(Rochester, NY)… Rochester Knighthawks President and General Manager Dan Carey announced today that the team has re-signed defenseman Chad Tutton to a two-year deal, pending league approval.
”Chad is a big, strong, imposing player, and we’re expecting a lot from him these next two seasons,” Carey said. “He’s been good for us, but we believe there’s another level he can get to. With his size and strength, he can be extremely difficult to play against, and he has that mean streak that our coaches want to see more of on the defensive end.”
Tutton completed his second season with the Knighthawks in 2025-26 and remained a heavy hitter and physical presence on the defensive side of the floor. Over the past two seasons, Tutton has scooped up 196 loose balls, caused 32 turnovers, and blocked 25 shots. He notched at least seven loose-ball recoveries in eight games last season.
“I love playing for the Hawks, and I love everything they stand for,” Tutton said. “We have a really great group, and I think we underperformed last year. We’re going to be building where we left off, with a kind of sour taste in our mouths. For the team and the fans, I think we owe it to them and ourselves to really perform this year.”
His highlight game last year came on the road against Oshawa.
“Obviously it’s a bit of a hometown game for me; I live 15 minutes from that rink,” Tutton said. “There were about 75 people, friends and family, and then my wife and daughter in the crowd. I scored a nice goal on a breakaway, and that was really cool, something I’ll always remember. I’m looking forward to having her at games this year and next back in Rochester.”
Before his time in Rochester began, Tutton spent eight seasons between Georgia and Philadelphia. In that time, he corralled 679 loose balls while scoring 33 goals and notching 64 helpers. He played 128 games, including four in the postseason with Georgia.
From his time playing in the summer, Tutton is a four-time Mann Cup Champion with the Peterborough Lakers (MSL), having been a member of the team from 2015-19 and then again from 2022-23. He was named the club’s Most Improved Player in 2018.
Prior to turning pro, Tutton completed four years at the University of North Carolina, where he was the first Canadian ever recruited by Joe Breschi to play at Chapel Hill. In 49 career games, he recorded 89 points and 49 ground balls.
Before attending UNC, Tutton represented Team Canada at the 2012 FIL Under-19 Men’s Field World Championships in Turku, Finland. In 2009, he played for the Canadian National Box Lacrosse silver medalists in the Founders Cup as a member of Clarington Green Gaels, and the previous year was on the Canadian national gold medal championship team (Team Ontario Box Lacrosse). He also had a successful junior career, winning three straight provincial championships with Whitby from 2006 through 2008.