Tonight’s Game Overview
The Rochester Knighthawks will play their second of a three-game homestand on Saturday night as they take on the Toronto Rock at Segar & Sciortino Field at The Blue Cross Arena. Both teams enter the matchup after their best performances of the season. CJ Kirst scored a
career-high five goals in Torontoʼs best win of the season, 12-7, over the San Diego Seals. The Knighthawks enter the matchup after going 2-0 on a back-to-back weekend that saw them top the defending champion Buffalo Bandits and the Philadelphia Wings. Fans can watch the game on ESPN+ and NLL+.
Last Time Out
The Knighthawks came home to Rochester for a Saturday night matchup with the Bandits after leaving the turf in Philadelphia with a win less than 24 hours prior. But when that matchup is against a team only 74 miles away, and theyʼre the three-time defending
champs, you find a way to bring the energy.
Rochester did just that. The Knighthawks were led by a seven-point effort from Thomas McConvey (3+4), while Zed Williams was just behind him with a first-quarter hat trick. Connor Fields posted his 400th point as a Knighthawk on the Knighthawksʼ first goal and
added another goal and three assists for a five-point night. Ryan Smith (2+3) also notched five points while Ryan Lanchbury added three (1+2).
Scouting the Rock
The Toronto Rock enter Rochester on their last road trip before a three-game home stand. Last week in San Diego, they put up their best win of the season, topping the Seals 12-7. Two four-goal runs, led by rookies CJ Kirst and Owen Hiltz, gave Toronto a two-goal lead
and then a four-goal lead to hold on and win despite their team not winning a single faceoff. Through their 2-2 season, they have been led offensively by Kirst and Hiltz. The Rock also boasts a dominant transition group, with captain Challen Rogers leading rookie
Sam English. Nick Rose is back between the pipes following a brief stint in Calgary last season. In four games back with the Rock, heʼs made 131 saves and averaged 9.73 goals against.
Knighthawks Find Kryptonite
Williams has had plenty of success against Buffalo in his career. Posting 61 points in 15 games against the Buffalo Bandits. Knighthawks head coach Mike Hasen preaches a full 60-minute effort every game. Williams was the key to the start of that effort as he put down a
natural hat trick in the final seven minutes of the first quarter to make it 4-2. Rochester never gave up that lead.
King of Harts
Rylan Hartley did not start both games over the weekend for Rochester in their back-to-back set. He did, however, deliver two wins to the Knighthawks and made a combined 68 saves between the two games. He made 13 saves in each of the fourth quarters. On Friday, he entered the game in the second quarter and needed to find his rhythm, which he did by the second half. On Saturday, he was locked in from the start. He held the Bandits to single-digit goals for the first time in his career and held Dhane Smith, Josh Byrne, Ian
MacKay, and Tehoka Nanticoke to one goal each on 37 combined shots on goal.
Milestone Watch
- Zed Williams is three points away from 300 in his NLL career.
- Brad Gillies needs 7 loose-ball recoveries for 500 in his career.
- Matt Gilray played his 100th career game on Saturday against the Bandits. He needs
three more points to reach the century mark. - Ian Llord took sole possession of ninth all-time in NLL regular-season games played when
he took the floor against Buffalo. - Mike Hasen passed Paul Day for fourth all-time in NLL coaching wins with 119 against the
Bandits. - Connor Fields hit 400 points as a Knighthawk with the first goal against Buffalo.
- Chad Tutton scooped up his 800th career loose ball on Saturday against Buffalo.
Next Game
The Knighthawks will host the Vancouver Warriors on Saturday, Jan. 31 at 7 p.m. at Segar & Sciortino Field at The Blue Cross Arena. For tickets, fans can go online to www.rochesterknighthawks.com or call (585) 400-HAWK (4295).

