The Rochester Knighthawks were a professional indoor lacrosse team in the National Lacrosse League (NLL). They were based in Rochester, New York and played at the Blue Cross Arena. The Knighthawks were one of the most successful franchises in NLL history, winning 6 championships between 1995 and 2019. However, in 2019, the team announced it was relocating to Halifax, Nova Scotia and was renamed the Halifax Thunderbirds. This left many fans in Rochester wondering – what happened to the Knighthawks?
Early Success and Championships
The Rochester Knighthawks began play in the 1995 NLL season. They were an expansion team owned by Steve Donner. In their inaugural season, the Knighthawks went 8-8 and qualified for the playoffs. Though they lost in the first round, it was an impressive start for an expansion franchise. The next season in 1996, Rochester went 12-4 and won the division title. They would go on to win their first NLL championship defeating the Buffalo Bandits 13-10. This marked the first of many titles for the new franchise.
Over the next decade, the Knighthawks established themselves as one of the NLL’s premier organizations. From 1995 to 2005, they compiled a record of 139-77 with five division titles and two more championships in 1997 and 2000. The early roster featured stars like Paul and Gary Gait, John Grant Jr., Pat O’Toole, and goalie Pat O’Neill. With a mix of veteran leadership and young talent, Rochester was a consistent playoff contender. Fans came to expect excellence from the Knighthawks.
Season | Record | Playoff Result |
---|---|---|
1995 | 8-8 | Lost in 1st round |
1996 | 12-4 | Won Championship |
1997 | 10-6 | Won Championship |
1998 | 7-9 | Lost in 1st round |
1999 | 8-8 | Lost in 1st round |
2000 | 11-5 | Won Championship |
New Ownership and Continued Success
In 2008, the Knighthawks were sold to Curtis B. Styres, founder of Arrow Express Trucking and owner of the NLL’s Philadelphia Wings. Styres looked to revitalize the franchise after a few down years. He brought in Hall of Fame coach Mike Hasen as general manager and named NLL legend John Lovell as head coach.
The very next season, Rochester turned it around and went 12-4 to win their division. Powered by transition star Shawn Williams and veterans like John Grant Jr. and Shawn Evans, the Knighthawks returned to championship form. After losing in the finals in 2009, they broke through again in 2012 defeating the Edmonton Rush for their 3rd title.
Lovell retired after the 2012 season, but the winning continued under new coach Mike Hasen. Led by Cody Jamieson, Dan Dawson, and Stephen Keogh, the Knighthawks won an incredible three straight championships from 2013 to 2015. Rochester’s run established them as the team of the decade and cemented their status as one of the most successful franchises in NLL history.
Season | Record | Playoff Result |
---|---|---|
2008 | 5-13 | Missed Playoffs |
2009 | 12-4 | Lost in Finals |
2010 | 10-6 | Lost in 1st round |
2011 | 7-9 | Missed Playoffs |
2012 | 9-7 | Won Championship |
2013 | 11-7 | Won Championship |
2014 | 14-4 | Won Championship |
2015 | 16-2 | Won Championship |
Final Years in Rochester
After the run of championships, Rochester remained competitive but could not recapture the Cup. From 2016 to 2019, they compiled a 41-39 record with one division title but no return to the finals. Attendance at Blue Cross Arena was also on the decline.
In 2019, the Knighthawks finished 9-9 and lost in the first round of the playoffs. It would turn out to be their final season in Rochester. On September 13, 2019 the NLL announced that Pegula Sports and Entertainment had reached an agreement to relocate the Knighthawks franchise to Halifax, Nova Scotia for the 2019-2020 season.
The move was made for a few reasons. First, the league wanted to expand the NLL’s footprint in Canada. Second, the Pegulas already owned the Buffalo Bandits, so having two teams so close together in Western New York was redundant. And third, attendance had lagged in Rochester and a fresh start in a new market was needed.
Season | Record | Playoff Result | Average Attendance |
---|---|---|---|
2016 | 14-4 | Lost in 1st round | 9,188 |
2017 | 8-10 | Missed playoffs | 8,899 |
2018 | 5-13 | Missed playoffs | 7,614 |
2019 | 9-9 | Lost in 1st round | 6,733 |
So after 24 seasons, six championships, and a host of lacrosse legends, the Rochester Knighthawks packed their bags for Canada.
The Aftermath
Despite the departure, professional lacrosse did not leave Rochester completely. Almost immediately, the NLL announced an expansion franchise had been awarded to Rochester that would retain the Knighthawks name and logo. The new Knighthawks began play in 2019-2020 led by owner Terry Pegula and coach Mike Hasen.
Meanwhile in Halifax, the relocated franchise was rebranded the Halifax Thunderbirds. The Thunderbirds retained the previous management and many players from Rochester. And in their first season in Nova Scotia, the Thunderbirds went 8-12 and qualified for the playoffs.
So in many ways, it was a win-win for both cities. Halifax got an established NLL franchise with a history of winning. And Rochester maintained its lacrosse tradition with an expansion team carrying on the Knighthawks name. The two franchises remain affiliated and continue to share players and personnel.
But the original Rochester Knighthawks of 1995-2019 will always have a special place in NLL history. Names like Gait, Powell, Grant Jr., Jamieson, Dawson, Hasen, and Lovell built a franchise revered for its championships and consistency. For a generation of Western New York lacrosse fans, the Orange and Black were their team. That history doesn’t disappear just because the name went north. The legacy of the Rochester Knighthawks is secure no matter where the franchise calls home now.
Conclusion
In summary, the Rochester Knighthawks were a highly successful NLL franchise from 1995 to 2019, winning 6 championships in that span. They were an expansion team that quickly established itself as a perennial title contender thanks to strong ownership, management, and players. However, in 2019 the franchise was relocated to Halifax, Nova Scotia for a variety of reasons – to expand the NLL’s footprint in Canada, avoid redundancy with the Buffalo Bandits, and refresh the market with sagging attendance. But professional lacrosse remains in Rochester with an expansion Knighthawks team carrying on the legacy. The original Knighthawks will be remembered fondly as one of the most storied franchises in league history, even if the name now resides elsewhere. Their impact on the sport in Western New York will not be forgotten.