The 2022-23 season was a memorable one for the Rochester Knighthawks. From the team’s season-opening six-game win streak to securing their first-ever playoff berth and all the individual performances in between, the Knighthawks established themselves as one of the up-and-coming organizations in the National Lacrosse League in only their third season in the expansion-era.
One of the returners to the squad for his second year on the Knighthawks was forward Ryan Smith.
LOOKING BACK ON THE 2022-23 SEASON
Smith was consistent in finding the scoresheet on a weekly occurrence over his second year in the league. In 17 games, he finished third among all Knighthawks in goals (33), assists (42) and points (75), the last two of which were career-highs. He topped all Rochester players with 20 points and 11 assists while on the power-play and finished the slate tied for 11th in the NLL with a franchise record 11 goals on the man-advantage.
Smith posted a multi-point game in all but one contest while also scoring at least one goal in 15 contests. The Burlington, Ontario, native tied the single-game franchise record for shots with 16 at Philadelphia on April 2, 2023, while recording his 100th pro point as part of a three-point effort against Halifax on Feb. 11, 2023. He also scored a career-high five goals, becoming the third player in franchise history to do so, and added four assists to match a career-best nine points in the 15-12 win over eventual NLL champion Buffalo Bandits on Jan. 20, 2023.
Year two for Ryan Smith ✔️ pic.twitter.com/vPh42cDqwr
— Rochester Knighthawks (@RocKnighthawks) June 13, 2023
Smith registered a multi-point outing with one goal and three assists during Rochester’s first-ever playoff game against the Bandits on May 6 at KeyBank Center. His seven shots versus Buffalo were fourth-most amongst all Knighthawks.
In 34 career NLL games, all with Rochester, Smith has totaled 68 goals and 66 assists for 134 points since the start of the 2021-22 campaign. Of his 134 points, the forward has produced 37 points (19+16) while the club has been on the power-play. He has collected 151 loose balls while causing 95 turnovers.
BUILDING OFF STRONG ROOKIE SLATE
In his first season in the league, Smith, who was named to the NLL All-Rookie Team, finished second among NLL rookies in goals (35) and third in points (59) while also leading all first-year players with eight power-play goals. He ranked third among rookies in power-play scoring with 15 points. His 35 goals and 59 points are still the most by a rookie in a single season.
The Robert Morris graduate scored four times and added an assist in the 15-7 win over the Calgary Roughnecks on April 22, 2022, while recording his sixth hat trick of the season along with a team-high 16 shots on goal against the Toronto Rock on April 9. He totaled four points (2+2) and a team-high 12 loose ball recoveries against the New York Riptide on March 12, 2022.
Is Ryan Smith the happiest guy we know? Probably! pic.twitter.com/87YLiSiNdA
— Rochester Knighthawks (@RocKnighthawks) June 13, 2023
Smith was honored by the league as he was named the NLL Rookie of the Week for the second time of the season after recording a season-high nine points, including his first four-goal game, in the 17-16 overtime loss at the Georgia Swarm on March 4. He notched his second hat trick of the season and added an assist in the 15-13 win over the Albany Firewolves on Feb. 12.
During Rochester’s 16-7 win at Albany on Dec. 18, he recorded his first career hat trick and added two assists after making his professional debut against the Riptide two weeks before.
