Thread Tools

Display Modes

**truebluefan** · 09-19-2008, 01:41 PM

Jax And Rush Swap Forwards

The Portland LumberJax have acquired Edmonton Rush forward Matt Brown in exchange for forward Spencer Martin, Head Coach/General Manager Derek Keenan announced today. A three-year National Lacrosse League veteran, Brown spent the 2008 season with the Colorado Mammoth after previously playing with the Arizona Sting.

In only three games last season with the Mammoth, Brown scored three goals and added three assists while also serving as an assistant coach at his alma mater, University of Denver.

"We're extremely happy to obtain Matt," said Keenan. "If given the opportunity, Matt can be a consistent scorer in this league. He will be given that opportunity in Portland."

The Fifth Overall Selection in the 2005 Entry Draft, Brown scored 26 goals and added 33 assists in 28 games for the Sting in 2006 and 2007. Brown also appeared in five playoff games during that span, scoring six goals and adding seven assists.

"Matt is a very good left-handed shooter that can contribute on the power play and five-on-five offense," added Keenan.

At DU, the Burnaby, British Columbia native tallied 137 points and became the school's fourth leading goal scorer with 113 career goals. As a senior in 2005, Brown earned numerous accolades; including First Team All-Great Western Lacrosse League (GWLL) at attack and Preseason All-America Honorable Mention honors. He also led the GWLL in goals-per-game (2.57) during his senior season.

**truebluefan** · 09-19-2008, 01:41 PM

Rochester Knighthawks General Manager Regy Thorpe announced today that the team has re-signed transition player Steve Toll to a four-year deal. The contract is still pending league approval.

"We're excited to re-sign Steve to a long-term contract and it really means a lot to our organization that he wants to retire as a Knighthawk," said Thorpe. "Steve has won several championships throughout his career and he always brings that desire to win to our dressing room and on the floor each night. We feel that Steve is the right individual to spearhead our back-end and help this team compete for the Champion's Cup."

"I'm very excited to be back with the Knighthawks for another four years," said Toll. "We have a big hurdle to climb this season, especially not making the playoffs last year, and it will be tough for us now that Regy (Thorpe) is no longer with us and John (Grant) is out for the season, but I'm looking forward to getting back on the floor with a great group of guys.

Toll, who was deemed the Knighthawks' franchise player for the 2009 National Lacrosse League season, completed his 10th year of pro lacrosse and third with the Knighthawks this past season, scoring 32 points (7+25) while adding 166 loose balls in all 16 games to finish first on the team and third in the league.

A native of St. Catharines, Ontario, the 34-year-old right-hander had his best season with Rochester during the 2007 campaign, capturing a career-high 38 points (14+24) en route to winning his fifth NLL Championship. That same season, Toll was honored as the first ever NLL Transition Player of the Year and was named the Knighthawks' Best Defenseman, while finishing third best in the league with 177 loose balls.

The 6-foot-0, 195-pound speedster spent the majority of his career with the Toronto Rock, where he won four NLL Championships in 1999, 2000, 2002 and 2003. He is also in the Top 10 in NLL history with 1,140 loose balls.

Outside of the NLL, Toll was a member of the 2006 gold-medal Canadian National team at the World Field Lacrosse Championships. He also played for Team Canada in the 1998 and 2002 World Championships, winning silver medals each time.

**truebluefan** · 09-19-2008, 01:42 PM

Adding to their five-member draft class, the Stealth signed two more rookies this week, Johns Hopkins forward Michael Doneger and University of Delaware transition player Brett Manney.

At 6-2, 205 pounds, Doneger is a powerful player with leadership skills. He was the team captain of the Blue Jays in 2008 and scored 19 goals with an assist. Doneger joins former Hopkins teammates Paul Rabil and Kevin Huntley with the Stealth. Rabil and Huntley were first round picks by San Jose in last weekend's National Lacrosse League Entry draft.

"Michael is a very skilled offensive player whom we feel will make a smooth transition to the indoor game," Stealth Assistant General Manager Doug Locker said.

Manney can play offense and defense as he showed this year as a member of the Washington Bayhawks in the Major League Lacrosse, the sport's professional outdoor game. With a background in basketball and soccer, Manney has the athleticism to meet the demands of being a transition player.

"Brett has the size, speed and athleticism to be a force on defense and in transition," Locker commented. "We are very excited to add Michael and Brett to our team as we prepare for the 2009 season."

**truebluefan** · 09-19-2008, 01:42 PM

The Rochester Americans and Knighthawks announced today that "Power Play," a weekly show dedicated to hockey and lacrosse, will run for 30 weeks on WYSL 1040-AM and wysl1040.com.

The Voice of the Amerks, Don Stevens, and the Voice of the Knighthawks, Craig Rybczynski, will host the show each week at The Distillery at 3010 Winton Road. The show, however, will debut from Eagle Vale Golf Club in Fairport on Monday, October 6th at 6:30 p.m.

The first show will focus on the Amerks, as the team prepares to open their American Hockey League season on Friday, October 10th against the Syracuse Crunch at The Blue Cross Arena at the Rochester War Memorial. Faceoff is slated for 7:35 p.m.

The following week, the show will move to its permanent home on Winton Road. Fans are encouraged to attend the LIVE shows to ask questions and get autographs from their favorite players.

The hour-long program will feature interviews with Amerks' and Knighthawks' players, coaches and staff, and cover news and notes from the AHL and National Lacrosse League. Go to Amerks.com and Knighthawks.net for a full lineup of guests each week. If you miss a show, you can access the podcast on wysl1040.com.

The Amerks enter their 53rd season in the AHL in 2008-09. Rochester is the second oldest team in the league and has won six Calder Cup titles. The team, which was founded in 1956, has produced the likes of Al Arbour, Don Cherry, Gerry Cheevers, Joe Crozier, Mike Keenan, Mike Milbury, John Tortorella and Jody Gage.

The Knighthawks enter their 15th season of professional lacrosse in 2009 and take aim at their 14th playoff appearance. In 2007, the Knighthawks won their second title, capturing the National Lacrosse League's Champion's Cup. Rochester won its first championship in 1997.

The Knighthawks will open their 2009 schedule at Chicago on Saturday, December 27th. The Knighthawks will battle the East Division Shamrox at 8:00 p.m. Rochester will also host Chicago in their home opener on Saturday, January 10th at 8:05 p.m. at The Blue Cross Arena.

Thread Tools Display Modes

View more Lacrosse photos

Thread Tools

Display Modes