NLL Rochester Knighthawks

Rochester hosts Arizona

Published on February 24, 2007 under National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Rochester Knighthawks News Release


(Rochester, NY)... Rochester Knighthawks host the Arizona Sting tonight at The Blue Cross Arena. The Knighthawks (6-2), who lead the East Division, are gunning for their fifth straight victory. The contest concludes the Knighthawks' franchise-record four-game homestand. The game will be televised live on Time Warner SportsNet Channel 26. The contest will also be broadcast in progress on Hot Talk 1280 WHTK.

After the game, the Knighthawks will hold their first call-in radio show from 10:00 to 11:00 p.m. Broadcaster Craig Rybczynski, color commentator Bill Meagher and former "Rip it Up" co-host Dave Cieslinski will take calls from The Blue Cross Arena. The show is also available on-line at whtk.com. Fans can ask their questions by calling (585) 222-1280.

Tonight, the team will hold a Teddy Bear Auction to benefit CURE Childhood Cancer Association. The silent auction will take place in the upper atrium lobby of The Blue Cross Arena. The animals, which were created by the players at the Eastview Mall Build-A-Bear Workshop, are available to bid on from 7:05 p.m. to the end of halftime. The minimum bid is $50. There are 25 animals, including a full-team autographed bear that was donated by Build-A-Bear Workshop.

The Knighthawks play the Arizona Sting for the fourth time in team history. Rochester has a 1-2 record against the Sting, which includes a 16-14 win on February 11, 2006. The Sting arrive in Rochester with longtime Knighthawks Curt and Derek Malawsky. Curt Malawsky played in Rochester from 1998 to 2002-03, and Derek was a K-Hawk from 2001 to 2003-04. Arizona enters the game in second place in the West Division with a 5-2 record.

Arizona is coming off a 12-11 overtime win over the Edmonton Rush on February 18th, as Dan Dawson netted the OT winner. Dawson was named NLL Offensive Player of the Week two of the past three weeks. He currently ranks second in the league in goals with 24. He was named a starter for the 2007 NLL All-Star Game in Portland on Saturday, March 10th at 10:00 p.m. Eastern. The starting goalie is also from Arizona, as Rob Blasdell will start for the West. This season, he has a 5-2 record and second best goals-against average in the NLL (10.10). On February 22nd, defenseman Peter Lough was added to the West team as a reserve. Sting Head Coach/General Manager Bob Hamley will serve as one of the assistant coaches.

Rochester enters the weekend with a one and half game lead over Philadelphia (4-3), Toronto (4-3) and Minnesota (4-3) for first place in the East Division. Forward John Grant is tied for second in the league with 53 points (23+30). He was named to the starting lineup for the league All-Star Game. Forwards Scott Evans and Shawn Williams, and transition man Steve Toll were named reserves for the East. Evans leads the NLL with 26 goals.Toll is second in the league with 99 loose balls. Rochester Knighthawks Head Coach Ed Comeau will serve as the assistant coach for the East Division All-Stars.

The Knighthawks have scored the second most goals in the league with 121 in seven games. The team also has six players over 25 points. Further, Rochester has a league-best 39 power-play goals. The K-Hawks also lead the league with a 62.90 conversion rate. Rochester also leads the league in penalty killing with a 63.49 percentage and is second with 12 shorthanded goals. Last game, the Knighthawks netted seven shorthanded goals in an 18-12 win over the Portland LumberJax on February 17th.

On Saturday, March 3rd, Rochester begins a three-game road trip as they travel to play the Philadelphia Wings at the Wachovia Center, The 7:30 p.m. game will be broadcast on Hot Talk 1280 WHTK and whtk.com.

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National Lacrosse League Stories from February 24, 2007


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