The New England Black Wolves and Rochester Knighthawks have announced a trade with the Black Wolves acquiring Jordan Hall from the Knighthawks in exchange for Quinn Powless and Mike Manley, pending league approval.
The first overall pick in the 2007 NLL Draft, Hall has eight points on four goals and four assists with 24 loose balls through four games. A two-time NLL champion, Hall has 485 career points (167 goals, 318 assists) and 661 loose balls. He was a member of the 2008 All-Rookie Team and a two-time All-Pro (second-team in 2009 and 2010), and he earned NLL Sportsmanship Award honors in 2011.
“We’re extremely excited to welcome Jordan Hall back,” Black Wolves assistant general manager Rich Lisk said. “He was a key member of this franchise prior to our relocation from Philadelphia and this move really strengthens our left side. Mike and Quinn have done a great job for us, but this is a move that made sense for what we are trying to build.”
“I am pretty excited to get going with the team this weekend,” said Powless, who will join the Knighthawks for their game against the Vancouver Stealth on Saturday.
Powless comes to Rochester after notching a point-per-game for the Black Wolves this season. The 22-year-old power forward has one goal and three assists in four games with New England. The former eighth overall pick now has 11 points (2+9) in seven games.
One person who has keenly watched his development is Knighthawks Owner and General Manager Curt Styres.
“I have watched him play lacrosse all his life,” said Styres. “He is a great athlete.”
The Six Nations product was a beast in the summer season leading up to the 2014 NLL Entry Draft. Not only did he help the hometown Arrows win the Minto Cup, but he finished tied for second in the Minto in assists (16) and points (22). Powless played three seasons with the Arrows (2012-14) and in 46 games scored 43 goals and chipped in 96 assists. He has three other championships to his credit, winning the 2011 Founders Cup with the Six Nations Rebels and capturing back-to-back NJCCA championships (2012-13) at Onondaga Community College.
This weekend, Manley will join Powless in Rochester. Manley has strong ties to the city and the local NLL team. Manley was a five-year standout at nearby Penn Yan Academy before heading to Duke University, where he was a three-time All-American. He also grew up a Knighthawks fan and made the commute to The Blue Cross on Saturdays to watch his favorite team and his favorite player, fellow Penn Yan native Pat Cougevan.
“I love it. I grew up watching the Knighthawks,” said Manley. “Every weekend we would go up and watch the Knighthawks. It’s an awesome feeling and I can’t wait until I can be out there playing again.”
The 27-year-old has appeared in 49 games over past three seasons, collecting 189 loose balls, 19 points and 30 forced turnovers. In 2015, Manley posted two goals, seven assists and nine points with 62 loose balls for the New England Black Wolves. He was originally selected in the fourth round (32nd overall) of the 2012 NLL Draft by the Philadelphia Wings. In the summer, Manley has spent the last four seasons with the Rochester Rattlers.
Like Powless, the Knighthawks have had Manley on their radar for some time.
“We have watched Manley play for a few years now, and we like his game and his conditioning,” said Styres. “We like the strength he has and his play on the defensive end of the field.”
