Rochester Knighthawks General Manager and Vice President of Lacrosse Operations Dan Carey announced today that the team has signed defenseman Matt Gilray to a two-year contract, pending league approval.
Gilray, who was acquired by Rochester from the Buffalo Bandits during the 2020 NLL Entry Draft, is coming off a banner year with the Bandits this past season, setting career-highs in goals (5), assists (7) and points (12) while also adding 81 loose ball recoveries in 11 games. In 2019, he totaled five points (3+2) in all 18 games as a rookie for the Bandits before notching two assists during Buffalo’s run to the NLL Finals.
Gilray, a former first-round selection of the Bandits in 2018, played his collegiate lacrosse at Bucknell University, where he was a two-time team captain and an All-Patriot League Second Team selection in each of his last three years. In 53 games with the Bison, he totaled 10 points (5+5) and 149 ground balls, including eight points (4+4) during his sophomore season.
Before joining Bucknell, the Oshawa, Ontario, native was a four-year letter-winner in both lacrosse and hockey while attending Brewster Academy in New Hampshire. As a member of the lacrosse team, he was part of three NNELL championship teams and was named a 2014 All-America selection after setting a single-season school record for points by a defenseman with 26 (10+16). He was also named among Inside Lacrosse’s top 100 recruits following his senior season, during which he served as team captain.
Gilray’s pro lacrosse experience also includes two seasons with the Boston Cannons of Major League Lacrosse and an international appearance with Team Canada at the 2018 FIL World Lacrosse Championship.