This past NLL season history was made when the Rochester Knighthawks became the first team to three-peat in the 28 year history of the league. Other teams have come close, Toronto Rock, Buffalo Bandits and the Philadelphia Wings.
With a new playoff format the Knighthawks overcame losing the first game in the Eastern Finals and Championship to force the 10 minute mini-game, and even came from behind in both to score victories.
The Knighthawks have had very little turnover in personnel the last three seasons, so one has to wonder, can this team be compared to the Toronto Rock team from 1999-2003? This Rock team won four out of five titles during those years, (1999-2000, 2002-2003), only to be interrupted by the Philadelphia Wings championship victory in 2001.
Colin Doyle, Bob Watson, Blaine Manning, Jim Veltman, were some of the main components to that team during there run. In 1999 they defeated he Wings 13-2, and in 2000 Kaleb Toth’s last second goal gave them a 14-13 victory over the Knighthawks. In 2001 the Wings scored a 9-8 victory over the Rock to halt their run, but in 2002 and 2003 the Rock were back on track giving them four titles in five years.
So now we have to wonder, how long will the Knighthawk run go on? With a young team in place, players such as Cody Jamieson, Johnny Powless, Matt Vinc, Stephen Keogh, inked to long term contracts and seeing that Rochester is only a stones throw from Canada, players have no problem in traveling to the city. Owner/GM Curt Styres made it clear that he would do anything possible to keep championships in the city of Rochester. Listening to the players and what they need was his priority. On May 28, 2008 Styres who is the President of Arrow Express Sports paid $5,575,000 for the Knighthawks, this was the highest price paid for a team in league history.
Now with the relocating of the Philadelphia Wings, what will this do to some of the other teams? Will the players from the Wings want to stay in the new home, wherever that may be? And if there isn’t a buyer soon, what will a dispersal draft bring to the rest of the league and could it make the Knighthawks even stronger.
Only time will tell if this Knighthawk team can continue their run and pass the Toronto Rock team from 1999-2003. Or have they already done it?
