The late October signing of Sid Smith to a seven-year contact opened the floodgates for a November that has seen the Rochester Knighthawks ink contracts with close to twenty players, including nine members of their championship squad from last season.
Rochester’s signing spree was not only notable in quantity, the player caliber and length of the deals was also prominent. Captain Sid Smith’s contract was replicated in duration for the contracts of two other integral pieces of the Knighthawks’ success, with Craig Point and Dan Dawson also being locked up for the next seven years. Matt Vinc, who has been named NLL Goalie of the Year twice during his three years in Rochester, was rewarded for his outstanding play with a five-year deal.
Rochester bolstered up their back end signing the defensive half of the brothers Dawson, Paul, to a five-year contract. Transitional force Brad Self, who led the squad in looseballs last season with 96, also was given a five-year agreement. Further reinforcing the transitional side of things is the re-signing of Jim Purves, who registered two goals and 21 loose balls in eight games after being acquired from the Buffalo Bandits at the 2013 trade deadline.
Jon Sullivan was signed to a one-year contract after being acquired in the trade that saw Casey Powell get sent to the Colorado Mammoth. Another former Mammoth member to be signed by Rochester includes Mac Allen, who became the first RFA to sign an offer sheet with a different team under the newly established CBA. Allen suited up for Rochester prior to his stint in Colorado and was involved in the the 2010 trade involving John Grant Jr.
Rory Glaves, who dressed 13 games during the regular season before being sidelined due to injury, was signed to a one-year contract. Veteran Mike Accursi returns for another season in search of his sixth Champion’s Cup title, which would be his fourth with the Knighthawks. Other players to be signed to single year deals include second-year Knighthawk Matt Hummel, recent draft picks Zac Reid and Brandon Styres, as well as emerging goaltending prospect Ian Duffy.
After opening training camp over the weekend, Rochester will resume their preseason training with an exhibition game versus the Minnesota Swarm on Saturday, December 7th at The Blue Cross Arena.
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