLeod.
First-year Knighthawks also include forward Jason Henhawk, transition man Joel McCready, defense/transition players Mac Allen and Andrew Spack, and defensemen Kyle Laverty, Brock Boyle and Troy Bonterre. Henhawk makes his return to pro lacrosse after a two-year hiatus. He enters his sixth season in the NLL, having played in Albany, Buffalo, Columbus, Montreal and Toronto. Rochester also welcomes Allen and Bonterre after acquiring them in trade with the Edmonton Rush. Boyle brings five years of NLL experience to the defense, having played in 51 games for teams in Chicago, Minnesota and Albany. McCready is one of two rookies in the bunch, as he begins his rookie season after getting selected in the 2008 NLL Entry Draft. The other first-year man is Spack who signed as a free agent after helping the Major League Lacrosse Rochester Rattlers win the 2008 championship.
They join a lineup that includes stars like Steve Toll, Chris Schiller, Pat Cougevan, Sandy Chapman, Bill Greer and Regy Thorpe. Thorpe enters his 15th season with the team and will also serve as the team's general manager. Cougevan brings 10 years of experience to the Rochester defense, all of which were spent with the Knighthawks. Toll begins his 12th season in the league and ranks fourth in NLL history with 1,140 loose balls.
In goal, Pat O'Toole returns for his 15th season of professional lacrosse and 11th as a member of the Rochester Knighthawks. He is the franchise's all-time leader in wins (90) and saves (4,908). Joining O'Toole in goal for the third straight season is veteran Phil Wetherup.
Rochester also will rely on first-year Head Coach Paul Suggate to lead the Knighthawks back to the playoffs after missing the postseason for the first time in 14 seasons. His journey begins on Saturday, January 10th as the Knighthawks open the season against the rival Philadelphia Wings at 8:05 p.m. at The Blue Cross Arena.
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