(Rochester, NY)… The National Lacrosse League (NLL) announced the 18 nominees for the Hall of Fame Class of 2026. Former forward Shawn Evans and longtime broadcaster Craig Rybczynski were on the ballot that features eight players, seven veterans, and three builders (media).
Six original Knighthawks were also among the group of nominees. They include Dan Dawson, Jordan Hall, Sandy Chapman, Billy Dee Smith, Mike Accursi and Duane Jacobs.
“Each of these nominees has left a lasting imprint on the National Lacrosse League, helping shape the standard of excellence the Hall of Fame is meant to honor,” said NLL Commissioner Brett Frood. “From unforgettable performances on the floor to influential contributions behind the scenes and in the broadcast booth, this class reflects the dedication, leadership, and passion that have fueled our League’s growth. We are proud to recognize their impact and celebrate the legacy they’ve built across the game of lacrosse.”
Since its inaugural class of 2006, which featured five founding inductees, the NLL Hall of Fame has grown to 37 members. This year, eight individuals will be selected for the HOF, including four players (three offensive and one defensive), three veterans, and one builder (media).
Hall of Fame voting will take place in early July, with the League set to announce the Class of 2026 soon after. A special event honoring the class is scheduled for the fall of 2026, with details to follow.
Evans was the first member of the new Knighthawks franchise as he was selected first overall in the 2019 NLL Expansion Draft. He spent parts of two seasons with the Knighthawks, posting 90 points (23+67) in 19 games. The two-time NLL MVP broke into the NLL in 2006 with the original Rochester Knighthawks, where he played for six seasons and helped the franchise win the 2007 NLL Cup. In NLL history, Evans ranks fifth all-time in assists (879), sixth in points (1,358), 10th in goals (479) and games played (270), and third in penalty minutes (667).
Rybczynski is the longest-tenured broadcaster in NLL history, serving as the Knighthawks’ play-by-play voice for 24 seasons. He also currently works as the team’s Sr. Director of Operations and Communications. He was recently the recipient of the Rochester Press-Radio Club’s Gary Smith and George Beahon Sports Media Excellence Award. In 2020, Rybczynski was named the NLL’s Tom Borrelli Award winner as Media Person of the Year.
Dawson played 21 seasons in the NLL, including parts of six seasons with the original Knighthawks. “Dangerous Dan” played in Rochester from 2013 to 2018 and helped the original Knighthawks win back-to-back titles (2013-14) as part of their run of three straight championships. In 2014, he earned Championship Game MVP honors. As a player, he earned three NLL Cups, adding his last one in 2019 with the Saskatchewan Rush. This past season, he won his first as a coach as the Toronto Rock were crowned NLL champs. Dawson ranks first in NLL history in games played (322) and assists (954), second in points (1,505), and seventh in goals (551). In 2009, he was named the NLL MVP with the Boston Blazers.
Hall played parts of four seasons (2011-12, 2015-16) with the original Knighthawks and was a member of the 2012 championship team. In 2011, he was honored as the winner of the National Lacrosse League’s Sportsmanship Award. He also made stops in New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, New England and Georgia over his 14 NLL seasons. In 2017, he helped the Georgia Swarm with their first NLL title. In his career, Hall appeared in 210 games, posting 264 goals, 549 assists and 1,066 loose-ball recoveries.
Chapman was a standout defenseman in the NLL for 17 seasons, winning four of his five NLL championships as a member of the Toronto Rock. He played with the original Knighthawks for four seasons (2006-09) and captured his fourth NLL crown in 2007. In 252 career regular-season games, Chapman posted 34 goals, 117 assists for 151 points, and scooped up 1,027 loose balls. He returned to Toronto in 2010 and was named the NLL’s Defensive Player of the Year.
Accursi played 17 seasons of pro lacrosse from 1998-2014 and amassed 391 goals and 436 assists for 827 points in 237 games. In his NLL career, he played for teams in Rochester, Buffalo, Syracuse, Hamilton and Edmonton. The St. Catharines, Ontario, native spent some of his best years with the original Knighthawks. Known as one of the top clutch players in franchise history during his seven seasons in Rochester (2005-07, 2011-14), he helped the Knighthawks win four of their five championships.
Jacobs played eight of his 11 NLL seasons with the original Knighthawks (1995-2002), helping the franchise to eight straight postseason berths and four trips to the NLL Finals. He hoisted the NLL Cup in 1997. At the time of his departure, he was the original Knighthawks all-time leader in goals (169), assists (185) and points (354). With Rochester, he was also a two-time team MVP (1996 and 1999) and a four-time NLL All-Pro (1996-1999).
Smith ended his 16-year NLL career as a member of the original Knighthawks. The rugged defenseman played in Rochester from 2018-19 and helped the Knighthawks reach the 2018 NLL Finals. In his NLL career, Smith collected 32 goals, 35 assists and 534 loose balls in 208 career games. He is the league’s all-time leader in penalty minutes with 685. The 2008 season was the highlight of Smith’s career as he helped the Buffalo Bandits win an NLL Championship.
Here is a complete list of NLL Hall of Fame nominees:
| Offensive (3 inductees) |
| Dan Dawson |
| Shawn Evans |
| Jordan Hall |
| Jeff Shattler |
| Mark Steenhuis |
| Defensive (1 inductee) |
| Sandy Chapman |
| Billy Dee Smith |
| Geoff Snider |
| Veterans (3 inductees) |
| Mike Accursi |
| Jake Bergey |
| Glenn Clark |
| Duane Jacobs |
| Gavin Prout |
| Brian Voelker |
| Cam Woods |
| Builders – Media (1 inductee) |
| Leif Elsmo |
| John Gurtler |
| Craig Rybczynski |