When looking back at the Rochester Knighthawks’ 2022-23 campaign, there were plenty of highs and some lows. One of the many things that stood out from this season’s squad was the three members of 2022 NLL Draft Class.
In September of 2022, the Knighthawks had six selections at the league’s entry draft, including the first overall pick.
A solid season for these rookies! pic.twitter.com/Ym3ldNd88M
— Rochester Knighthawks (@RocKnighthawks) May 30, 2023
General Manager Dan Carey had taken forward Thomas McConvey fully aware of his intention to transfer to the University of Virginia to use his fifth year of NCAA eligibility this past season. Following a late acquisition in the first round, followed by the 25th , 45th and 65th overall selections, the Knighthawks drafted Austin Hasen, Thomas Vela, Parker Pipher and Carter Schott.
During the season, Rochester inked defenseman and face-off specialist Joe Post to a one-year contract.
VELA’S FIRST GOAL(S) IN THE LEAGUE
Rochester’s only pick in the second round, Vela appeared in four games with the club in 2022-23, tallying a pair of goals to go with a pair of assists for four points. The native of Burnaby, British Columbia, also collected 10 loose balls while also registering 23 shots on goal.
During the Knighthawks’ 16-14 win over the Halifax Thunderbirds back on Feb. 12, Vela scored his first two markers of his professional career. The rookie capped a three-goal run for Rochester in the opening frame from Ryland Rees and Paul Dawson. With the Knighthawks shorthanded, Rees found a wide-open Vela, who eluded coverage deep in the Halifax zone. He patiently outwaited the netminder and converted from atop the crease for his first professional goal.
KNIGHTHAWKS HOLD OFF LATE PUSH FROM THUNDERBIRDS FOR 16-14 WIN
Vela would add his second of the night in the second quarter during a four-goal run for Rochester.
Vela, along with Schott and Pipher, signed a two-year contract with the team prior to the start of this past season.
PIPHER MEMORABLE DEBUT
Pipher totaled eight points (3+5) in three games with the team in 2022-23 but had a memorable debut for the club.
There were two things Pipher wanted to accomplish in his lacrosse career: hear his name called in the National Lacrosse League Entry Draft and be fortunate enough to play in his first professional game.
In less than a nine-month span, the Oshawa, Ontario, native would accomplish both with the same organization.\
Pipher was selected 45th overall by the Knighthawks before spending the first 16 weeks of the season on the practice squad. The 5-foot-9, 160-pound forward was promoted to the active roster for Rochester’s inaugural trip to face the Vegas Desert Dogs.
The forward scored back-to-back goals in the second quarter and later added an assist to cap an impressive three-point night in his National Lacrosse League debut.
POST, THE FACE-OFF GUY
In March, the Knighthawks faced a situation where they were missing Tyler Halls, who had taken a majority of the face-offs at that point of the season. Not looking to make a major roster shakeup or trade anyone, Carey signed Post to a one-year contract despite Post never seeing time in the NLL.
Fortunately, Post was local and somewhat of a face-off specialist himself, perhaps the most notable to come out of Rochester. He carved out an impressive five-year career at nearby St. John Fisher University and before that at Canandaigua Academy.
Ironically enough, Post, who was the third player from the Greater Rochester Area to sign with the Knighthawks, joining Pittsford’s Jared Conners and Penn Yan’s Bradley Voigt, has been on Rochester’s radar for months. The team was prepared to offer Post a contract during the start of the team’s 2022 training camp but was forced to decline due to a nagging injury and starting a new job as a teacher in his hometown of Canandaigua.
Post was quite literally thrown into the fire, too, going up against no other than Georgia’s Jeremy Thompson, one of the four lacrosse-playing Thompson brothers and one of the NLL’s top transition players.
Post finished the night winning 13-of-37 face-off attempts while adding six loose ball recoveries in his debut during Rochester’s 19-18 win over the Swarm on March 12.
The forward completed the season by winning 48 percent of his faceoffs (127/338) in five games while also gathering 28 loose balls.
