(Rochester, NY)… The Rochester Knighthawks announced today that alternate captain Ryan Smith and goaltender Riley Hutchcraft are the co-recipients of the Knighthawks’ Teammate of the Year Award. It was the first of Smith’s career, but for Hutchcraft, it was back-to-back seasons as the recipient of the award.
The Teammate of the Year is voted on by the team’s players. This season, numerous players received votes, but Smith and Hutchcraft were at the top.
“There are really no words to put to it, that the guys think of you that way,” Smith said. “I never went into it thinking I was going to win it or anything. There are so many different guys on our team that I think could’ve won it. Shoutout to Hutchy and everyone else who got votes for it. I think it also speaks to how close our locker room is; we’d all do anything for each other and love one another.”
The tight-knit nature of the Knighthawks’ locker room shines through when the team can’t pick just one teammate. For Hutchcraft, being named a Teammate of the Year was all about who did the voting.
“It’s one of those awards you take pride in because it’s one your teammates vote for,” Hutchcraft said. “Doing everything you can to be the greatest teammate and then getting rewarded at the end of the day with it, it’s a big honor.”
Smith and Hutchcraft play at opposite ends of the floor, but they both find a way to loosen up a locker room or clamp down when they need to. As one of the goaltenders, Hutchcraft often brings the fun energy to the locker room but can also bring a serious or caring tone when it’s needed.
“I think just making sure everybody’s together, they’re having fun and just loose in the locker room,” Hutchcraft said. “I don’t get much floor time most years, and I try to find my why and how I can contribute to the team. I just like being the best teammate I can be, whether that’s holding a court session to get a couple of laughs out of the guys or just going in and chatting with individual guys, making sure that they’re doing okay.”
This is Hutchcraft’s third team award with the Knighthawks. In addition to being named Teammate of the Year in 2024-25, he was the team’s Unsung Hero during the 2023-24 season. This year, he posted three games with over 30 saves and passed the 1,000 save mark as a Knighthawk. His best game of the season was at the end of March in Oshawa. He made 40 saves in the team’s first win under Interim Head Coach Randy Mearns.
For Smith, this season brought new challenges, adding an A to his chest as an alternate captain, but he didn’t let it change his mindset as a teammate. It’s easy for him to bring the fun energy with the offensive group in Rochester. After five years with the offense, he’s been able to develop a relationship off the floor with everyone on the team. He also plays with his childhood best friend, Ryan Lanchbury, and his college best friend, Brad McCulley.
Along with the fun energy, he has become more accountable each season. Not just for himself, but for his entire team. Now, as a captain, he is not only a presence in the locker room but also an example for the team.
“I’m just trying to be a voice out there,” Smith said. “Whether it’s on the bench just trying to pick guys up or holding guys accountable when I can. I think I still have a lot to improve on as a leader and as a teammate, to be honest. I never really thought I’d have a letter on in the NLL, never thought I’d be in the NLL until a couple years before the draft process, so it’s still a pinch me moment every day.”
This year, Smith moved up to first in franchise history in games played. He also became the first new-era Knighthawk to reach 200 goals. Smith also ranks first in power-play goals (58) and game-winning goals (10), second in points (388), third in assists (186), and fourth in loose-ball recoveries (418).
The Knighthawks will announce the remaining award winners each Wednesday. The Offensive MVP will be revealed on Wednesday, May 13, while the Defensive MVP will be announced on May 20.