The 2022-23 season was a memorable one for the Rochester Knighthawks. From the team’s season-opening six-game win streak to securing their first-ever playoff berth and all the individual performances in between, the Knighthawks established themselves as one of the up-and-coming organizations in the National Lacrosse League in only their third season in the expansion-era.
One of the returners to the squad for his third year on the Knighthawks was goaltender Rylan Hartley.
LOOKING BACK ON THE 2022-23 SEASON
Hartley was the mainstay between the pipes for the Knighthawks and the catalyst to Rochester’s 10-8 season. The netminder, who started all 18 games for Rochester, finished third among all NLL netminders in minutes (1,047) and saves (713) and tied for fourth in wins (10).
He also anchored a Knighthawks defense that allowed the 11th-best goals-against per game (11.89) this past season and kept the opposition to fewer than 10 goals on seven different occasions.
Hartley, who cracked the 1,000-save mark for his pro career in 2022-23, also established the single-game record for saves (55) as well as the single-season record for assists and points by a goaltender (3).
So many saves this season, it’s simply impossible to choose our favorite! pic.twitter.com/qr4N3ezfsD
— Rochester Knighthawks (@RocKnighthawks) June 12, 2023
Hartley made 34 saves in 51 minutes during Rochester’s first-ever playoff game against the eventual NLL champion Buffalo Bandits on May 6 at KeyBank Center. The 5-foot-11, 165-pound goaltender made double digits in stops in each of the first (13) and second (10) quarters, respectively.
In 33 career NLL games, all with Rochester, Hartley has compiled a 13-16 record and 1,196 saves since the start of the 2019-20 campaign. He also added five assists as well as being whistled for 32 penalty minutes.
Prior to the regular-season finale against the Philadelphia Wings on April 29, the Knighthawks unveiled their year-end award winners for the 2022-23 season. As voted on by the fans, Hartley was named the Unsung Hero award in recognition of the player that all season long exhibited courage, enthusiasm and love for the game of lacrosse.
The backbone of the team, always stepping up when we needed him and bringing all the energy to the floor!
There is a reason Hartz is your 2022-23 Unsung Hero 🙌 pic.twitter.com/xEi77UA6NT
— Rochester Knighthawks (@RocKnighthawks) June 12, 2023
RETURNING TO ROCHESTER
Prior to the start of the 2022-23 season, Hartley signed a one-year contract with Rochester on Sept. 21, 2022.
Acquired by Rochester in the third round of the 2019 NLL Expansion Draft, Hartley completed his second season with the Knighthawks in 2021-22, showing a 2-6 record and 312 saves with a .770 save percentage in 10 games.
In his rookie season with the Knighthawks in 2019-20, the 24-year-old netminder posted a 1-3 record and 171 saves with a 14.70 goals-against average and a .767 save percentage in five appearances. He made his professional debut on Jan. 19, 2022 against Philadelphia before earning his first win in a 47-save effort in Rochester’s 13-12 victory over the New York Riptide on Feb. 29, 2022.
Hartley vs the Toronto Rock 👀 pic.twitter.com/x3VXHNcj1a
— Rochester Knighthawks (@RocKnighthawks) June 12, 2023
Originally a second-round selection (15th overall) of the San Diego Seals in 2018, Hartley also spent the previous five summers with the Junior “A” Orangeville Northmen. In 43 games with the team, the Orangeville, Ontario, native has posted a 22-15-2 record to go along with a 7.09 goals-against average and a .795 save percentage. In 2019, he backstopped the Northmen to a Minto Cup title after leading all netminders in wins (16) and saves (550) while ranking third with a 6.15 goals-against average.
In 2018, the netminder led the league in wins (12), goals-against average (6.63), saves (585) and save percentage (.817) en route to earning the Dennis McIntosh Award as the League’s MVP.