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Season opens on December 1st. Find 2023-24 schedules here and buy your tickets today

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WK
1
Fri, Dec 1
19:00:00
Saskatchewan
Halifax
Fri, Dec 1
22:00:00
Albany
Las Vegas
Fri, Dec 1
22:00:00
Panther City
Vancouver
Sat, Dec 2
19:00:00
Calgary
Rochester
Sat, Dec 2
19:30:00
Philadelphia
New York
WK
2
Sat, Dec 9
19:00:00
Philadelphia
Toronto
Sat, Dec 9
19:00:00
Buffalo
Albany
Sat, Dec 9
19:30:00
Colorado
Georgia
Sat, Dec 9
20:00:00
Rochester
Saskatchewan
Sat, Dec 9
22:00:00
Calgary
San Diego
Sun, Dec 10
16:00:00
Las Vegas
Panther City
WK
3
Fri, Dec 15
22:00:00
Saskatchewan
Las Vegas
Sat, Dec 16
13:00:00
Albany
Philadelphia
Sat, Dec 16
19:30:00
Halifax
New York
Sat, Dec 16
19:30:00
San Diego
Buffalo
Sat, Dec 16
22:00:00
Georgia
Vancouver
WK
4
Fri, Dec 22
20:00:00
Toronto
Panther City
Fri, Dec 22
21:00:00
Georgia
Colorado
Sat, Dec 23
19:00:00
Vancouver
Rochester
WK
5
Fri, Dec 29
18:30:00
Philadelphia
Halifax
Fri, Dec 29
19:30:00
Georgia
Buffalo
Fri, Dec 29
22:00:00
Rochester
San Diego
Sat, Dec 30
16:00:00
New York
Toronto
Sat, Dec 30
21:00:00
Las Vegas
Calgary
Sat, Dec 30
21:00:00
Vancouver
Colorado
Sun, Dec 31
20:00:00
Albany
Saskatchewan
WK
6
Sat, Jan 6
19:00:00
Halifax
Albany
Sat, Jan 6
19:30:00
Panther City
Georgia
Sat, Jan 6
19:30:00
Colorado
Buffalo
Sun, Jan 7
15:00:00
New York
Philadelphia
WK
7
Fri, Jan 12
18:30:00
Toronto
Halifax
Fri, Jan 12
22:00:00
San Diego
Las Vegas
Sat, Jan 13
19:00:00
Buffalo
Rochester
Sat, Jan 13
19:00:00
Saskatchewan
Philadelphia
Sat, Jan 13
19:30:00
Panther City
New York
Sat, Jan 13
19:30:00
Albany
Georgia
Sat, Jan 13
21:00:00
San Diego
Colorado
Sat, Jan 13
22:00:00
Calgary
Vancouver
WK
8
Fri, Jan 19
19:30:00
New York
Buffalo
Sat, Jan 20
19:00:00
Georgia
Toronto
Sat, Jan 20
19:00:00
San Diego
Albany
Sat, Jan 20
20:00:00
Vancouver
Saskatchewan
Sat, Jan 20
21:00:00
Calgary
Colorado
WK
9
Fri, Jan 26
22:00:00
Colorado
Vancouver
Sat, Jan 27
18:00:00
Rochester
Halifax
Sat, Jan 27
19:00:00
Buffalo
Toronto
Sat, Jan 27
19:30:00
Georgia
New York
Sat, Jan 27
19:30:00
San Diego
Philadelphia
Sat, Jan 27
22:00:00
Panther City
Las Vegas
WK
10
Fri, Feb 2
19:00:00
Halifax
Philadelphia
Fri, Feb 2
19:30:00
Vancouver
Georgia
Fri, Feb 2
21:00:00
New York
Calgary
Sat, Feb 3
19:00:00
Las Vegas
Albany
Sat, Feb 3
19:30:00
Rochester
Buffalo
Sat, Feb 3
20:00:00
Panther City
Saskatchewan
Sat, Feb 3
21:00:00
Toronto
Calgary
Sun, Feb 4
18:00:00
Colorado
San Diego
WK
11
Fri, Feb 9
18:30:00
Las Vegas
Halifax
Fri, Feb 9
20:00:00
Colorado
Panther City
Sat, Feb 10
19:00:00
Georgia
Rochester
Sat, Feb 10
19:00:00
Calgary
Toronto
Sat, Feb 10
19:30:00
San Diego
New York
Sat, Feb 10
22:00:00
Saskatchewan
Vancouver
WK
12
Fri, Feb 16
18:30:00
Buffalo
Halifax
Fri, Feb 16
22:00:00
Philadelphia
Las Vegas
Sat, Feb 17
19:00:00
Colorado
Albany
Sun, Feb 18
19:00:00
Halifax
Calgary
WK
13
Fri, Feb 23
21:00:00
New York
Colorado
Fri, Feb 23
22:00:00
Georgia
San Diego
Sat, Feb 24
19:00:00
Las Vegas
Rochester
Sat, Feb 24
19:00:00
Vancouver
Toronto
Sat, Feb 24
19:30:00
Albany
Buffalo
Sat, Feb 24
20:00:00
Halifax
Saskatchewan
Sat, Feb 24
21:00:00
Philadelphia
Calgary
Sun, Feb 25
16:00:00
Georgia
Panther City
WK
14
Fri, Mar 1
19:00:00
Georgia
Halifax
Fri, Mar 1
20:00:00
San Diego
Panther City
Fri, Mar 1
22:00:00
Toronto
Las Vegas
Fri, Mar 1
22:00:00
Buffalo
Vancouver
Sat, Mar 2
13:00:00
Calgary
Philadelphia
Sat, Mar 2
19:00:00
New York
Albany
Sat, Mar 2
21:00:00
Saskatchewan
Colorado
Sat, Mar 2
22:00:00
Toronto
San Diego
Sun, Mar 3
16:00:00
Rochester
Panther City
WK
15
Fri, Mar 8
19:00:00
Vancouver
Albany
Fri, Mar 8
19:30:00
Calgary
Georgia
Fri, Mar 8
19:30:00
Saskatchewan
Buffalo
Sat, Mar 9
17:00:00
Colorado
Toronto
Sat, Mar 9
19:00:00
Albany
Rochester
Sat, Mar 9
19:30:00
Las Vegas
New York
Sat, Mar 9
22:00:00
Halifax
San Diego
Sun, Mar 10
15:00:00
Panther City
Philadelphia
WK
16
Fri, Mar 15
18:30:00
Panther City
Halifax
Fri, Mar 15
21:00:00
San Diego
Calgary
Fri, Mar 15
22:00:00
Las Vegas
Vancouver
Sat, Mar 16
19:00:00
Rochester
Albany
Sat, Mar 16
19:00:00
Toronto
Buffalo
Sat, Mar 16
19:30:00
Philadelphia
Georgia
Sat, Mar 16
20:30:00
New York
Saskatchewan
WK
17
Fri, Mar 22
20:00:00
Buffalo
Panther City
Fri, Mar 22
21:00:00
Albany
Calgary
Sat, Mar 23
19:00:00
Halifax
Toronto
Sat, Mar 23
19:00:00
Vancouver
Philadelphia
Sat, Mar 23
19:30:00
Saskatchewan
New York
Sat, Mar 23
21:00:00
Rochester
Colorado
Sat, Mar 23
22:00:00
Las Vegas
San Diego
Sun, Mar 24
17:30:00
Saskatchewan
Georgia
WK
18
Sat, Mar 30
13:00:00
Buffalo
Philadelphia
Sat, Mar 30
19:00:00
Halifax
Rochester
Sat, Mar 30
19:30:00
Toronto
New York
Sat, Mar 30
22:00:00
Vancouver
Las Vegas
WK
19
Fri, Apr 5
21:00:00
Saskatchewan
Calgary
Fri, Apr 5
21:00:00
Buffalo
Colorado
Fri, Apr 5
22:00:00
Panther City
San Diego
Fri, Apr 5
22:00:00
Halifax
Vancouver
Sat, Apr 6
19:00:00
New York
Rochester
Sat, Apr 6
19:00:00
Toronto
Albany
Sat, Apr 6
19:30:00
Las Vegas
Georgia
Sat, Apr 6
20:00:00
Calgary
Saskatchewan
Sun, Apr 7
16:00:00
Philadelphia
Panther City
WK
20
Fri, Apr 12
21:00:00
Philadelphia
Colorado
Sat, Apr 13
19:00:00
Rochester
Toronto
Sat, Apr 13
19:30:00
Calgary
Buffalo
Sat, Apr 13
20:00:00
San Diego
Saskatchewan
Sat, Apr 13
22:00:00
Colorado
Las Vegas
Sat, Apr 13
22:00:00
New York
Vancouver
Sun, Apr 14
16:00:00
Albany
Panther City
WK
21
Fri, Apr 19
19:30:00
Rochester
Georgia
Fri, Apr 19
22:00:00
Vancouver
San Diego
Sat, Apr 20
18:00:00
Colorado
Halifax
Sat, Apr 20
19:30:00
Albany
New York
Sat, Apr 20
20:00:00
Toronto
Saskatchewan
Sat, Apr 20
21:00:00
Panther City
Calgary
Sat, Apr 20
22:00:00
Buffalo
Las Vegas
Sun, Apr 21
15:00:00
Philadelphia
Rochester
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The Knighthawks Are Growing Into Their Full Potential

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. This is a principle of life that most of us are taught as we grow up. As adults in the workforce, there are few occupations where this idea applies more frequently, and with more consequence, than professional sport.

For lacrosse players, from that first moment a stick touches their hands until the day they retire, every shot thrown, every ground ball scooped up, every play run, every check made, every shot faced, is scrutinized until it can be perfected (or attempted to be) each and every time they step on the floor.

Growing pains regarding reaching this perfection will often be more frustrating to endure for the younger players in the NLL, particularly those who are part of youthful expansion teams that are trying to establish their identity and cement their place in this league.

The Rochester Knighthawks are one of the handful of newer franchises who have been on this journey of growth, learning and acceptance over the last two seasons. An essential bi-product of reaching newer heights in those aspects is winning, and winning lots.

In their inaugural COVID-shortened season in 2019-20’, the Knighthawks went 2-10 – those two wins were by one goal and the team never allowed less than 10 goals. Everyone knew turning this team into a contender was/is a work in progress, and, in the beginning, there was a lot to work on.

During their 16-7 victory on the road against the Albany FireWolves on Saturday night,

we saw the clearest example of how far the Knighthawks have come on those journeys since the team began to take shape in 2019.

Sitting at 2-1 in this 18-game season, the Knighthawks have positioned themselves to start being put in the conversation of playoff contenders, particularly after their performance this past weekend. Knighthawks Head Coach Mike Hasen understands that it will take many more efforts like that one to keep the rest of the league on their toes.

“That was our first complete 60 minutes where it seemed like everything was working the way we practiced,” Hasen said. “We did want to be a little cleaner in our transition game and making sure we’re getting that ball over the restraining line. But, that’s our expectation [to play a complete game], that’s the way we want to do it.”

Saturday’s game was the most complete product the Knighthawks have put together, but this team has been building up to that since even before training camp. Despite the lack of desired quality on the floor before the canceled season, the team remained focused on their plan to keep improving.

After five solid weeks together in the trenches of pre-season preparation, there were instant signs of promise on opening night. Many of the intangible aspects that Hasen and his staff had preached, such as effort and toughness, have been on full display.

“Through the first three games, we’re battling and we’ve been on the right side of two of the three battles,” Hasen said. “That’s good as far as the standings are concerned, but, as well as we’ve been playing, we’ve got a long way to go, and there’s still a long season ahead.”

Hasen is right to be hesitant just a sixth of the way through their season. But, the club did set a few franchise records on Saturday, so there is plenty to be happy with. This past weekend, the Knighthawks scored their most goals in a game while also surrendering the fewest goals they’ve ever allowed. On top of that, they had nine different goal scorers, which is also the most they’ve ever had.

The senior-most veteran on the squad, Paul Dawson, knows what success looks like. In his 15 seasons in the NLL, Paul has won two championships during his time with the league’s first rendition of the Knighthawks. Dawson mentioned that the results on the floor through December reaffirmed what he and the team believed they were capable of: being a threat in this league.

“This start we’ve had is promising,” Dawson said. “We thought we had a good team and now we’re starting to put it together. We’ve proven to ourselves [and others] that we do have a good team and we are going to be competitive.”

Dawson added that the offensive strategies put in place by Assistant Coach Mat Giles have given confidence to every player – experienced or not – that they can get in on the action.

“From the get-go, Mat Giles has been preaching that offensively we want that ball to stay hot,” Dawson said. “We don’t need one guy to score five goals. We don’t need one guy to be the superstar every night. We have many guys that can do that, but we are a team offense, and the proof is in the pudding that any one of our guys can go off. That’s what we want because then it’s harder for defenses when everyone can be a threat.”

This latest version of the Knighthawks was able to show that they are much more than a capable offense. Hasen noted that this team can be consistently reliable on defense, too, starting with the new man between the pipes.

Last week we learned that Evan Kirk will not be suiting up in net for the remainder of the season due to work commitments. Instantly, that opened up an opportunity for back-up goaltender, Rylan Hartley to regularly test his skills against the NLL’s best. Hasen believes that Hartley is ready for his moment to shine, even if it wasn’t the original plan for him to be the starting goaltender.

“[Hartley] knew that whenever he was going to get the opportunity to start, he was going to perform the way he did,” Hasen said. “He had a really good training camp with us and the good thing was that he got 10 weeks of mentorship from Evan [Kirk] – I think that went a long way. We know it was one good performance, but now we want to make sure he follows it up, just like the rest of our guys.”

The 23-year-old Hartley is in the majority of this youthful roster. All but five players currently on the Knighthawks roster are under 30-years-old. Yet, Knighthawks rookie Ryan Smith, the team’s first pick (third overall) in the 2020 NLL Draft, says that the veterans deserve lots of credit for preparing the young core to be competitive in the NLL.

“Although we have a young team, it’s the veterans who are really making a difference for us,” Smith said. “They really believe in our talents and what we can contribute to the team. The veterans are really building us up, giving us the confidence to go out there and just play our game, play within the team’s schemes to have overall team success.”

Because these Knighthawks are one of the younger groups in the NLL and are coming off of that 2-10 season, the veteran Dawson understands that the rest of the league still might not take this team seriously, and that’s fine with them.

“When you come back after nearly two years from not playing and back then you were a 2-10 team, I don’t expect anyone to give us any respect,” Dawson said. “Our team isn’t here to please the haters; we’re here to please each other and do what we want to do. We know who we have in our [locker] room, so keep doubting us if you want, we’ll prove you wrong.”

The best way for the Knighthawks to continue to prove any doubters wrong is to follow the formula that has brought them success so far. By keeping their heads down, they can continue focusing on being physically and mentally ready. This way, they’ll be able to achieve a full game of non-stop relentless action on the floor, much like last week.

Hasen knows that what fans saw on Saturday is still far from the perfect product they want the world to see. However, they will not stop practicing until they get to that result. Maybe then, the Knighthawks can truly consider themselves a playoff, and dare I say, championship contender.

“Making the playoffs is obviously a hope – hopefully, we’ll be playing a few extra games at the end of the year,” Hasen said. “But, again, we just want to compete and work hard for 60 minutes each week. That’s our focus.”

Their first attempt at this wasn’t ideal, but this second go around shows that the Knighthawks are doing more than trying, they’re succeeding.

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