NLL Rochester Knighthawks

Williams Re-Signs Historic Deal With Rochester Knighthawks

Published on November 30, 2007 under National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Rochester Knighthawks News Release


(Rochester, NY)... The Rochester Knighthawks announced today that the team has re-signed forward Shawn Williams to the longest contract in National Lacrosse League history. Williams' deal covers five seasons and secures one of the Top 10 scorers in league history. Williams enters his 11th season of professional lacrosse in 2008 and returns for his seventh year with the Knighthawks.

"We are excited to have a superstar player like Shawn Williams make a long-term commitment to the organization by signing a five-year deal. Shawn was a big part of our run to the championship last year," said Knighthawks General Manager Jody Gage. "We all know what an outstanding player he is, but the key is he brings great leadership to the locker room."

Williams will be available at 8:30 p.m. tonight at All Star Sports prior to the team's 9:00 p.m. practice at the facility at 557 East Ridge Road.

Last season, he was fifth in the National Lacrosse League with a career-high 91 points en route to Second Team All-Pro honors. He was also tied for the league lead with 19 playoff points as Rochester won the 2007 Champion's Cup. The championship was the second of his career, having won his first title in 1999.

Williams, 33, has been a Rochester alternate captain since the 2005 season. He ranks second in team history with 482 points, 212 goals and 270 assists. The Scarborough, Ontario, native is also tied for fourth in team history with 19 postseason goals and is tied for second with 48 points and assists 29. In NLL history, he is eighth in regular season assists (352) and ninth in goals with 299. Williams has also made stops with the Toronto Rock organization (1998-99) and the Buffalo Bandits (2000 to 2001). Williams arrived in Rochester on May 18, 2001, as part of a seven-player deal with the Bandits.

The defending champion Knighthawks begin their 14th season with a home-and-home series against the rival Buffalo Bandits. The game is a rematch of last year's East Division Finals. Rochester opens the season on Friday, January 11th at HSBC Arena. On Saturday, January 12th, the Knighthawks will raise their championship banner prior to hosting the Bandits at 7:35 p.m. at The Blue Cross Arena at the Rochester War Memorial.

Rochester captured the 2007 NLL Champion's Cup on May 12th, defeating the Arizona Sting 13-11 at Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, Arizona. The win was the team's 15th straight and capped a 17-2 season. The championship was the second in the franchise's history. The Knighthawks last won the title in 1997.

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