Knighthawks Sign Pair of Free Agents

Published on October 21, 2015 under National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Rochester Knighthawks News Release

Rochester Knighthawks Signees Lukas Coote and Mike Melnychenko
(Rochester Knighthawks)

"It feels pretty good. I was starting to wonder who was going to give me a call," said Melnychenko. "I am pumped it was Rochester."

The 24-year-old forward will embark on his second NLL Camp after being selected by the Buffalo Bandits in last year's National Lacrosse League Entry Draft. In just over a month, the St. Catharines, Ontario native will arrive at Knighthawks Camp after spending the majority of the summer with the upstart Brampton Excelsiors. With the Excels, he posted 30 points (8+22) in 15 games to help Brampton secure a playoff berth.

Melnychenko began the Major Series Lacrosse (MSL) season with Kitchener-Waterloo, where he collected 10 points (4+6) in four games. Leading up to the Senior "A" season, he played in the Canadian Lacrosse League (CLax) with the Niagara Lock Monsters. The lefty forward scored three goals and added four assists in five pro games. He said the most important aspect of his game is his versatility.

"I have the ability to play different roles," said Melnychenko, who put up 33 goals and 35 assists in four seasons in the MSL. "I know when to be a scorer and when I need to get my teammates open and generate offense off-ball."

Prior to being selected in the 2014 NLL Entry Draft, Melnychenko had an outstanding four seasons at Division II Chestnut Hill College. The attackman finished his career as the program's all-time leader in points (205), goals (154), assists (51), man-up goals (26), and games started (54), while ranking fourth in ground balls (124). He also earned Second Team All-American honors as a senior, and was a four-time East Coast Conference selection.

This past year, he has focused more on his fitness and kept a stick in his hand to stay ready once he got the call from an NLL team. That call came from Rochester. Melnychenko said he plans to keep his game simple and contribute wherever he can.

"I just need to play my game and I need to produce," he said. "Hopefully, my game speaks for itself."

Joining Melnychenko at Knighthawks Camp, which will kick off on Saturday, Nov. 21st, is 24-year-old netminder Lukas Coote. Coote is coming off a season in which he helped the Brooklin Merchants to a third-place finish in Senior "B" lacrosse. He completed the regular season with a 2-4 record and a 9.13 goals-against average. During the postseason, he was 1-1 as Brooklin advanced to the Ontario Finals against the Six Nations Rivermen.

"I didn't know what to expect. The season before they had one win and I thought I could help them out," said Coote. "I went in there and we won a lot of games. It would have been nice to win and steal one game from Six Nations, but it was a good year and things went well."

One of his finest seasons was in 2012, when he played for the Canadian Lacrosse League's Oshawa Machine and the Junior "A" Whitby Warriors. In Whitby, he shared the Melville Memorial Award for the fewest goals allowed with teammate Alexis Buque. Coote was an impressive 8-1 and finished fourth in the league in goals-against average (7.86) and sixth in save percentage (.778).

In 2013, he attended his first NLL Combine. On Sept. 27th, Coote was back on the floor at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre for a second chance, facing some of the top NLL prospects and free agents. After an impressive showing in front of the league's general managers, he was hoping to get an invitation to a Training Camp. After talking to a couple of teams, he received the invite he waiting for from Knighthawks VP of Operations Tracy Johnson.

"I had to work hard this season and do well in the combine," he said. "Getting that first email from Tracy telling me I was invited to their camp, I was in awe. I was ecstatic. I couldn't be happier."

As soon Coote got that email, he went on YouTube and watched two or three Rochester games to study the tendencies of the Knighthawks' shooters. The next time he hits the floor, Coote will face some of the best shooters in the game at the team's Training Camp.

"It's just going to be a really great experience to be out there on the floor with Matt Vinc, who has won the Goaltender of the Year the last three years," he said. "I played against Angus Goodleaf at the senior (level). It's going to be good to get out there and get into that higher caliber of lacrosse. I am very excited."

Rochester Knighthawks Signees Lukas Coote and Mike Melnychenko

National Lacrosse League Stories from October 21, 2015

• Knighthawks Sign Pair of Free Agents - Rochester Knighthawks

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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