(Rochester, NY)… Rochester Knighthawks President and General Manager Dan Carey announced today that the team has signed defenseman Shonwahnonkon (SUE-wah-NOON-go) Thompson to a two-year deal, pending league approval.
Thompson joined the Knighthawks in late August through a trade with the Halifax Thunderbirds that also brought goaltender Drew Hutchison to Rochester. He is entering his sixth season in the NLL after being drafted 38th overall by the Thunderbirds in the 2019 NLL Entry Draft. In 46 regular-season games, Thompson has collected 152 loose-ball recoveries, 22 points, and 129 penalty minutes.
“He’s got an edge and a toughness to him,” Carey said. “As an opponent, he’s a guy you don’t like to play against, which is kind of what we need a bit more of. He’s going to bring an intensity and some toughness to our camp. This is going to be a tough team to crack. Guys aren’t guaranteed a spot, so he’s got to come in and earn a spot on this team, and we feel like he’s got a chance to do that.”
He has put up impressive performances offensively and defensively in the NLL. In April 2022, he put up the best offensive performance of his career, notching a goal and five assists to help Halifax take down the New York Riptide 16-13. In March 2025, he scooped up 10 loose balls against the Las Vegas Desert Dogs.
This summer, the 26-year-old was crowned a Mann Cup champion again after appearing in 18 regular-season games and posting nine points (3+6) with the Six Nations Chiefs of Major Series Lacrosse. He played in three of the six games in the finals series against the Peterborough Lakers and played in three of four games against the Coquitlam Adanacs in the Mann Cup, notching one assist in Game One. Over the past four seasons with the Chiefs, he has played in 56 games and notched 19 points (9+10), while winning the Senior “A” championship each season (2023-26).
Thompson entered the NLL after playing four seasons of Junior “B” lacrosse for his hometown Akwesasne Indians, earning the C for his team in his final year. He put up career highs in points, adding seven goals and 19 assists, and took his team to the Ontario Finals. Following that season, he had one more year of eligibility but was invited to the NLL Combine and caught the eye of multiple teams.
In 2021, he played for the Six Nations Arrows in the modified summer season. Internationally, he was part of the Haudenosaunee Nationals team that won bronze at the 2024 World Lacrosse Box Championships.

