The Rochester Knighthawks made a splash before the NLL draft when they traded with Vancouer for the second overall pick in this year’s draft. Rochester traded Johnny Powless and Joel McCready along with the ninth and 23rd selections in the draft. In exchange Rochester got Vancouver’s second and 11th pick in the draft along with their first round picks in 2015 and 2017.
With the second overall pick in the draft the Knighthawks selected Jeremy Noble. Noble was a star at the University of Denver and recently helped the Denver Outlaws win the Steinfeld Cup. Noble also helped Canada win a Gold Medal at the FIL World Championships. During his time at the University of Denver, Noble was a three-time All American and amassed 67 goals and 80 assists for 147 points. Noble was also a star at the junior level registering 139 goals and 182 assists for 321 points. Noble has had success everywhere he goes and expect no different when he joins the Knighthawks.
The Knighthawks would then bolster their defense with their third round pick selecting Brier Jonathan. Jonathan played 32 games with the Six Nation Arrows over the past two seasons collecting five goals and six assists. Jonathan helped the Six Nations Chiefs win the Minto Cup this past summer with his strong defensive play.
With the 37th pick in the draft Rochester selected Jonathan’s team mate Ian Martin. Martin has won four straight championships, three Founders Cups (2011-13) and the Minto Cup in 2014. Martin notched 50 points in 20 games with the Arrows this season. In 2013 Martin led Jr B in scoring with 129 points in 20 games.
Rochester continued to draft Arrows players as they drafted defenseman Anthony Patterson who was part of the Arrows dominating defense this year that allowed only 6.55 goals against per game. With their final pick the Knighthawks drafted Zach Williams who put up eight goals and 52 assists in three seasons with the Junior B Six Nations Rebels and won the Craig Monture memorial trophy as the Rebels most sportsmanlike player.
The Knighthawks had a great draft adding talent that have experienced championship success at every level of the game and understand what a winning team culture feels like. Rochester has stacked their team for the years ahead and should be able to contend for their fourth straight title this year.
