(Rochester, NY)… Rochester Knighthawks defenseman and transition man Brad Gillies today announced his retirement. A fixture in the Rochester community, Gillies spent eight of his 10 seasons in the National Lacrosse League in the Flower City.
“I loved my time in Rochester. I wouldn’t have wanted to spend my career anywhere else,” said Gillies. “Being able to play in front of those fans for all those years. It’s been a great run.”
Gillies recently completed his fourth season with the new Knighthawks during the 2025-26 campaign. Last season, he ranked fourth on the team in blocked shots with 14 while playing in 16 games, and he also recorded 24 loose-ball recoveries. He also achieved two career milestones. On Feb. 14, he scooped up his 500th career loose ball, and on March 15, he played in his 150th career game.
From 2023-26, Gillies was a mainstay on the Rochester defense, helping the Knighthawks reach the postseason three times. As a Knighthawk, he appeared in 68 regular-season games, posting 10 goals and 13 assists for 23 points, while collecting 162 loose-ball recoveries.
“Brad has been a consummate professional, a respected leader on the floor, and a tremendous ambassador for the game of lacrosse in Rochester,” said Knighthawks President and General Manager Dan Carey. “I’d like to thank Brad for all he’s given to lacrosse and the Knighthawks organization.”
“Brad is the definition of a true competitor, teammate, and friend,” said Knighthawks alternate captain Ryland Rees. “Whether it was on the floor or off it, he always set the standard and gave everything he had. The locker room won’t be the same without him, but I’m lucky to call him one of my closest friends.”
Gillies played his college ball at RIT and was drafted by the original Knighthawks with the ninth selection in 2015. In 59 games with the Knighthawks, the Oakville, Ontario, native recorded 50 points (22+28) and helped Rochester reach the 2018 NLL Finals. That season remains one of the most memorable of his career. En route to the championship series, he scored his first professional hat trick in his playoff debut on May 5, 2018. It was a breakout season for Gillies as he registered career highs in assists (11) and points (19).
“Scoring a hat trick in my first playoff game was a pretty cool one,” he said. “That’s a memorable one because I remember a few of those goals were pretty big moments in that game.”
The other defining moment was on Feb. 26, 2023, when he scored the game-winner with 58 seconds left in overtime against the New York Riptide to end the second-longest game in NLL history. His hat trick goal gave Rochester a thrilling 11-10 victory.
“The other hat trick, with the OT winner, back with the new Knighthawks was a cool one as well,” he said. “It was another fun game and one of the longest games in NLL history. To be able to finish it off was a special moment.”
Gillies ranks fourth all-time in franchise blocks (46) and fifth in caused turnovers (43). In 164 NLL games, he racked up 44 goals and 50 assists while scooping up 538 loose balls. In his career, he played eight seasons in Rochester and two in Halifax (2020-22) when the team relocated in 2019. He returned home to Rochester for the 2022-23 season.
The recipient of the 2023-24 Chopper’s Community Champ award and three community service awards with the original Knighthawks, Gillies dedicated his life off the floor to getting youth players on it. He owns and operates Roots Box Lacrosse and coaches other teams across the club scene in the Greater Rochester Area. Most recently, he became the National Program Director for Sweetlax Lacrosse.
Brad credited his success to the support of his wife, Mackenzie, his sons, and his family. After graduating from RIT, he never left Rochester and built his life around lacrosse. After being selected in the first round of the 2015 NLL Entry Draft, he not only started playing for the team but also worked as one of the Knighthawks’ youth lacrosse coordinators.
“If I never got taken by Rochester 10 years ago, who knows what my life would look like,” he said. “It set up a ton of stuff off the field and being able to work with the team. It really integrated me into this community. It’s crazy to think back on everything that happened and the domino effect of where it led to where I am right now.”
Gillies thanked former Knighthawks Owner Curt Styres, past team Vice President Jody Gage, Halifax Thunderbirds President and CEO John Catalano, former Knighthawks digital content creator Charlie Ragusa, and Craig Rybczynski, the Knighthawks Senior Director of Lacrosse Operations and Communications. He also recognized Knighthawks President and General Manager Dan Carey for bringing him back to Rochester with the new Knighthawks.
“I’m very grateful for having had the ability to play in Rochester. I’ve loved the city ever since I got here with RIT and I’m proud to call it home,” said Gillies. “Thanks to my family and their support, coming to as many games as they have over these years, and all the teammates, coaches, staff, and management. Always bittersweet for something like this to end, but proud of what was accomplished and the friendships made along the way.”