Trailing 9-3 at halftime, the Rochester Knighthawks exploded for 11 second-half goals, including five straight during a furious fourth-quarter comeback to put the finishing touches on an incredible 14-13 preseason win over the Ottawa Black Bears Saturday at Brampton Memorial Arena.
Connor Fields (2+4) and Thomas McConvey each finished with six points, with Fields netting the eventual game-winner on the power-play in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter to complete the come-from-behind win. Ryan Lanchbury also recorded four points, including a hat trick in the fourth quarter, and Kevin Orleman and Riley Hutchcraft combined to make 38 saves while sharing the goaltending duties for Rochester, which improved to 2-0 in preseason play.
“I think it’s good to have games like that, especially in preseason,” said Fields. “It’s not always going to be up 10 goals going into the fourth quarter. To be able to come back like that against a really good team is huge. It’s a game of runs, lacrosse, and to be able to go through our lows and go back to our highs and end the game like that to come out with a win, I think it’s a big step for this group. We still have a week left in camp and a lot to improve on, but it was really good to see.”
The teams combined for nine goals in a high-scoring opening frame, including a pair from McConvey in-between back-to-back tallies from Ottawa.
A four-goal run by the Black Bears made it a 6-2 score, until Graydon Hogg made it a three-goal deficit with 1:24 remaining in the first quarter.
Ottawa added three more in the second while keeping Rochester off the board to take a 9-3 advantage into the half.
The Knighthawks came out firing on all cylinders to start the second half, scoring three straight in the first seven minutes of the frame. Newcomer Brandon Slade jumpstarted the run at 1:26 followed by McConvey completing the hat trick at 4:13 and Jack Boyden at 7:02, but Ottawa still maintained a three-goal cushion entering the fourth.
The Black Bears inflated the lead to12-8 just 31 seconds into the final frame, but Rochester would remain unfazed. Lanchbury converted on the power-play a minute later before finding the back of the net again to ignite a 5-0 run for Rochester.
Hogg and Slade each scored their second goals of the game and Lanchbury knotted the contest at 13-13 while completing the hat trick at 7:33.
Fields gave Rochester its first and only lead of the night late in regulation on the power-play and the Knighthawks, led by the heroics of Hutchcraft, held on for the final 3:20 of regulation to seal the 14-13 come-from-behind win.
The Knighthawks have one final tune-up with the Colorado Mammoth on Saturday, Nov. 23 at Toronto Rock Athletic Centre before ushering in the 2024-25 regular season on Saturday, Nov. 30 when they host the Las Vegas Desert Dogs at Segar & Sciortino Field at The Blue Cross Arena. Knighthawks single-game tickets for the 2024-25 season are on sale now and can be purchased at The Blue Cross Arena Box Office, online at www.rochesterknighthawks.com or by phone by calling 585-454-5335. Season Ticket Memberships start as low as $20 per seat per game depending on seating location. For more information, visit www.rochesterknighthawks.com/memberships.
