The anticipated arrival of rookie forward Ryan Smith was long awaited over the days of COVID. Especially for Rochester Knighthawks fans who had to wait over a year-and-a-half to see the young forward in action, and to find out that Smith came as advertised.
From being named the Knighthawks Offensive Player of the Year, to being one of the top rookies in the entire National Lacrosse League, there’s only more to come from Smith as he dives into his pro career. Here’s a closer look back at Smiths’ top three moments from the 2021-22 Knighthawks campaign.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
While Smith was selected by Rochester third overall in the 2020 NLL Entry Draft, he officially signed a two-year deal with the Knighthawks on June 2, 2021. Smith’s arrival to the squad didn’t disappoint.
In his first year in the league, Smith went on to appear in 17 games for Rochester, racking up 59 points which was good for third among all NLL rookies. Smith’s 35 goals ranked first on the team and second among all first-year players. Additionally, Smith, the most decorated player to come out of Robert Morris University, had the third-most power-play points among all league rookies with 15, which included a team-high and franchise record eight power-play goals.
All of this and more dubbed Smith as the Knighthawks Offensive Player of the Year, in which the rookie forward wouldn’t have seen himself as that at the beginning of the season.
An amazing first season for Ryan Smith! pic.twitter.com/9kELHS8AKg
— Rochester Knighthawks (@RocKnighthawks) June 26, 2022
“I definitely started a little bit slow,” explained Smith when asked where he finally began to piece together his offensive stride this season. “I didn’t get my first goal until I think it was the third game, but from then on my confidence just kind of grew.”
However, chemistry throughout the course of the 2021-22 campaign helped propel Smith’s offense to the next level.
“Just finding that chemistry on offense, it’s still a very young group and we’ve got a lot of very young guys who are kind of in their first or second year in the NLL. So, I’m just excited to see where our offense can grow and where we can build.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4wpX-EQgXs
FROM THE FIELD TO THE FLOOR
Being from Ontario, Smith played a little indoor lacrosse when he was younger, but it was nothing like what he faced in the NLL this season.
“Definitely a step up from any level I’ve ever played,” stated Smith when comparing the outdoor game he played in college to the friendly confines at The Blue Cross Arena. “Everyone’s just so much bigger, faster, stronger and I kind of got a sense of that playing last summer as well. It’s definitely exciting learning from some of the vets on the offense and whatnot, like Curtis Knight, when Mike Burke came, and Holden (Cattoni).”
While Smith came into the 2021-22 season as one of the most prolific scorers to come out of Robert Morris University, he made his transition from the field to the floor look seamless. Getting a couple of games under his belt helped add to his confidence over the course of the year, especially in such a fast-paced environment.
“The biggest difference to me was how much faster the defenders are and just how much faster the windows closed to get your passes off and get your shots off,” finished Smith when talking about his transition to the indoor game.
It seems to have worked out pretty well for Smith as he ended the year with multi-goal efforts in 10 of his last 12 games, while notching six hat tricks over that span.
SETTLING IN WITH THE YOUNG GUNS
It’s no secret that the Knighthawks are a young team, that includes Smith despite his Offensive Player of the Year honors.
“Growing up playing against certain guys my whole life, not necessarily liking them growing up, until I met them in person. That along with you just kind of build each other up and make sure everyone’s doing stuff together,” stated Smith when asked how helpful it was to make the adjustment to the pros on such a young roster. “It’s awesome having a young group of guys. It definitely makes the locker room dynamic, very fun.”
So so many goals.
Here are just three of his seven hat tricks from this season. pic.twitter.com/yen9H2Qaj5
— Rochester Knighthawks (@RocKnighthawks) June 26, 2022
Along with the fun that was had this season, Smith feels that what the squad started to piece together by the season’s end was an indication of what they can build in the future. It has Smith pretty excited to see what unfolds.
“It makes me very excited for the future as everyone has another year under their belt and kind of the offense with the whole team. I can’t wait to see where we go.”
