The Rochester Knighthawks signed free agent Wenster Green to a one-year deal today. The defenseman/transition man will join the back-to-back National Lacrosse League Champions this weekend for the opening of Training Camp.
“It feels awesome. I have been waiting for this opportunity,” said Green. “I am willing do anything I can to make the team. The biggest things I want to do are work hard and play smart.”
Green comes to Rochester after winning a Canadian Lacrosse League (CLax) title in 2013 with the Iroquois Ironmen. The defenseman, who was the sixth overall pick in the CLax Draft, played in six games and collected six points. He also appeared in two of the team’s three playoff games en route to a Creator’s Cup Championship.
“It was a good experience and was good to play both ways,” he said. “I know there are not a lot of players who can play both ways, but in CLax the whole league does.”
Green is back in the NLL after being originally selected by the Buffalo Bandits with the 40th overall pick in the 2012 NLL Entry Draft. The Six Nations product played parts of four seasons with the Junior “A” Arrows (2010-13) and was a mainstay on their defense. In 2013, he was a member of the Six Nations team who was one win away from advancing to the Minto Cup Playoffs. Green collected two goals and three assists in 13 regular season games, and notched four assists in a career-high 16 playoff games.
“It was good to get that far and play in Game 7,” said Green. “It was not the result we wanted, but it was a good experience.”
Six Nations teammate and Knighthawks forward Johnny Powless offered his congratulations to Green on signing with Rochester. The duo also won a bronze medal with the Iroquois Nationals at the 2012 FIL U19 World Championships.
“I’m very excited for Wenster,” said Powless. “He’s a solid defender.”
Green, 20, recently played in two international exhibition games with the Iroquois Nationals. The defenseman suited up for the Bowhunter Cup in October and played in the game in Montreal against Team Canada on Sunday. Facing some of the best players in the world has Green excited to get back on the floor.
“The Bowhunter Cup was fast-paced, but the Montreal game was on a completely other level,” said Green. “It was amazing to play against some of the best players in Canada.”
The Knighthawks will officially kick off the 2014 season this weekend at the new state-of-the-art Unity Health System Total Sports Experience location in East Rochester. The first Training Camp practice will commence on Saturday, November 23rd at 5:00 p.m. and will end at 7:00 p.m.
Knighthawks Assistant Coach Jason Johnson, who coached Green in the Bowhunter Cup, expects good things out of the youngster.
“He’s young, but he has the potential to be a good defenseman (in this league),” he said. “He is a stay-at-home defenseman, but can handle himself on the offensive side.”
