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

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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

The Knighthawks are Doubling Down on their Pursuit of a Bright, Youthful Future

This 2021-22 NLL season has been filled with more losses for the Rochester Knighthawks than they’d like. Nevertheless, this team understands that becoming a dominantly successful team takes patience and a desire to learn from past struggles.

Following a promising 2-1 start and then clawing their way to 3-5, these Knighthawks are now 3-11 and riding a 6-game losing streak – the longest losing streak in franchise history. That streak has positioned them in last place in the East Conference, and the team now has the worst record in the NLL.

There is light at the end of the tunnel, however, even if it may seem faint at the moment. No one is hanging their heads, no one is giving in. This is a team that is willing to put in the time and effort to creating a winning club and a winning culture in the city if Rochester, New York.

During this losing streak, the team has had to readjust its priorities and expectations. Rylan Hartely had gone down with an injury – he hasn’t played since March 4th  – and the team’s offense wasn’t producing the way the team had hoped; GM Dan Carey decided to make the first significant trade around the trade deadline.

The Friday before the deadline, Carey shipped Shawn Evans to the Halifax Thunderbirds for their top first-round compensatory pick in the 2022 NLL Draft and their 2023 second-round selection. Carey believes it will benefit the team in many ways this season and in the foreseeable future.

“From our standpoint, it was obviously beneficial to receive [those draft picks],” Carey said. “We get a 2023 second-round draft pick that we didn’t have because we traded that for Matt Gilray, so we get that back. Quite frankly, we have some younger guys with Ryan Smith and Thomas Hoggarth on the right side – Curtis Knight has been on that side for a long time, and we think he’ll be with us for the future. So, it gives those guys more of an opportunity to take more responsibility, which will help us for the rest of this year and next year.”

The draft picks bolster what is already a flush 2022 draft for the Knighthawks. The addition of those two picks gives the team two first-round picks this year on top of a second, third, and fourth-round pick and then a sixth-round selection.

“The impact that those future selections will ultimately make on this team is not lost on anyone,” coach Hasen said. “Not only do you have the potential to pick up a guy in the late rounds who can turn into a superstar – don’t forget Charlie Bertrand was undrafted – but you have a couple of very early picks that usually turn into everyday guys right away.”

“I think the future is very bright,” Hasen said. “There’s a good deep draft coming up, and we have our first-round draft picks, which translates to guys stepping on the floor as soon as they’re available.”

Assistant Coach Pat O’Toole added that according to the statistics, you can see how influential Evans was on the offensive side of the ball. With him out of the lineup, it will force younger players to step into roles that the coaching staff believes they can fill.

“Now we’re in an opportunity where [Knight] and [Smith] will have the ball more, and so will the rest of the guys on offense,” O’Toole said. “Now they’re going to learn to play with the ball, whereas if [Evans] was still on the team, he would be handling the ball, and he would be making the plays. If you look at [Evans] assists numbers this year, you see how much he was touching the ball, but now other guys are going to have to step up and lead. They’re going to have to have the ball, and they’ll have to make plays.”

We’ve already seen the incredible impact younger players such as Ryland Rees, Bertrand, Smith, Hoggarth, and others are making. Smith and Hoggarth alone have combined for 45 goals and 31 assists, while Rees leads the team with 90 loose balls and has accumulated the 3rd-most caused turnovers on the team with 11. Yet, now with Evans out of the lineup, those offensive positions will be run through the youth instead of the savvy veteran in Evans.

While this is one of the youngest teams in the league, Paul Dawson and Dan Coates are still holding down the backend. And, it appears that Dawson and Coates, who signed a two-year deal with the team prior to the season, are committed to helping the rest of the Knighthawks defense that is either in their early or mid-20s develop into a dynamic defensive force, says Carey.

“[Dawson] has indicated that he wants to be here, which says a lot about what he thinks we have as a team and what we believe we have as a team,” Carey said. “We’ve got a really young defensive core, and he’s a veteran guy that I think is very important for developing our younger players.”

Throwing younger players into the line of fire of NLL action can be a daunting experience, but this front office and this coaching staff believe they have the type of quality character guys that can step up to the occasion. Historically speaking, the older Knighthawks franchise at the beginning of the 2010s did that with Cody Jamieson and Sid Smith back when OToole was still playing for those Knighthawks, and he believes this team is full of guys who can produce just like those young talents.

“When Cody [Jamieson] and those guys were young back in the day, they came in and made a huge impact on our team by getting big goals in big moments,” O’Toole said. “He wasn’t sitting in the stands for a couple of years and getting ready to play; guys like him were getting thrown in and producing. I think at this time it’s the same thing. Our big guys are coming in getting big minutes, and they’re producing.”

Having the newest version of the long-term strategy in place is reassuring, but for fans, players, and even the front office staff, that doesnt mean that its not frustrating to be going through a prolonged winless spell. Hasen has emphasized to his players that its essential to focus on improving each game to eventually be able to play peak performance each and every game in the future.

“We’re always trying to stress to our guys to stick with the process, and that’s what good teams do; they stick with their game plan,” Hasen said. “We honestly believe that our effort is there for 60 minutes every night. We just need to learn to be consistent and not make the same mistakes week in and week out.”

Rome wasnt built in a day, and neither will the optimal Knighthawks roster, but that doesnt mean that glorious domination isnt on the horizon. With Carey, Hasen, and the crew focusing on developing their pieces while having a bounty of additional pieces coming shortly down the road, there is still plenty of hope and optimism regarding this franchises potential future successes.

Everything these players are going through now will only build more character and a greater desire to win. Losing will not defeat this team. Its only a matter of time until the plan comes to fruition. Everyone must remain patient and focused on the process.

NLL