NLL Rochester Knighthawks

Team 22: a Dream That Became a Reality

Published on November 17, 2011 under National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Rochester Knighthawks News Release


(Rochester, NY)... Rochester Knighthawks Owner and General Manager Curt Styres has established himself as a builder and a supporter of lacrosse in Six Nations, and throughout Canada and the United States for decades. His latest venture has been in the works for the past eight years. The result of his planning was the creation of Team 22, the official Licensee of Under Armour Lacrosse.

"The idea started in 2003 when Craig (Point), Sid (Smith) and Cody (Jamieson) were 17. We were going to manufacture and design lacrosse equipment, but I got involved with work and they went to college and university," said Team 22 CEO Curt Styres. "I had the opportunity to do it again when Paul Gait arrived."

Team 22, under the Under Armour banner, designs, manufactures and distributes lacrosse equipment. Under Armour stands as a world-wide developer, marketer, and distributor of branded performance apparel, footwear, and accessories. With a partnership with one of the innovators in the lacrosse industry, it only made sense to start Team 22 with one of the most dynamic men in lacrosse: Paul Gait. Gait, known as one of the greatest lacrosse players ever, joins Team 22 as its president. The 44 year old adds instant credibility to Team 22 after a remarkable playing career and a successful business career in the lacrosse equipment manufacturing industry. Gait has 20 years of industry experience, most recently serving as the president of deBeer and Gait Lacrosse.

Styres' dream of owning a lacrosse business was revived when Gait left deBeer and Gait Lacrosse in May 2010. It was preciously the time that Gait moved into his role as the Knighthawks Vice President of Lacrosse after coaching the National Lacrosse League team for two seasons.

"Paul Gait arrived in Rochester to coach the team and at that time we developed a plan that in two years we would move him into the front office," said Styres. "It has been a long time since we worked on it and waited seven years (to start a lacrosse company). We are now watching the dream unfold in front of us."

That dream took center stage at the 2011 Men's Lacrosse Final Four in Baltimore, Md. From an airplane towing an Under Armour banner to a large transport trailer showcasing the new lacrosse heads and shafts, Under Armour made a splash at the Final Four. At college's biggest weekend, Team 22 unveiled its Under Armour line of men's and women's heads and shafts. Fans can check out the latest Under Armour lacrosse equipment at www.underarmour.com after Thanksgiving.

Styres has been a champion of lacrosse throughout his life and Team 22 is just a small portion of his commitment to growing the game. In 2004, he built the $7 million Iroquois Lacrosse Arena at Six Nations, which has produced numerous NLL and Major League Lacrosse All-Pros. In 2004, he joined the Six Nations Arrows and instantly the team won four straight Ontario Championships and the 2007 Minto Cup. In 2011, the Six Nations Rebels captured the Junior "B" Founder's Cup. It has been because of the building of the ILA and the work of Styres that has allowed Six Nations lacrosse to thrive in recent years.

In 2008, he rescued one of the cornerstone franchises of the NLL and quickly transformed the Rochester Knighthawks into a model franchise on and off the floor. In 2010, the Knighthawks finished in a three-way tie for first place and returned to the NLL Playoffs. For his efforts he became the first person ever to win the National Lacrosse League General Manager and Executive of the Year awards in the same year.

In the field game, Styres helped the Nationals win the MLL title in its inaugural season in 2009. Under his leadership, the Nationals became the surprise team in Major League Lacrosse in 2011, as Hamilton rebuilt its organization from the front office to the coaching staff to the player roster. Hamilton underwent the biggest turnaround going from 3-9 in 2010 to within one goal of winning the 2011 MLL Championship against the Boston Cannons. With a draft class that included five First Team All-Americans and 15 new players, the Nationals won six of their last eight games to finish in a second-place tie with the Denver Outlaws at 7-5. Styres revamped the organization with the assistance of General Manager Jody Gage, assistant coaches Jason Johnson and Brian Hobart, and especially because of the effort of Consultant Stu Brown.

"We knew the importance of identifying and ultimately drafting the right players that fit into our vision for the organization. Our game plan was to rebuild our team with players of strong character and high level skill. I think we achieved that, without a question," said Brown. "When people look back a few years from now, I hope this draft class stands out as a defining point for our franchise, and I will always be proud of the work we did as a team."

Just when Under Armour gear hits retail locations, Styres and the Knighthawks will begin their 2012 Training Camp. The team opens camp at Total Sports Experience in Gates on Saturday, November 19th with a 9:00 to 11:00 p.m. session. Rochester will host a home preseason game against the Minnesota Swarm on Saturday, December 17th at 7:00 p.m. at The Blue Cross Arena. Tickets for the game are FREE and available online at Knighthawks.net. For more information or to purchase season tickets, call (585) 454-HAWK (4295).

Fans can catch Team 22 and its trailer at the Under Armour High School All-American Game, the 2012 Final Four and at a host of high-profile events to be announced soon.

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National Lacrosse League Stories from November 17, 2011


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