The Rochester Knighthawks unveiled their year-end award winners for the 2022-23 season prior to the regular-season finale against the Philadelphia Wings on April 29.
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CHOPPER’S COMMUNITY CHAMP – BRAD GILLIES
Voted on by the fans and honoring the player who all season long dedicated himself to serving and giving back to the Rochester community. Since day one, Gillies immersed himself into the local community, spending countless hours visiting schools and was instrumental in promoting the game of lacrosse at the youth level.
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UNSUNG HERO – RYLAN HARTLEY
New for this season and also voted on by the fans, the Unsung Hero award recognizes the player that exhibited courage, enthusiasm and love for the game of lacrosse. Hartley was a mainstay between the pipes and the heart and soul of the Knighthawks in his first year as the team’s starting goaltender, backstopping the team to a franchise-best 10 wins as well as their first playoff berth in team history. One of only four netminders this season to play more than one thousand minutes, he finished third in the league in saves ()713) and minutes (1,049)and tied for fourth in wins (10).
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TEAMMATE OF THE YEAR – RILEY HUTCHCRAFT AND TYLER HALLS
Voted on by the Knighthawks organization, the award honors the two players who all season long demonstrated respect, hard work and immense dedication to their teammates and the organization. Hutchcraft, who came to Rochester following four seasons with the Toronto Rock, was a consummate professional who played valuable minut5es in the crease when called upon while Halls always exuded a team first mentality despite being faced with adversity.
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DEFENSIVE MOST VALUABLE PLAYER – RYLAND REES
Rees anchored the Knighthawks defense and transition game all season, providing leadership and stability while also contributing offensively when needed. Named an alternate captain for the second straight year, he finished tied for third amongst all transition players with 26 caused turnovers and 17th in scoring at his position. He’s now a three-time winner of the award.
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OFFENSIVE MOST VALUABLE PLAYER – CONNOR FIELDS
Knighthawks forward Connor Fields has consistently – and quite impressively – evolved into one of the NLL’s most elite offensive players in 2022-23. Following his 17th straight multi-goal effort last week against Philadelphia to wrap up the regular season, Fields closed out his record-setting campaign second in the NLL with 52 goals behind only New York’s Jeff Teat and finished fifth with 112 points despite one missing one game. Fields, who set the Knighthawks single-season franchise records for goals, assists and points, led the team in scoring in 14 of his 17 outings this season and scored at least two goals or more in all 17 games, including four straight weeks of four-goal efforts. Fields became just the fifth player this season and only the third American-born player in NLL history to record 100 points in a season. He also became just the second American-born player to score 50 goals in a season, joining Roy Colsey who reached the mark in 2001 with the New York Saints. Additionally, Fields, who paced all NLL forwards with 142 loose ball recoveries, became the first NLL player since Athan Iannucci in 2008 to record more than 100 points and 130 loose balls in the same season.
