Rochester Knighthawks General Manager and Vice President of Lacrosse Operations Dan Carey announced today that the team has agreed to terms with goaltender Evan Kirk to a one-year contract for the 2021-22 National Lacrosse League season, pending league approval.
Kirk, 34, joins the Knighthawks having compiled a 58-48 career record with an 11.83 goals-against average and a .770 save percentage in 141 games over nine seasons with the Saskatchewan Rush, New England Black Wolves, Philadelphia Wings and Minnesota Swarm from 2011-2020. Additionally, he has posted a 5-4 record in nine playoff contests while posting a .748 save percentage.
WATCH: EVAN KIRK HIGHLIGHT REEL 1
A native of Orangeville, ON, the nine-year veteran recorded an impressive 25-9 record in 41 appearances with the Rush over the last three seasons, winning an NLL championship along the way. He earned a career-high 12 wins in 2017-18 in his first season with the Rush and went 3-1 during the postseason while backstopping the team to its second NLL title in three years. He was also enjoying a banner year with a 9.26 goals-against average and a .813 save percentage during the 2019-20 campaign prior to the cancellation of the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Originally a first-round pick (sixth overall) of the Swarm in the 2011 NLL Entry Draft, Kirk was honored as the 2016 NLL Goaltender of the Year and was a 2016 All-Pro First Team selection after posting a 9-4 mark with New England. He also was named to the 2012 NLL All-Rookie team after his first year with Minnesota.
WATCH: EVAN KIRK HIGHLIGHT REEL 2
Kirk played his collegiate lacrosse at Hobart College in Geneva, where he compiled a 5-7 record with a 10.45 goals-against average and a .531 save percentage in 24 games for the Statesmen from 2008-2011. As a senior, he appeared in 13 games and totaled 126 saves while serving as team captain.
The @RocKnighthawks have now landed two of the top five 2021 @NLL free agents in Kirk (G) and Coates (D) and both were arguably the top FAs available at their positions.
This new K-Hawks team is going to be dangerous this season.#ProLacrosseTalk https://t.co/guVcTt4Puw
— Hutton Jackson (@HuttonJackson) September 1, 2021
Really difficult to understate how much the Knighthawks are killing it in free agency this offseason. https://t.co/YhjNoLlTBm
— Ty Merrow (@TyMerLax) September 1, 2021
This is a massive get for the KHawks! #NLLFreeAgency https://t.co/TXyb5VSCzE
— teddy jenner (@OffTheCrosseBar) September 1, 2021