Knighthawks Starting to Roll

The 3-3 Rochester Knighthawks are finally figuring it out. Since a horrendous 0-3 start, the Hawks are on a three-game win streak and are finally looking like the Championship team they became last season, with the potential to be much better than last year’s squad.

The player I’ve been most surprised by and impressed with is #23, Cory Vitarelli. Knighthawks fans knew the player known as “The Dog” was a good player, but he has far exceeded expectations in 2013. He is second on the Knighthawks in goals with 11 (one less than superstar Cody Jamieson), and has added six assists as well. But beyond the stats, the guy is a human highlight reel, with three goals this year worthy of being on Sportscenter’s Top 10, including his goal against Buffalo last weekend that made #7 on the list. And remember, ESPN doesn’t even cover the NLL, so making top plays is something special. Vit-dog has been amazing so far.

Cody Jamieson has continued to prove himself as one of the best players in the league today, and I believe that he is in fact the best player in the NLL. Jammer is 4th in the league in points, and he has played one less game than Toronto’s Billings and Doyle. He is the most valuable to his team, and with all he has already accomplished it’s hard to believe he’s only 25. No disrespect to Doyle and Billings who have had legendary careers, but this is going to be Jammer’s league for a while.

Johnny Powless continues to produce week after week, and will be counted on for even more as we get closer to playoff time. The 19-year old  has seven goals and six assists, and has a love for the game that is evident every time he’s on the floor.

Dangerous Dan Dawson has been under more scrutiny than any K-Hawks player so far this season, but he has finally found his groove in these last two games, picking up 16 points (eight points per game in the two-game stretch). Dawson is second on the team in points and will hope to continue this roll for the rest of the season.

“Vino says No!” is one of the most common things you’ll hear at the Blue Cross Arena when the K-Hawks are in town. Goaltender Matt Vinc is dominating this year, stopping 81.2% of shots he faces and racking up 259 saves so far. With a struggling defense, you need a goalie who can stop open shots, and Vino is one of the MVP’s of the league right now.

Sure Rochester got off to an 0-3 start, but they are quickly coming back up the standings. With a powerhouse offense that has just started to click, and a world-class goalie, the Hawks have the determination to get serious about a repeat.