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 transition player Ryland Rees.
2022-23 SEASON RECAP
Rees, who missed the first two games of the season, was name the team’s Defensive MVP for the third straight year in 2022-23. In 16 games, he finished second among all Knighthawks defensemen/transition players in goals (7), assists (9) and points (16), the last two of which were career-highs. He was fourth in loose ball (82) recoveries.
After returning to the active roster in Week 3, Rees had at least one point in seven of the first eight games and finished the season with a point in 10 of his last 13 outings.
Always bringing the grit on defense and the energy to the floor.
Another great season in the books for Ryland Rees! pic.twitter.com/ok4Bs9Dl6e
— Rochester Knighthawks (@RocKnighthawks) June 16, 2023
Rees made his postseason debut during Rochester’s first-ever playoff game against the Bandits on May 6 at KeyBank Center. He gathered two loose balls while also causing a pair of turnovers.
In 46 career NLL games, all with Rochester, Rees has totaled 22 goals and 20 assists for 42 points since the start of the 2019-20 campaign.
BACK IN ROCHESTER
Prior to the start of the 2022-23 season, Rees signed a two-year contract extension with Rochester on Sept. 1, 2022. Selected by the Knighthawks in the first round (second overall) of the 2019 NLL Entry Draft, Rees agreed to a two-year deal with Rochester on Oct. 7, 2019.
In 2021-22, Rees led all Knighthawks defensive players with a career-high 11 goals and 15 points while being one of four players to appear in all 18 games. He also finished eighth among all NLL transition players with a team-best 118 loose ball recoveries on his way to earning team Defensive Player of the Year honors for the second straight year. He matched his career-high with his fourth goal of the season in just five games at Philadelphia on Jan. 22, 2021.
And your Defensive MVP for the THIRD SEASON IN A ROW 🙌 pic.twitter.com/qI7LOuoQlH
— Rochester Knighthawks (@RocKnighthawks) June 16, 2023
In his first season with the Knighthawks in 2019-20, Rees recorded 11 points on four goals, seven assists and a team-high 75 loose ball recoveries while being one of just four rookies to appear in all 12 games with Rochester during their inaugural season. He tied for 10th in scoring among all NLL rookies and second behind only teammate Corey Highfield for most points among all first-year transition players. He earned All-Rookie Team Honors for the 2019-20 season as well as Rochester’s Defensive Player of the Year in their inaugural season.