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 sixth year in the league and second with the team was forward Thomas Hoggarth.
LOOKING BACK ON THE 2022-23 SEASON
In his second season with the club, Hoggarth finished fourth on the club in goals (30) and shots (126) while his 54 points and 24 assists ranked fifth and sixth, respectively. His 30 goals marked a personal-best while he reached the 50-point plateau for the second time in his six-year career.
In 14 of the 17 games in which Hoggarth appeared in, he scored at least one goal while also producing 11 multi-point outings. The Lakeview, Ontario, native recorded four-goal performances in Rochester’s wins over the Toronto Rock on Dec. 10 and at Georgia on March 12.
Just thinking about that time Thomas Hoggarth scored 4 goals and had 8 points against Georgie 🤩 pic.twitter.com/K0cFVQl3Gq
— Rochester Knighthawks (@RocKnighthawks) June 9, 2023
The matchup against the Swarm proved to be his best of the season after adding four assists for eight points to go along with seven shots on goal.
Hoggarth then added one goal, a power-play tally, during Rochester’s first-ever playoff game against the eventual NLL champion Buffalo Bandits on May 6 at KeyBank Center. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound forward finished the contest with nine shots on goal, which were third-most amongst all Knighthawks.
In 86 career NLL games with Rochester, Buffalo, and Vancouver, Hoggarth has totaled 171 points on 95 goals and 76 assists.
Goals on goals on goals…
We have trouble choosing only a few, so we decided to give you a whole bunch of Thomas Hoggarth’s goals from this season! pic.twitter.com/zhAUM1HBX8
— Rochester Knighthawks (@RocKnighthawks) June 9, 2023
RETURNING TO ROCHESTER
Prior to the start of the 2022-23 campaign, Hoggarth inked a two-year contract with Rochester that runs through the 2023-24 slate.
He finished third among all Knighthawks in goals (25) and seventh in points (40) as he appeared in 16 games with Rochester during the 2021-22 season. Additionally, he ranked fifth in loose balls recoveries (80) and shots on goal (82).
He recorded a team-high six points and tied the single-game franchise record with a career-best five goals against New York on March 12, 2022. On his third goal versus the Riptide, he tallied his 100th pro point.
Is it just us, or is this guy always in mid-air!? pic.twitter.com/Ki6Rzd5dqi
— Rochester Knighthawks (@RocKnighthawks) June 9, 2023
The undrafted forward also notched a hat trick in the Knighthawks’ 15-13 win over Albany on Feb. 12, 2022. His first three-goal game as part of a five-point night at Philadelphia on Jan. 22, 2022.
Hoggarth made his Knighthawks debut at New York on Dec. 4, 2021.
Prior to missing the entire 2019-20 campaign due to an injury and the following season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Hoggarth posted a banner year in 2018-19 that saw him produce then career-highs in goals (29), assists (32) and points (61) in 17 games with the Buffalo Bandits. He finished the season third on the team in goals and fourth in points before adding three assists in two postseason appearances while helping Buffalo advance to the NLL Finals.