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BUF at SD - Sat. 10pm ET on ESPNews Schedule

×
WK
1
Fri, Dec 2
FINAL
Philadelphia
8
Halifax
18
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
Vancouver
8
Toronto
19
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
San Diego
15
New York
14
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
Albany
11
Buffalo
10
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
Rochester
16
Georgia
11
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
Colorado
6
Saskatchewan
18
WK
2
Fri, Dec 9
FINAL
Las Vegas
11
Panther City
13
Fri, Dec 9
FINAL/OT
Saskatchewan
12
San Diego
13
Sat, Dec 10
FINAL
Toronto
7
Rochester
11
Sat, Dec 10
FINAL
Vancouver
9
Calgary
11
WK
3
Fri, Dec 16
FINAL
Calgary
14
Vancouver
5
Fri, Dec 16
FINAL
Panther City
9
Las Vegas
3
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Buffalo
11
Toronto
8
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Rochester
14
Albany
13
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Philadelphia
13
Georgia
12
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Halifax
20
New York
11
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Colorado
12
Panther City
9
WK
5
Fri, Dec 30
FINAL
Halifax
13
Buffalo
18
Fri, Dec 30
FINAL
San Diego
17
Calgary
14
Sat, Dec 31
FINAL
Panther City
9
Saskatchewan
11
WK
6
Fri, Jan 6
FINAL
Philadelphia
14
Las Vegas
9
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Panther City
9
Rochester
17
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Halifax
14
Albany
11
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Buffalo
18
Georgia
9
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Toronto
15
New York
7
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Calgary
8
Colorado
9
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Vancouver
11
San Diego
16
WK
7
Fri, Jan 13
FINAL/OT
Albany
11
Halifax
10
Fri, Jan 13
FINAL/OT
Saskatchewan
10
Colorado
11
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
Halifax
8
Toronto
17
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
Panther City
12
Philadelphia
10
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
Georgia
9
Buffalo
11
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
San Diego
10
Calgary
14
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
Las Vegas
16
Vancouver
19
Sun, Jan 15
FINAL
Rochester
11
New York
8
WK
8
Fri, Jan 20
FINAL
Buffalo
12
Rochester
15
Fri, Jan 20
FINAL
Vancouver
14
Las Vegas
15
Sat, Jan 21
FINAL
Toronto
14
Philadelphia
5
Sat, Jan 21
FINAL
New York
16
Albany
10
WK
9
Fri, Jan 27
FINAL
Rochester
7
Halifax
17
Fri, Jan 27
FINAL
Buffalo
13
Philadelphia
9
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL
Buffalo
16
New York
10
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL
Las Vegas
10
Saskatchewan
15
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL/OT
Toronto
11
Calgary
10
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL
San Diego
13
Colorado
9
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL
Panther City
20
Vancouver
7
WK
10
Fri, Feb 3
FINAL
Georgia
10
Colorado
13
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL/OT
Calgary
12
Halifax
11
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
New York
14
Toronto
22
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Albany
5
Philadelphia
13
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Rochester
10
Buffalo
13
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Panther City
10
San Diego
12
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Saskatchewan
14
Vancouver
8
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Colorado
8
Las Vegas
13
WK
11
Fri, Feb 10
FINAL
Toronto
11
Georgia
10
Fri, Feb 10
FINAL
Saskatchewan
6
Calgary
13
Sat, Feb 11
FINAL
Halifax
14
Rochester
16
Sat, Feb 11
FINAL
Albany
12
New York
14
Sat, Feb 11
FINAL
Vancouver
13
Panther City
14
Sat, Feb 11
FINAL
Colorado
9
Calgary
13
WK
12
Fri, Feb 17
FINAL
Calgary
14
Vancouver
9
Fri, Feb 17
FINAL
Saskatchewan
16
San Diego
11
Sat, Feb 18
FINAL
Georgia
7
Toronto
16
Sat, Feb 18
FINAL
Las Vegas
12
Albany
10
Sat, Feb 18
FINAL/OT
Philadelphia
12
Buffalo
13
Sat, Feb 18
FINAL
Colorado
7
Panther City
13
Sun, Feb 19
FINAL
New York
12
Halifax
13
WK
13
Fri, Feb 24
FINAL
Panther City
12
Colorado
14
Fri, Feb 24
FINAL
Calgary
9
Las Vegas
11
Sat, Feb 25
FINAL/OT
New York
10
Rochester
11
Sat, Feb 25
FINAL
Albany
4
Georgia
20
Sat, Feb 25
FINAL
Vancouver
16
Saskatchewan
12
WK
14
Fri, Mar 3
FINAL
Buffalo
10
Halifax
9
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL
New York
12
Philadelphia
19
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL
Las Vegas
12
San Diego
15
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL
Rochester
8
Toronto
9
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL/OT
Georgia
9
Albany
8
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL
Saskatchewan
10
Panther City
16
Mon, Mar 6
FINAL
Toronto
10
Philadelphia
11
WK
15
Fri, Mar 10
FINAL/OT
Halifax
9
Buffalo
10
Fri, Mar 10
FINAL
Calgary
16
Colorado
10
Sat, Mar 11
FINAL
Albany
6
Toronto
12
Sat, Mar 11
FINAL
Philadelphia
10
New York
13
Sat, Mar 11
FINAL
San Diego
12
Saskatchewan
11
Sat, Mar 11
FINAL
Vancouver
14
Las Vegas
5
Sun, Mar 12
FINAL
Rochester
19
Georgia
18
WK
16
Fri, Mar 17
FINAL
Saskatchewan
6
Calgary
11
Fri, Mar 17
FINAL
San Diego
16
Vancouver
9
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Georgia
13
Philadelphia
12
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Toronto
12
Halifax
14
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Albany
10
New York
13
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Colorado
13
Buffalo
8
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Las Vegas
8
Panther City
11
Sun, Mar 19
FINAL/OT
Philadelphia
9
Rochester
8
WK
17
Fri, Mar 24
20:30:00
San Diego
Panther City
Sat, Mar 25
19:00:00
Toronto
Albany
Sat, Mar 25
19:00:00
Halifax
Philadelphia
Sat, Mar 25
19:30:00
Georgia
New York
Sat, Mar 25
21:30:00
Calgary
Saskatchewan
Sat, Mar 25
22:00:00
Buffalo
San Diego
Sat, Mar 25
22:00:00
Colorado
Vancouver
Sat, Mar 25
22:30:00
Rochester
Las Vegas
WK
18
Fri, Mar 31
19:00:00
New York
Georgia
Fri, Mar 31
21:00:00
Las Vegas
Colorado
Fri, Mar 31
22:00:00
Calgary
San Diego
Sat, Apr 1
19:00:00
Buffalo
Toronto
Sat, Apr 1
20:00:00
Albany
Panther City
Sat, Apr 1
21:30:00
Vancouver
Saskatchewan
Sun, Apr 2
13:00:00
Georgia
Halifax
Sun, Apr 2
18:00:00
Rochester
Philadelphia
WK
19
Sat, Apr 8
19:00:00
Albany
Rochester
Sat, Apr 8
19:00:00
Saskatchewan
Georgia
Sat, Apr 8
21:00:00
Panther City
Calgary
Sat, Apr 8
21:00:00
Vancouver
Colorado
Sat, Apr 8
22:30:00
San Diego
Las Vegas
WK
20
Fri, Apr 14
21:00:00
Las Vegas
Calgary
Fri, Apr 14
21:00:00
San Diego
Colorado
Sat, Apr 15
19:00:00
Philadelphia
Toronto
Sat, Apr 15
19:00:00
Georgia
Albany
Sat, Apr 15
19:30:00
New York
Buffalo
Sat, Apr 15
21:30:00
Halifax
Saskatchewan
Sat, Apr 15
22:00:00
Panther City
Vancouver
WK
21
Fri, Apr 21
20:30:00
Calgary
Panther City
Sat, Apr 22
18:00:00
New York
Halifax
Sat, Apr 22
19:00:00
Georgia
Rochester
Sat, Apr 22
20:00:00
Toronto
Buffalo
Sat, Apr 22
21:30:00
Colorado
Saskatchewan
Sat, Apr 22
22:00:00
Las Vegas
San Diego
Sun, Apr 23
15:00:00
Philadelphia
Albany
WK
22
Sat, Apr 29
19:00:00
Philadelphia
Rochester
Sat, Apr 29
19:00:00
Buffalo
Albany
Sat, Apr 29
19:00:00
Halifax
Georgia
Sat, Apr 29
22:00:00
Colorado
San Diego
Sat, Apr 29
22:00:00
New York
Vancouver
Sat, Apr 29
22:30:00
Saskatchewan
Las Vegas
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Stories/Op-Ed

Knighthawks’ Star Rookies Are Closer Than Ever Before

The night of last year’s NLL Draft, three best friends sat side-by-side waiting to hear their names called. Within moments of each other, Jake Withers, Austin Shanks, and Eric Fannell, the former teammates, competitors and roommates, would find out that the next journey in their lacrosse lives would continue to together.

“We all sat beside each other during the draft,” Fannell remembered of the experience when he, Withers and Shanks were selected by the Rochester Knighthawks. “Jake went second, then Austin went up and got his jersey, and I got called right after Austin. So, as soon as I walked back, we were all standing, we took a picture – we were extremely happy. It was a great feeling to come together, go through a lot together, and then be drafted within 10-15 minutes of each other, 2nd, 5th, and 6th; it was awesome.”

Just four months prior to the draft, the three newly anointed Knighthawks stood together as Buckeyes from The Ohio State University for the most important game of their respective collegiate careers: the 2017 NCAA National Championship game. While the trio would lose to the Maryland Terrapins 9-6 in their second and last season as a unit at OSU, the experience they shared strengthened their already close relationship.

“Anytime you go to a championship, you’re going to remember that team,” Shanks said. “Being the first team in The Ohio State University’s history to go to the championship game, even the final four, you’re going to remember those guys for the rest of your life. As the season goes on, you build stronger bonds and friendships. It’s pretty cool to do these things together and take it step-by-step.”

Aside from being teammates, Austin and Jake were roommates for a couple years, and all three spent plenty of time with each other, particularly during that championship run. “It helped [grow our relationship] a lot,” Fannell said of his time with time Withers and Shanks at OSU that May. “We were together for an extra four weeks because we just kept winning. After we’d win, we’d be out of school, so all we did was hang out with each other. That aspect of being together for so long without any school work, just lacrosse practice, it helped our camaraderie grow greatly.”

Even before their two seasons together at OSU, the three Ontario-natives were very familiar with each other. “I played with Fannell on U-16 team Ontario,” Shanks said. “[Withers] and I played bantam, midget, and U-16, U-19 together. And, since [Withers] is from Whitby and I’m from Peterborough, I played him at least two to three time a year in minor and junior. I definitely began to recognize their styles of play playing with them and against them for a few years and we became pretty good friends at that point.”

Before being drafted by the Knighthawks, the trio also had a few years of experience playing against each other in Major Series Lacrosse. During the NLL’s offseason, you can still find them battling it out in that summer league.

Now that they’re united in Rochester, Withers, Shanks, and Fannell are closer than ever. As they will all attest too, it’s hard to find many moments when all three of them aren’t together.

“We live in a three bedroom apartment now,” Withers said. “We all have our own room but it was quite the circus for who was going to get what room…On the road I’m usually roommates with [Shanks] and I’ll go to either him or Fannell if I’m feeling a certain way on game day or if I have a problem. They’re the first guys I see when I get up in the morning, then we go to the gym, and especially when we’re teaching our kids at the Knighthawks Academy or we’re getting out into the community. They’re some of the best, most solid guys I could ask for and I’m glad we can share this experience of breaking into the NLL.”

Knighthawks head coach Mike Hasen says it’s clear to see how close the three are whenever he’s around them. “They’re constantly together and sometimes they might even finishes each other sentences,” Hasen said.

The chemistry that has been building over their decades-long friendship isn’t all for show. Their ability to work together, understand each others tendencies, and translate that to help them work with their older teammates on the turf is paying significant dividends for the Knighthawks this season despite them being a few of the younger players on the squad.

Withers is the NLL’s best man at the face-off X. He currently wins a league-best 65.5% of his face-offs. If he were to continue to maintain his lead, he would be the first rookie in the NLL to have the best face-off percentage (with a minimum of 200 face-offs won) since Geoff Snider in 2007.

Fannell and Shanks are having phenomenal years as well. With three games remaining in the regular season, the two have combined for 75 points (Shanks has 44, Fannell has 31). If Fannell can muster nine more points this season – he has nine points over his last two contests – they will become just the second rookie duo since the 18-game expansion in the the 2014 season to each have 40+ points. The Georgia Swarm’s 2016 rookie class consisting of Lyle Thompson, Jesse King, and Randy Staats are the only rookie teammates to have 40+ points in their first year.

“For a lack of a better word, they’ve been great,” Hasen said of Withers, Shanks, and Fannell. “They fit in very well. Each of them brings something different to our game and makes them successful but also makes us as a team be successful this year.”

“They’re not necessarily carrying the ball in their sticks all the time,” Hasen continued. “Fannell, he’s working very hard to get Cody Jamieson and Kyle Jackson open and he’s making the most of those opportunities. Austin, he’s very good at getting off-ball in the soft spots and he’s making the most of those chances, and, Jake Withers, he’s on the opposite end of the floor, but he’s been equally important to this team. They’re complimenting each other well but, they compliment the team, which is most important.”

If these three can finish their years strong, they could have the chance to all be selected for the NLL All-Rookie Team. If all three were to be chosen, they would be the only the third team with three or more players selected for the NLL All-Rookie Team in a single season going back to 2005 – the 2015 Colorado Mammoth and 2016 Georgia Swarm both had four players selected.

No mater what happens the rest of this season, however, it is clear that Jake Withers, Austin Shanks, and Eric Fannell are a few of the most skilled rookies in the game. Following two of last season’s NLL All-Rookie selections, Kyle Jackson and Josh Currier, the Knighthawks have a young team to be reckoned with for years to come.

“Our main focus is this season and bringing a Champion’s Cup back to Rochester, and bringing that back to all the fans who deserve it,” Withers said. But, you always look forward a little bit. So, the potential we have down the road to become a dynasty is pretty exciting.”

NLL