After nine seasons with the NLL, Rochester Knighthawks goalie Matt Vinc has made quite the name for himself as being the only goalie in league history to have won the Goaltender of the Year award three times in his career.
Vinc’ career started when he was in high school where he helped his school’s team win two gold medals, one silver medal, and one bronze medal at the OFSAA Field Lacrosse Championships. While playing for Canisious College in Buffalo, New York, Vinc played long-stick defense. He was named Canisious’ Male Athlete of the Year.
Joining the NLL in 2005 with the San Jose Stealth, Vinc rarely played. He became the starting goalie for the New York Titans in 2007. When the Titans moved to Orlando, Vinc went along with the team but when they folded after the 2010 season, Vinc was then sent to Colorado to play. He never played a game for the Mammoth when he was traded that October to the Rochester Knighthawks. This trade sent Vinc and transition player Matt Zash to Rochester and sent John Grant Jr. and Mac Allen to Colorado.
Vinc’ first Goaltender of the Year Award came in 2010 when he played for the Orlando Titans where he had 609 saves and a .810 saves percentage. In 2011, after taking over the job of starting goaltender for Pat O’Toole on the Knighthawks, Vinc again won the Goaltender of the Year Award with 585 saves and a .794 saves percentage, making a name for himself in Rochester.
Vinc was with the Knighthawks for the 2012 and 2013 back-to-back championship wins and was one of the main components to those wins. In 2013, Vinc again was honored with the Goaltender of the Year Award, making Knighthawks history as being the first goalie to record more than 600 saves in a season (Vinc had 662) and have over a .800 saves percentage (Vinc had .803%). Vinc also made his 4,000 career save in the 2013 season with the Knighthawks and was named the 2013 MVP for the team, his second MVP award in three seasons.
Moving forward, Vinc is looking at a long-term stay with the Knighthawks, having signed a five year deal with them this week. Having a strong back end has been crucial for the Knighthawks. As the 2014 season approaches and training camps start, the Knighthawks have one goal in mind: to be the first team in NLL history to win the championship three years in a row. With the strong back end the team prides themselves on, that goal is well within reach and in the process, Vinc could be in for another Goaltender of the Year award.
