“The boys are working hard, they’re pushing the pace and making it hard on the coaches, but we’re playing 100% like we should be,” commented defenseman Tyler Halls when asked how he felt the start of Rochester Knighthawks 2022-23 Training Camp was going.
Halls is back for his second season with the Knighthawks after appearing in 10 of Rochester’s 18 games in 2021-22. In the time Halls saw on the floor last season, the defenseman went on to tally three points on two assists and his first professional goal that came on Mach 12 against the New York Riptide.
Despite the personal career-highs that Halls established for himself last year, he wished the team had seen more wins and hopes to start a new tradition going into his second year in the National Lacrosse League.
“This year we’re a new team with younger guys. Maybe change that tradition and get a new tradition going here and keep the wheels going 100%. If we follow the game plan day in and day out, we’ll come out on top.”
As the 2021-22 season came to a close on April 30 against the Halifax Thunderbirds, Halls was honored with the Knighthawks Teammate of the Year award.
“I didn’t expect to get that at all,” said Halls when asked if he was expecting that kind of recognition as his first year with Rochester came to an end. “I’ve just always been like a team guy, and if I if I’m not in the lineup, how can I give my energy off to the other guys? By pumping them up, getting them ready for the game, so they feed off my energy. At the end of the day, if we keep feeding off everyone’s energy, the same will come out.”
The young defenseman demonstrated the utmost professionalism, hard work and immense dedication to his teammates and the Knighthawks organization last season.
After being in and out of the lineup for the first half of the 2021-22 campaign, Halls became a permanent fixture for the Knighthawks over their final seven games while always exuding a team-first mentality. Predominantly a defenseman, Halls became one of the team’s regular face-off specialists towards the end of the year.
“Confidence. Huge confidence booster. Just getting the nerves out, getting a chance to actually play in the league and getting a shot at it and knowing what I can improve on. It’s just a way faster game and I think I improved on that a lot,” explained Halls when asked what he truly got out of his first season with the Knighthawks.
As much as Halls improved last season, he’s already setting goals to be even better for Rochester this year.
“Definitely transition the ball a bit more, I want to get better on loose balls and just play overall a lot better defensively,” finished Halls when asked what three main goals he’s established going into the 2022-23 campaign.
THE KNIGHTHAWKS (PRESEASON) ROAD AHEAD:
In the weeks to come, practices will be far and few between with two more exhibition games on the docket for the Knighthawks.
On Saturday, Nov. 12, the Knighthawks take on the Calgary Roughnecks before battling Panther City in one final tune-up on Saturday, Nov. 26. Both face-offs are set for 6:00 p.m. at Brampton Memorial Arena.
The Knighthawks will officially embark on their third NLL season on Saturday, Dec. 3 on the road against the Georgia Swarm as part of the league’s Face-Off Weekend before returning home to host the Toronto Rock on Opening Knight on Saturday, Dec. 10 at Segar & Sciortino Field.
