The Rochester Knighthawks have made history! With a 16-10 Game 2 victory over Calgary along with a 3-2 victory in the 10 minute mini-game, they have become the first franchise to three-peat in the 28-year history of the league. Other teams such as the Toronto Rock, Buffalo Bandits and Philadelphia Wings have all come close but never grabbed the brass ring for the third consecutive time.
At the start of game two the Knighthawks came out like a team on a mission. They fell behind early 3-1, but they were pounding the Roughnecks up and down the floor. Then at the 8:32 mark of the first quarter the Knighthawks started the comeback, and by the time we reached the end of the first half, the Knighthawks had a 7-6 lead. A lead they would not relinquish as they continued to keep the foot on the gas on the way to a 16-10 victory.
Dangerous Dan Dawson, who earned the MVP of the Champions Cup, had 3 G,4 A in Game 2, including the game winner, and a single assist on the winning goal that clinched the Cup. Stephen Keogh and Cody Jamieson each recorded hat-tricks. Jamieson also had three assists in Game 2. Matt Vinc was stellar again and showed why he is a three-time Goalie of the Year winner. Vinc made a number of 10-bell saves that would have gone in on any average goalie.
For Calgary, Curtis Dickson led their offense with 3 G, 3 A, and Jeff Shattler also had a hat trick. Mike Poulin who started out playing well started to go cold as he was was pulled two times. The second time he was pulled as they prepared for the 10-minute mini-game.
In the mini game, the Roughnecks came out quick putting two goals past Matt Vinc just 4:40 into the deciding game. Then Rochester flipped the switch and put three goals past Poulin in just 1:15. Craig Point scoring the first and third (game winner) with Joe Walters getting the goal that tied the game.
As the final seconds counted down the 9,188 started to get louder and louder, sensing history was in their grasp.
And when the final 14.2 seconds dwindled down to triple zero, history was finally made. For the first time in the league’s 28-year history a team has three-peated.
The 2014 NLL season has come to a close. It was exciting from Day 1 back on December 28, 2013 to the final buzzer on May 31, 2014.
Congratulations Rochester Knighthawks on your fifth championship and first team to three-peat!
