With just three selections in the 2013 NLL Entry Draft, the two-time defending NLL champions Rochester Knighthawks appear to be content on keeping their championship roster largely intact.
Rochester did not have a selection on the board until the third round, 27th overall, when the team selected defender Mark White. The Brampton product has previously played for Rochester head coach Mike Hasen in the summer of 2012 when the Knighthawks bench boss coached the Brampton Excelsiors MSL squad. White was a reliable presence during a tumultuous summer in Brampton, as he was the only Excelsior to dress all 20 regular season games during the 2013 schedule. The University of Southern Maine grad contributed ten points this season and is part of a youthful and athletic Brampton back end that includes Toronto Rock 10th overall draft pick Ethan O’Connor.
With their second selection, third round 37th overall, the Knighthawks chose Taylor Northway of the Delta Islanders Jr. A system. A 1994 birth, Northway was the youngest player selected in the draft. The defender dressed all 21 games in his first full year of Junior this past summer, finishing the season with 13 points. The youngster also saw time in the senior ranks with the WLA’s Coquitlam Adanacs, appearing in seven games including every game of the Adanacs first round playoff loss to the Langley Thunder.
In the fifth round, 46th overall, Rochester selected Zac Reid. The St. Catherines product comes off of a successful NCAA career at Mercyhurst University where he captured the 2011 national championship and earned Honorable Mention All-American as well as First Team All-ECAC accolades during his senior year. Reid is a hard-nosed defender who has an offensive edge to his game similar to current Knighthawk member Tyler Burton, who coincidentally is also an alum of both the St. Catherines Athletics and Mercyhurst.
Rochester made history with the last pick of the draft, selecting goaltender Brandon Styres. The son of Knighthawks Owner and General Manager Curt Styres, the selection marks the first time in NLL history a GM has chosen their son.
The Knighthawks are scheduled to hold open tryouts at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena in October before their latest crop of draftees will get their chance to shine at main camp.
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