The Ripper Report

KNIGHTHAWKS OPEN CAMP SATURDAY, NOV. 19TH

2011-11-01T10:43:00.000-07:00

(Rochester, October 31)... The Rochester Knighthawks announced their Training Camp schedule today, which includes two weekends of practice at Total Sports Experience in Gates. The team will kick off preparations for the 2012 National Lacrosse League season on Saturday, November 19th with a 9:00 to 11:00 p.m. session.

“Last year, we had a good run toward the end of the year, but last year was last year. The guys have to realize that all the teams have gotten better and so have we. There are 26 spots open and we will be looking for the best group of guys no matter who they are,” said Head Coach Mike Hasen, who was the 2011 NLL Coach of the Year after leading Rochester back to the playoffs with a 10-6 record.

The Knighthawks’ first week of Training Camp is set for Saturday, November 19th to Sunday, November 20th. On Sunday, the Knighthawks will hit the turf from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. Both practices at the facility at 880 Elmgrove Road are free and open to the public.

Week Two of camp is scheduled for Saturday, November 26th to Sunday, November 27th. On Saturday, the team will practice from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. with a 9:00 a.m. to noon session on Sunday. Fans are encouraged to attend Training Camp.

For the first time ever, the schedule includes two preseason games with the finale at The Blue Cross Arena on Saturday, December 17th. Rochester will host the Minnesota Swarm at 7:00 p.m. in a game that is FREE to the public. To pick up tickets for the preseason game, go to the Knighthawks Office at 144 Exchange Blvd, Suite 102. Fans can speak to ticket representatives about season tickets by calling (585) 454-HAWK (4295).

Rochester will open its preseason schedule on Sunday, December 11th at 1:00 p.m. against the Philadelphia Wings at the Sun National Bank Center in Trenton, NJ. It is a preview of the season opener, which will take place on Saturday, January 14th at Philadelphia.

YOUNG NATIONALS PLAYOFF TESTED

2011-08-25T10:54:00.001-07:00

(Hamilton, August 25)… The Hamilton Nationals are by far the youngest team in the Major League Lacrosse Championship Weekend with only two players over the age of 30. On Saturday, they will take on a veteran Denver Outlaws team for the right to play for the Steinfeld Cup. Despite their inexperience in the MLL playoffs, Head Coach Regy Thorpe said success is determined by one major factor.

“It all comes down to leadership,” said Thorpe. “We have guys with a lot of playoff experience. As a coaching staff, we have been preparing them the last couple of weeks.”

That’s where “old timers” Sol Bliss (31), Brodie Merrill (29) and Casey Powell (35) prove more valuable than just their play on the field. All three players have MLL Championship rings in their possession and know how to win. Bliss and Merrill have been on the roster the entire season and groomed the young defense. Merrill was recently named the Warrior Defensive Player of the Year for a record sixth straight time and has been a steadying influence for the Nationals.

“Brodie has been invaluable on the field and in the locker room, working hard and leading the guys. Everyone is really buying into that,” said Thorpe. “He is extremely committed to the organization and excited to lead the guys into championship weekend.”

Powell, the league’s all-time point leader, was a trade deadline acquisition and played in the team’s final two games. Powell’s leadership was on display in the win on Long Island on August 13th, which propelled the Nationals into the playoffs.

“He was the most valuable player on the field,” said Thorpe. “He freed up players like (David) Earl, (Jeremy) Thompson and Cody Jamieson. He created a lot of opportunities and opened the other guys up.”

Yet, Thorpe’s team has an advantage when it comes to playoff acumen because of the junior and senior Canadian box playoff formats that can includes over 20 postseason games. In fact, eight Nationals are still playing in the Canadian Playoffs with six players competing at the Senior “A” level. Jordan Hall and Kevin Crowley are playing in the Western Lacrosse Association Finals with the New Westminster Salmonbellies. Meanwhile, Jarrett Davis, Joe Walters and Kyle Rubisch of the Brampton Excelsiors are locked in a playoff battle with Geoff Snider and the Peterborough Lakers. The Excelsiors lead the Major League Lacrosse Finals two games to one. The busy schedule is no sweat for 22-year-old Rubisch.

“It’s a lot added up, but I love it,” said Rubisch, who might play five games this week. “Every time I can play is an honor. It has given me so much.”

The other players competing in the postseason are Brett Bucktooth and Thompson. The duo is members of the St. Regis Braves, who will begin the Senior “B” lacrosse President’s Cup Playoffs on Monday, August 29th.

Not to be overlooked, the Nationals have players with NCAA playoff experience at the highest level. The Class of 2011 includes five First Team All-Americans in Matt Dolente (Johns Hopkins), Kevin Ridgway (Notre Dame), Earl (Notre Dame), Jeremy Boltus (Army) and Crowley (Stony Brook). Additionally, the Nats have rookies David Burns, Bill Henderson, Stephen Keogh and first-year pros Jordan MacIntosh and Davis on their active roster.

Earl was named as the Cascade MLL Rookie of the Week on August 15th after scoring three times and adding one assist in the Nats’ 14-8 win over Long Island. Boltus was recognized as well, but as the 2011 Cascade MLL Rookie of the Year after leading all MLL rookies with 30 points (19+11). He led the Nationals with a seven-game goal-scoring streak and a 12-game point streak.

When asked to identify his most outstanding rookie, Thorpe could not select just one first-year pro that has made a difference. That question is difficult to answer considering that Boltus, Earl and Crowley finished second, fifth and sixth on the team in points. Hamilton’s draft class has been so impressive that veteran lacrosse analyst Quint Kessenich called it the “best draft class in MLL history.

“It’s tough to pick just one because they have all chipped in,” said Thorpe, whose rookie class has scored 64 goals this season or nearly 50 percent of the team’s goals.

The Nationals are returning to the playoffs after a one-year absence. The Nats won the MLL title in 2009, which was their only other postseason berth. Hamilton (7-5) meets the Denver Outlaws (7-5) on Saturday, August 27th in a 3:00 p.m. semifinal showdown at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN 2 and ESPN3.com. Thorpe said the kids are hungry as they embark on their first professional championship weekend.

“They are not satisfied. We are 0-0,” said Thorpe. “They are excited to play and (try to) hoist the Cup.”

POLAND BEGINS PREPARING FOR EC12

2011-08-18T11:20:00.000-07:00

(Poland, August 18)… Two weekends ago, Team Poland took its first steps to preparing for the 2012 European Championships in Amsterdam, traveling to Latvia to play in the four-team Summer Lacrosse Festival.

The Summer Lacrosse Festival was a chance for Team Poland to reconvene and take on local competition in Team Latvia, Latvia United and Team Gatorade. Team Poland was 1-3 in the festival, earning a victory over Latvia United at the event at Olympic Center in the city of Jelgava, which is located about 40-km outside of Riga. Team Gatorade captured first-place honors, while Team Latvia placed second and Latvia United edged Poland for third spot.

“We came to Latvia with a limited amount of players,” said Tomek Kędzia, the Polish Lacrosse Liaison to the Federation of International Lacrosse. “We also missed some key players who stayed in Poland due to injuries and some other duties.”

Poland and Latvia have developed quite a lacrosse history. Not only is Poland the closest neighbor playing lacrosse for Latvia, but back in 2009 Team Poland played its first scrimmage game against Latvia. Team Poland is coming off an impressive debut at the 2010 FIL World Lacrosse Championships in Manchester, England, finishing second in their division en route to a 5-2 record and a 14th-place finish.

The team that Poland took to the 2011 event represented the country with pride and included three players of Grom Warsaw, two from Poznan Hussars and nine from the Kosynierzy Wroclaw club team. Team Poland was honored with the attendance of the Secretary of the Polish Embassy in Riga and the Canadian Ambassador, who organized an official reception for all players.

Before the end of the year, the talent pool for the national team will grow by one team, according to Kędzia. The national club team league, which begins on October 1, 2011, has expanded from four to five teams.

The women’s program will make its international debut at the 2012 European Championships set to begin on June 20, 2012. According to the event’s official Facebook page, the Finland men’s team and the Polish women were the first two teams to commit to participating in EC12.

“We hope to come to Amsterdam for the first time with women's team,” said Kędzia.

RUBISCH GOES FROM PROSPECT TO PRO

2011-08-06T12:56:00.000-07:00

By Craig Rybczynski – August 5, 2011
Kyle Rubisch’s career has suddenly moved from highly-touted prospect to established professional in a matter of seven months. From Brampton to Boston to Prague to Hamilton, he has proven he is one of the top young players in lacrosse today.

Rubisch grew up in the box lacrosse hotbed of Brampton, Ontario, like so many of his Hamilton Nationals teammates that hail from cities like Orangeville, Vancouver, Calgary, Port Moody, New Westminster and Toronto. He developed his game in the Brampton minor lacrosse system. That’s when he was introduced to the outdoor game. He was immediately drawn to one of the blue-collar positions on the field, long-pole defense.

REST OF THE STORY...

STAN JONATHAN RECAPS 2011 STANLEY CUP

2011-07-28T08:08:00.000-07:00

Former Boston Bruins star Stan Jonathan talked about the Bruins winning the 2011 Stanley Cup. He proudly recapped the miracle run, while attending a "Meet and Greet" with Tony Stewart at Ohsweken Speedway.

BLISS ENJOYING HIS 'GOLDEN YEARS' WITH NATS

2011-07-25T11:17:00.001-07:00

By Craig Rybczynski – June 21, 2011
For the past two years, Sol Bliss was content raising a family, and teaching and coaching at Tully High School near Syracuse, NY. His professional lacrosse career was behind him after hoisting the Steinfeld Cup as a Major League Lacrosse champion in his final game back in 2008.

REST OF THE STORY...

CAMPBELL IN MIDST OF LACROSSE REVIVAL

2011-07-25T08:48:00.000-07:00

By Craig Rybczynski – July 20, 2011
On January 27th, the Rochester Knighthawks acquisition of steady defenseman Rory Glaves from Edmonton in exchange for longtime scorer Scott Evans dominated the headlines, and rightfully so. Hidden in the stories of the trade were mentions of another key move by the Knighthawks in the signing of another veteran defenseman, Scott Campbell.

Campbell, 29, was signed as a free agent after playing four games with the Boston Blazers. It was an emotional two days for the seven-year pro after getting released by the Blazers. But just like the game of lacrosse, things can change in a hurry. It took just four days for Campbell to hook up with another team.

REST OF THE STORY...

WILC: Sights and Sounds from Prague

2011-05-27T06:13:00.001-07:00

May 27th, 2011 by Craig Rybczynski
What a great day in Prague. It was the kind of experience I had been waiting for since I arrived on Saturday. With no games on the schedule, Team USA embarked on a 30-minute drive to practice at Radotin, which is an outdoor box facility.

In 80-degree heat the team worked on systems and ended the session with a shootout that was divided into teams based on where they attended college. The North beat the South as defenseman Chris Schiller went 5-for-5 on breakaways. I also had a chance to interview one of team’s unsung heroes, Ryan Hotaling. Hotaling played his college ball at Nazareth and is a past Empire 8 Player of the Year. He also is a former Knighthawks draft pick and a two-year NLL veteran. Check out his interview after the jump.

After practice, the team adjourned to the Crown Plaza to get ready for a boat tour of the city. Nearly 50 of use packed a two-story boat to sail down the Vltava River. Players, staff and family members were treated to a buffet and impersonations by Buffalo native Joe Smith. I caught up with goalie Erik Miller during the trip. Did you know he will be leaving Prague for Baltimore Sunday morning to join Salisbury in the Division III, where he is an assistant coach? The Seagulls are in the Division III Finals against Tufts. The group went back to the hotel, while some of us toured the city on foot. Sausage, pizza and gelato hit the spot for some of us as we sat near St. Nicholas’ Cathedral.

I was planning on sending this out Wednesday night, but I had a long night of preparing release and for the webcast of the US-Australia game. Today was team photo day before the quarterfinal game. That game the US dominated 28-2 with Drew Westervelt collecting eight points, while Brendan Mundorf (3+4) and Paul Rabil (6+1) struck for seven. One of the highlights was Joe Smith’s first ever goal. That’s right. First ever!

Today is a classic meeting between Canada and the US. Mundorf said it is a game that “everyone has to elevate their game.” Fans back home can watch the game on www.wilcprague2011.com at 10:00 a.m.

Also, make sure to catch Ryan Hotaling and some of his teammates on “Shooting got Gold.” The radio show will air tonight on WHTK 1280-AM and 107.3 FM, and www.whtk.com from 6:00 to 6:45 p.m.

WORLD INDOOR GAMES AVAILABLE ON PAY PER VIEW; USA TO AIR WORLD GAMES RADIO SHOW

2011-05-16T08:22:00.000-07:00

(New York, NY)… The 2011 FIL World Indoor Lacrosse Championships might be across the ocean, but lacrosse fans will be closer to the games like never before. Team USA announced today that the National Team will air a week-long radio show to recap all the day’s results, which will complement the pay per view webcasts available at www.wilcprague2011.com.

The World Indoor Lacrosse Championships run from Saturday, May 21 to Saturday, May 28th at Eden Arena in Prague. The United States is one of eight teams participating in the 21-game tournament. The Americans open the WILC against the host Czech Republic on Saturday, May 21st at 1:00 p.m. EST.

The live streamed games of the World Indoor Lacrosse Championships will have the play-by-play broadcasts commentated by Andy McNamara. McNamara is the play-by-play commentator for the Toronto Rock of the National Lacrosse League. Team USA media relations manager and Rochester Knighthawks Broadcaster Craig Rybczynski will also serve as a color commentator and play-by-play broadcaster for various games throughout the tournament.

The streaming video will be offered as a paid service. Viewers will be able to access the stream directly from the WILC web site. All they need is a PayPal account to be able to pay for the service. The rates are USD $3.00 per game or USD $5.00 per day. For the complete game schedule, please visit www.wilcprague2011.com.

Fans can catch up on the all the day’s action on “Shooting for Gold” on WHTK 1280-AM and 107.3 FM. The show will offer interviews and coverage from the event from Monday, May 23rd to Friday, May 27th and will air from 6:00 to 6:50 p.m. Ilindoor lacrosse writer Bob Chavez will also provide expert analysis throughout the week.

The show will also air nationally on www.whtk.com, courtesy of sponsorship from the Rochester Knighthawks, All Nations Lacrosse, Uncle Dave’s Upper Deck and the Stock Exchange Restaurant. Also make sure to check out exclusive player interviews on Usindoorlacrosse.org and ilindoor.com throughout the tournament.

“The radio show will allow fans to hear from the players and learn about their on and off the floor experiences,” said Rybczynski. “A special thanks to Tim Knab, Eric Driscoll and Brian Kiefer, all members of the Khawks Krew for serving as hosts of the show.”

Rybczynski currently works as the play-by-play broadcaster and Vice President of Communications for the National Lacrosse League’s Rochester Knighthawks and American Hockey League's Rochester Americans. His role also includes managing the communications for the Hamilton Nationals (MLL).

For more information on the U.S. National Indoor Lacrosse Team, visit usindoorlacrosse.org.

RYBCZYNSKI JOINS TEAM USA STAFF

2011-05-11T13:25:00.000-07:00

In less than two weeks, Hamburg, NY, native Craig Rybczynski will fly to Prague to join Team USA as they compete in the 2011 World Indoor Lacrosse Championships (May 21-28). The veteran communications professional will handle the media relations for the U.S. National Team.

“This is a dream come true,” he said. “As a son of an Army veteran, it is an honor and a privilege to represent my country.”

The United States is one of eight teams participating in the Third Annual World Indoor Lacrosse Championships. The Americans open the tournament against the host Czech Republic on Saturday, May 21st at 1:00 p.m. EST.

Rybczynski, 38, has worked with the U.S. team before, serving as the broadcaster for the First Bowhunter Cup in September. The St. Francis High School product will also have the opportunity to webcast some games from the tournament. He will also provide interviews and coverage from the event on a special weekly world games recap show from Monday, May 23rd to Friday, May 27th. The show will air from 6:00 to 6:50 p.m. in Rochester on WHTK 1280-AM and 107.3 FM. It will also air nationally on www.whtk.com.

“It will allow fans to hear from the players and learn about their on and off the floor experiences,” said Rybczynski. “A special thanks to Tim Knab for serving as the host of the show.”

Rybczynski currently works as the play-by-play broadcaster and Vice President of Communications for the National Lacrosse League’s Rochester Knighthawks. His role also includes managing the communications for the Rochester Americans hockey club. He is a 1995 graduate of Mercyhurst College and a 1996 graduate of Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.

2011 WORLD GAMES VIDEO

2011-05-10T08:33:00.001-07:00

KNIGHTHAWKS PREPARING OVERSEAS FLIGHT TO TAKE ON THE WORLD

2011-05-10T07:36:00.001-07:00

(Rochester, May 6)… The Rochester Knighthawks will have nearly a dozen representatives at the 2011 FIL World Indoor Lacrosse Championships in Prague, May 21-28. The eight-team tournament will take place in Eden Arena.

The greatest contingent of Knighthawks will play for Team Canada, as three players and Assistant Coach Paul Day are making the trip. Joining Day is Jordan Hall, Matt Vinc and Shawn Evans. Hall was recently named the NLL Sportsmanship Award winner, while Vinc led the league in saves and save percentage. Evans finished second on the team with 73 points (24+49).

Chris Schiller and Scott Ditzell will represent the Knighthawks as members of Team USA. Schiller was just named the team captain and recently completed his 10th season in the NLL. The Penfield native will be joined by fellow defenseman Scott Ditzell. Ditzell completed his fifth season in the NLL in 2011. Jake Henhawk, who played with the K-Hawks in 2010, will serve as one of the team’s goalies. Broadcaster and VP of Communications Craig Rybczynski will assist Team USA with their media relations efforts.

The Iroquois Team will include 2011 NLL Rookie of the Year Candidate Cody Jamieson, Sid Smith and Craig Point. Jamieson finished his first pro season as the top rookie point producer with 53 points and led the Knighthawks with 28 goals. Smith ended his second pro season and was named the K-Hawks’ co-Defensive Player of the Year for a second straight season. Point notched another 20-point campaign in 2011 as he finished his fourth season of pro lacrosse. Former Knighthawks Ron Cogan and Peter Jacobs will also play for the Iroquois Nationals.

KNIGHTHAWKS PLAYOFF SLIDESHOW

2011-04-29T07:34:00.000-07:00

Journey to The Nll Playoffs Slideshow: Rochester’s trip to Rochester, New York, United States was created by TripAdvisor. See another Rochester slideshow. Take your travel photos and make a slideshow for free.

ROOKIE CLASS ONE OF THE BEST EVER IN TEAM HISTORY

2011-04-28T19:23:00.001-07:00

On draft day, it was guaranteed that Cody Jamieson would go No. 1 overall to the Rochester Knighthawks. The former Syracuse star rewarded his National Lacrosse League team with 53 points and a berth in the Champion’s Cup Playoffs.

Yet, that’s not the entire story. Sure Rochester has one of the best rookies in the league, but it could be argued that the Knighthawks have one of the best rookie classes in the league. It certainly measures up as one of the most outstanding crop of first-year players in the 17-year history of the Knighthawks.

Joining Jamieson in the rookie class were fellow 2011 first-rounder Jarrett Davis and second-round selection Josh Ruys. Two free agents also made the team with the signing of Tyler Burton and Dylan Evans, and Cory Vitarelli joined the team mid-season. The “Super Six” have all had an impact this season, collecting 94 points, 173 loose balls and 50 faceoff wins.

Only the Class of 1998 provided the Knighthawks with more offense. The featured rookies that season included Cory Bomberry, Curt Malawsky, Brent Rothfuss and Josh Sanderson. “Bomber” and “Mouse” finished one and two on the team in points. The rookies chipped in 101 points in 1998, to go along with 94 faceoff wins and 149 loose balls.

The Class of 2011 placed three players in the Top 5 in rookie points this season. Jamieson edged Curtis Dickson of Calgary for the top spot with 53 points. The last time that happened in Knighthawks history was in 2000 when John Grant Jr. led all NLL rookies. “Jammer” led the Knighthawks with 28 goals this season and was third on the team in points.

Davis ended the season with his first professional hat trick, which helped him lock up third place in the rookie points with 24 (12+12). The Port Moody, BC, native has 10 points in his last three games, as the team readies for the postseason. Another valuable option on offense has been Vitarelli. Drafted back in 2006, the Peterborough, Ontario, native decided to play Canadian University hockey until this season. Vitarelli, who led the Mann Cup in goals, has provided instant offense with seven goals and six assists in six games to finish fifth in rookie points. The Knighthawks are 5-1 since the addition of the rookie forward.

The team’s most improved player award went to Tyler Burton. The Mercyhurst College product was undrafted this year, but has become a steady defender since he was signed in the team’s tryout camp. In 12 games, he has 49 faceoff wins, 61 loose balls and three points.

The final two rookies have seen limited time but are improving as the season progresses. Ruys appeared in two games, but was hampered by an early season injury. He played in the Knighthawks’ 15-9 win at Buffalo on April 23rd. Evans has also played in two games, including two of the team’s first two games as the Knighthawks battled injuries. He was steady in the defensive zone and recorded seven penalty minutes and two loose balls. The Brampton product played for Head Coach Mike Hasen in Major Series Lacrosse last summer.

“We spoke early to the guys not to take a back seat to anyone, and they've pushed the veterans with that hunger to succeed,” Hasen, who is in his rookie season as the team’s head coach. “Each and every one of them earned their spot on the roster and earned the floor time they've had.”

KNIGHTHAWKS BATTLE THE ROCK

2011-04-28T19:20:00.000-07:00

The Rochester Knighthawks are back in the Champion’s Cup Playoffs and will face the East Division rival Toronto Rock in the first round of the playoffs on Sunday, May 1st. The 3:30 p.m. contest at the Air Canada Centre marks the seventh time these two longtime combatants have met in the postseason.

The Rock own a 4-2 playoff record against Rochester and are perfect in Toronto with a 3-0 mark. The Knighthawks, however, won the last postseason meeting on April 20, 2007 en route to their second championship. The game will be broadcast live on The Zone 94.1 FM and www.thezone941.com. The contest will also be carried on TSN2 and the NLL Network.

This season, the Rock were 3-0 against the K-Hawks, which included a 10-5 win at the ACC on February 18th. Toronto (10-6), who is the second seed, is fighting to return to the NLL Finals for the second straight season. The Rock are 10-2 lifetime in home playoff games. Meanwhile, third-seeded Rochester is back in the playoffs for the first time since 2009.

Last weekend, the Knighthawks tied their franchise record with their sixth road win of the season in the 15-9 win over the Buffalo Bandits at HSBC Arena. Rochester improved to 10-6 and won its fourth straight road win of the season.

Matt Vinc made 37 saves to lead the league in saves for the third straight season, equaling the NLL mark set by Steve Dietrich from 1995-97 with the Knighthawks. Vinc finished with a league-best 585 saves and topped the goaltending category for the third straight season, becoming only the second netminder to accomplish that feat in the 25-year history of the National Lacrosse League. This season, he ranked first in save percentage (.794), tied for second in wins (10) and third with a 9.77 goals-against average.

In the regular-season finale last Saturday, Cody Jamieson scored three goals and added four assists en route to his first NLL Rookie of the Month award. With the seven points, he also won the rookie scoring race. The last time that happened in Knighthawks history was in 2000 when John Grant Jr. led all NLL rookies. In April, the 23 year old from Six Nations had his best month as a pro, contributing 22 points (10+12) as Rochester went 4-1 and finished in a three-way tie for first in the East Division. He also chipped in 14 loose balls.

Shawn Williams led Rochester with 77 points and finished second in the NLL with 54 assists. He was one of the top point producers in April, recording 32 points (11+21) in just five games. That included three games in which he collected eight points.

The Rock enter the contest on a three-game losing streak, which included an 18-14 loss to the Edmonton Rush on April 16th. In that game, Rock goaltender Bob Watson broke the NLL all-time saves record held by former Knighthawks netminder Pat O'Toole. Watson is one of the top clutch goalies in league history, having guided the Rock to five NLL titles, including three finals victories against Rochester. In fact, the only time he was named the Champion’s Cup MVP was in 2003 in an 8-6 win over the Knighthawks.

On offense, Toronto has the highest-scoring team in the East Division with 187 goals. Four Rock players were ranked in the Top 15 in the NLL in points. Garrett Billings and Blaine Manning finished the season tied for 10th with 75 points each. Stephan Leblanc led the club with 76 points (33+43), while Colin Doyle tied for 15th with 70 points. Toronto also has the best penalty-killing unit in the NLL, holding opponents to under 35 percent efficiency.

The winner of the East Division Semifinal game will face the winner of the Buffalo-Boston contest. The Boston Blazers visit the Buffalo Bandits on Saturday, April 30th at 7:30 p.m. at HSBC Arena.

THE RIPPER REPORT: ROAD TRIP AND A COLORFUL EVANS

2010-02-20T15:34:00.001-08:00

The Ripper Report coming to you from the City of Brotherly Love. We are about 30 minutes from faceoff. The guys are done with the informal warmup. John Grant Jr. and Gary Gait did an interview with John Jiloty before warmups for an upcoming article. It should be a good one.

Well, Head Coach Paul Gait said the team was changing its travel plans to break this road jinx. The Knighthawks are just 2-11 in the last two seasons. The team played football after a morning walk through like they did in 2007. That season, the team was 5-3 on the road and also won the championship game in Arizona.

At noon, the team all went to Ruby Tuesday for lunch. It was nice to have everyone in the same room to talk about everything from college basketball to the Olympics to family to lacrosse.

I sat with Pat O’Toole, Chris Driscoll, Assistant GM Landon Miller, Owner and GM Curt Styres and Scout Jason Donville. The players and I all had the salad bar, which is of course the best in the business. I took a cue from O’Toole and got mini Buffalo chicken sandwiches and fries as my meal. It was a good choice.

The attitude is definitely different going into this game. I hope it translates into a “W” to get the team to 5-3 with a four-game homestand upcoming. Rochester is 3-0 at home and always plays well in front of the home fans. On a side note, make sure to bid on some of the bears made by the players at the Teddy Bear Auction for CURE Childhood Cancer Association next game (February 27th).

Well, have to go. I am doing the game on The Zone 94.1 and thezone941.com, but also handling the webcast on the NLL.com. Scott Evans will be doing color with me. I am sure he will have some colorful commentary. We have NLL Commissioner George Daniel lined up for halftime.

Have fun watching and listening to the game. Hope for a win, because as John Grant Jr. said “the cheesesteaks taste better after a win.”

Blog you later.
Ripper

THE RIPPER’S SWEET 16

2010-01-09T12:48:00.001-08:00

To quote Knighthawks superfan TJ Hogan, "Are you ready? Are you ready?"

The excitement this year even surpasses the emotions of the most rabid K-Hawk fan. The reason? I will give you two: John Grant and Scott Evans. The big boys from the ‘Boro are back and so are the preseason expectations.

With two of Rochester’s most accomplished scorers back from season-ending injuries last season, fans have a lot to be excited about. Add the addition of first-overall pick Sid Smith, forward Cory Bomberry, defenseman Kevin Fines and the return of defenseman Scott Ditzell and this could shape up into quite a season.

Those expectations meet their first test tonight at 8:05 p.m. against the rival Buffalo Bandits at The Blue Cross Arena. It’s Tavares and Company at the BCA one more time.

Right now the Amerks are locked in a 1-1 tie in the third period with the Lake Erie Monsters in an American Hockey League game. Then the building crew will lay wooden boards over the ice and roll out the carpet. It is an impressive operation.

I will be back soon. Amerks game calling and must finish the game before flipping the switch for Knighthawks time.

THE RIPPER REPORT

2009-05-14T13:28:00.000-07:00

(Rochester, May 14)... The National Lacrosse League Championship is tomorrow night and Calgary and New York have to both be ecstatic that they are the last two teams standing. It is a great honor to fight for the Champion’s Cup and an even bigger reward when you win it. I was a part of the 2000 and 2003 Rochester teams that lost in the finals. I was also with the Knighthawks when we won it in 2007, which more than made up for the past losses.

The playoffs are an amazing time of year. This season, Rochester was one goal away from taking down the New York Titans and advancing to the East Division Finals. It was a crazy season but one that ended with a playoff berth in front of 300 fans that made the trip to NYC on buses provided by Knighthawks Owner Curt Styres.

It was also a season that I have blogged about and filmed on my flip camera for the website. I have so many memories from this season. I would never have thought that I was finally going to have the pleasure of working with Paul and Gary Gait in 2009. I did and I learned, personally, what a class act they both are. It was like working with the hockey equivalent of Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux. It was fun to just listen to them talk about home, how they went to SU and then played in the early days of the league.

Speaking of past greats, the Knighthawks Inaugural Hall of Fame Night was a success on January 31st. That night, we had over 15 past greats in the arena to congratulate the first class of Tim Soudan, Duane Jacobs and Paul Day. It was also great to mingle with the players that I first met in November of 1999 when I entered my first lacrosse season. Players like Randy Mearns, Pat McCready and Casey Zaph.

Further, I enjoyed travelling with the team all over the United States and Canada, which included my first trip to Calgary. The first road trip was to Buffalo and San Jose in January. On the way from Buffalo to San Jose, we stopped for a quick layover in Las Vegas where some players tried the slot machines. Yes, they have them in the airport. We also got to experience the sun again, which goes into hibernation in Rochester around early December. The Strip was very visible from the windows of the plane. Shawn Evans kept leaning over me to get a look at things before we landed. I also tried to locate new buildings and additions since I was last there about five years ago.

In Denver, we gathered as a group and played Laser Quest as a team-building exercise, organized by defenseman Steve Toll. Later that night, about a dozen of us went to the NBA game between the Denver Nuggets and Utah Jazz. If that wasn’t cool enough, after the morning shoot around the next day, forward Joe Walters got Nuggets point guard Anthony Carter to give us a locker room tour. It was everything I thought it would be from flat screen TVs, to a personal chef to mountains of sneakers piled high in each players’ stalls. I only wish Carmelo Anthony would have been there so I could have thanked him for helping Syracuse, my alma mater, win the 2003 National Championship. By the way, the team building worked as the Knighthawks earned their first road of the year later that night over the Colorado Mammoth, 12-8.

There are other interesting moments but I only have limited time to write this today. I am interested in what fans have to say about their most memorable moments of 2009. I will be at the Knighthawks Krew NLL Championship Game Viewing Party on Friday, May 15th. The party begins at 9:00 p.m. at the Stock Exchange Restaurant, which is located on the first floor of the First Federal Plaza on Main Street in downtown Rochester. Stop by and I will interview you for the website and a story I am working on.

The Knighthawks are also going to launch a Fan Photo of the Year Contest next week so make sure to dig out the digital camera and review your best shots. The Top 10 will go on the site and the winner will be determined through online voting. A prize pack will go to the winner.

See everyone Friday Night. Blog you later.
Ripper

A HOT ONE TONIGHT IN NYC

2009-05-01T12:35:00.000-07:00

(New York, NY, May 1)… It’s game day in NYC and the Knighthawks are getting ready for the New York Titans. The team broke into groups this morning and took the train from Secaucus, NJ, to 4 Penn Plaza. The train ride dropped us off under Madison Square Garden.

Fans that watch the game online or attend the game will notice that the dasher boards are almost completely white, similar to the old days of hockey. The dashers were removed after the New York Rangers were eliminated in Game 7 of their Stanley Cup playoff series. The ice was also removed. The arena is now noticeably warm and should be warmer with fans in the seats.

When we got back our hotel, Knighthawks Owner Curt Styres had a team lunch waiting for us at the Crowne Plaza. It had all the fixings with grilled chicken, pasta, rolls, ham and cheese, fruit and salad. The team also met afterward and reviewed film for the game tonight.

After lunch, it was nap time for most and a nice stroll for goalie Pat O’Toole, who always takes a walk before games and never takes a nap.We will be busing into the city around 4:30 p.m. to get to Madison Square Garden by 5:30 p.m. Traffic should be interesting during rush hour.

The game is a historic one for the arena, as it marks the first time a playoff lacrosse game as be played there. The Knighthawks will try to turn MSG into a home-field advantage, as 272 fans are traveling from Rochester to attend the game. Most of them will be clad in teal T-shirts.

The contest also kicks off the 2009 National Lacrosse League Playoffs. Three more games will determine the combatants for the divisional finals next week. Fans in Rochester can go to The Stock Exchange on East Main Street for the official fan party. The game is also available on NLL.com. It should be a wild ride. Enjoy the game.

Blog you later.
Ripper

THE RIPPER REPORT: PLAYOFF EDITION

2009-04-28T13:13:00.000-07:00

(Rochester, April 28)... The playoffs are almost here and the Rochester Knighthawks are back in the mix after missing the postseason party last year. Remember the old saying, “You don’t know how much you miss something until it’s gone.” After 13 straight trips to the National Lacrosse League Playoffs, fans and players came to expect to be there.

The 14th trip to the playoffs features a team that fought to be there. The 2009 version of the Knighthawks was picked to be far from the playoffs in early May with all the loss of John Grant and Scott Evans. Throw in Pat O’Toole missing the first three games, and a head coaching change two weeks before the opener, and you have a lot of work to do in a short amount of time. But the team was resilient, erased an 0-4 and 1-5 start, and won the last game against Philadelphia to get into the playoffs.

Now the Knighthawks hit the road for the playoffs with the backing of Knighthawks Owner Curt Styres, who chartered five buses to fill Madison Square Garden with over 250 crazy Knighthawks fans. It should be rockin’ at The Garden Friday night. I cannot wait to see all the Rochester fans, dressed in teal, cheering on the Knighthawks. I have talked to about a dozen fans and they cannot wait to go. Knighthawks Krew President Tim Knab is giving everyone a first-class sendoff/Pep Rally before the 7:00 a.m. departure time at the Park and Ride near St. John Fisher College. Coffee and donuts, and don’t forget, FREE teal T-shirts for those making the trek. This is the most excitement I have ever seen for a Semifinal Game in the 10 years I have been here. It should be fun.

It will also be fun for me. I love doing games from The Garden with all the history that has taken place in that building. I will broadcast from a different location for the postseason as I move from the 200 to the 400 level to provide home play-by-play for the Knighthawks on WYSL, but also to serve as the Voice of the NLL Network on NLL.com. It’s cool to get the opportunity to do the game for the league.

I will also continue to send messages or “tweets” on Twitter before, during and after the game. All fans have to do is click on the Twitter ad on Knighthawks.net to follow my posts during the game.

See everyone in NYC. Let’s Go ‘Hawks!!!!

Blog you later.
Ripper

THE RIPPER REPORT: PLAYOFFS, SNIDER AND O'TOOLE

2009-04-18T12:41:00.000-07:00

(Rochester, April 18)... Well, it’s win and you’re in tonight at The Blue Cross Arena as the Knighthawks host the Philadelphia Wings. It is the same scenario as last year for Rochester. They had to win at New York and lost in the fourth quarter to end their playoff string of 13 straight seasons.

The guys seem confident and ready to go. Last night we had O’Toole, Schiller, Thorpe and Paul Gait do interviews with Channel 10 and 13, and R-News and everyone talked about getting it done on their home turf. This morning was no different at the team film session. By the way, pick up the latest copy of ESPN the Magazine and read about Knighthawk Gary Gait.

There are many keys to winning a lacrosse game, but one of them has to be to contain Geoff Snider. He won 24 of 32 faceoffs the last time we played; added one goal and one assist, 14 loose balls and won a fight at the end of the game. Snider has gotten a lot of pub in the past two seasons. One of the best articles I have read is by Matt DaSilva in Lacrosse Magazine. He defines Snider as a complete player, which he is, and one that hates losing. He also mentions that Geoff is giving back and started the first field-only lacrosse program at the Edge School in his hometown of Calgary. Good stuff when athletes give back. Not surprising from a lacrosse player. They are usually very active in the community.

Snider, no doubt will be a force tonight, but let’s not forget Merrick Thomson and 2008 NLL MVP Athan Iannucci, who has 32 points (19+13) in nine games since returning from an ACL injury. He didn’t play when Philadelphia beat Rochester 16-13 on January 10th.

The Knighthawks also have some players that were absent on opening night. Craig Point, Pat O’Toole, Mac Allen, Bobby McBride and Jamie Rooney all were not in the lineup that night for the Hawk. It has been the play of O’Toole that has Knighthawks fans excited about tonight. He had 52 saves last week in a loss to Boston. He is 6-6 since he returned from a preseason injury. Allen will also take the draws against Snider and could matchup tonight against one of the Wings’ top scorers. That will be one of the marquis battles.

It should be an exciting game and I hope all the crazy lacrosse fans come on out and cheer on the Knighthawks. It would be nice to get to the playoffs again where anything can happen.

See everyone tonight. Blog you later.
Ripper

IKEA, PIZZA PIZZA AND LACROSSE

2009-03-20T08:21:00.000-07:00

It’s Wednesday and I can’t wait for the weekend. The reason for my anticipation for another Rochester Knighthawks lacrosse game should be obvious. The team has won three straight and four of its last five. The weekend will also be fun because the game is in Toronto, one of the meccas of the National Lacrosse League.

The trip itself does not start and end at the Air Canada Centre. It is something I must carefully plan for, as I will be coming with two special guests: my wife, Amy, and son, Jacob. Packing for one is easy. I just lug my 40-pound radio case, laptop, notes and one change of clothes. My wife will also pack light, but it’s the little man of the house that requires the strategic-level plan to stuff a suitcase full of backup clothes, diapers, wipes, food, toys and medicines. He might just over two-feet tall, but he travels heavy.

The trek from Rochester to Toronto could take three and half hours with a stop in North Tonawanda to see the in-laws. After crossing the border it’s off to IKEA in Toronto to get some gifts for the baby boy. IKEA is like Disney World for my wife, as most of the furniture in our house is from the store. We have used trucks, cars and a bus to transport the items back home. Who knows what will become the “must-have” item for our house on this trip. Did I mention they have nice picture frames? That would definitely fit in my car.

After winding through the two-floor store it might be time for some Tim Horton’s along the way. We might stop at the Hockey Hall of Fame before we get to the game, but that’s only time permitting. I would settle for a quick stop in the HOF's gift shop before going down the street to the arena.

We should dock at the ACC around 4:00 p.m. and then it’s off to the press box to setup for the game. I will be calling the game from the Foster Hewitt Gondola. For those of you not familiar with one of the greatest voices in broadcasting history, he was Canada's premier hockey play-by-play broadcaster on Hockey Night in Canada! It was the first radio program widely listened to in Canada. He coined the phrase "he shoots, he scores!" and was also well known for his sign-on at the beginning of each broadcast, "Hello, Canada, and hockey fans in the United States and Newfoundland."

The press box is one of the biggest and best in the league. I have my own suite, instant replay and get stats immediately after each quarter and at the end of the game. Last year, Terri Workman was honored as the PR Director of the Year, which was well-deserved. They do a great job in Toronto.

It will be fun to have the whole family at the ACC. Last year, my wife sat by my side in the press box as I called the Rochester-Toronto game on April 5th, a 9-6 Knighthawks win. She works as my statistician on the road sometimes and is very thorough. She worked for the Amerks and Knighthawks for nearly six years. She was a real trooper because at the time she was almost seven months pregnant. It was cool to see her place the second headset on her belly to let Jacob listen to the game. They say that kids can hear and recognize their parents’ voices in the womb. Pretty neat stuff, eh?

I love the history brought over from Maple Leaf Gardens, from the old photos to the Stanley Cup banners and retired numbers. The arena is draped with Maple Leafs history. The rafters also hold the five championship banners for the Rock as well.

History aside, one of the best things about the visit is the Pizza Pizza that fills the Media Room and the Knighthawks locker room, after the game. I have been known to take some leftover slices home to share with my wife, who also loves the pizza. Of all the road tips in the NLL, I enjoy the pizza in Toronto, the cheese steaks in Philadelphia and the wings in my hometown, Buffalo.

Toronto does rank very high on my list of places to go in the league. Although, I hated losing there in the Rock’s glory days. Even though they have lost seven of the last eight at home, no one should look past the Rock when they are at home.

All I know is I will have fun Saturday. It’s my son’s first road game and he will get his first press pass. I think I will frame it. Maybe he will follow in my footsteps? Who am I kidding, that's wishful thinking at nine months old. Heck, he hasn’t even uttered his first word yet.

Well, I have to go. We have to start packing for the little guy. Like I said it’s a process, but a fun one.

Blog you later.
Ripper

LACROSSE NIGHT IN ROCHESTER

2009-02-28T14:15:00.000-08:00

Saturday night is almost here and that means it’s “Lacrosse Night in Rochester.”

Right now Tim Knab is probably getting the face paint ready and dressing the family up in their Knighthawks garb. For the staff, it’s the time of day (5:00 p.m.) where we all settle down with dinner from Subway from the East Main Street location. Chips and a tuna sub have become my gameday ritual.

In one hour the players will be getting here and getting dressed to take on the Toronto Rock in the 100th regular season home game in team history. I can’t believe it’s been that long. Time really flies. My first game was John Grant’s debut in 2000 and one of his teammates that season was Casey Powell. What a game at Syracuse and a great season en route to the NLL Finals against tonight’s opponent, the Toronto Rock.

I am excited as ever for the game to start. After last week’s 15-7 win over New York how could you not be fired up. Craig Point and Bobby McBride has been great additions. What a goal by Bobby in the fourth quarter. He looked like Superman.

Rochester will need another “super” effort tonight to take down the Rock. The Knighthawks (2-5) need a win to keep pace with Philadelphia (4-5) and New York (5-5) for the fourth and final playoff spot. Philly plays tonight at Portland and NY lost to Calgary early today, 12-10.

It’s 5:15 p.m. now, the Communications staff is readying the notes to replenish the press box and injured Knighthawk Scott Evans is looking for his autograph pad for tonight’s postgame autograph session on the turf. The ticket department is stocking the Guest Services Booth and the game production staff is printing out their scripts.

Well, I have to go and get my interview questions in order for the pregame interviews with Head Coach Paul Gait and forward Shawn Evans.

Blog you later.
Ripper

THE RIPPER REPORT: CF DINNER TONIGHT

2009-02-28T14:00:00.000-08:00

(Rochester, February 25)... Well, it’s the day of the Cystic Fibrosis Dinner and The Blue Cross Arena is a buzz with volunteers as they get ready for the 19th annual event. This is the first time the building has hosted the gala and the first time the Knighthawks have participated. I am eager to see the way the Amerks and Knighthawks players interact and the funny antics they perform tonight. The players, over 40 in all, will work for tips for the local Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

This is my 10th event and I have loved the previous nine. I have so many memories of meeting players, fans and the kids -- that benefit from the event. The first event I went to was in 2000 and a young goalie with broken English was our waiter. That player was Mika Noronen. Who would have known he would set an AHL record for playoff shutouts a couple of months later and guide the Amerks to the Calder Cup Finals. I also recall Ryan Miller with his band playing well into the night with Derek Roy on the vocals. Jason Botterill also sang a mean college fight song for his alma mater, the University of Michigan.

It’s also great to hang out with the fans, Mary Dibble in particular. Talk about a sweet woman. She was the person that clipped out the birth announcement when my son was born last year. I also like to listen to the stories of past teams and players from fans of all ages. I have gotten to know a lot of people over the years.

The best thing, however, is having the pleasure of seeing Nick Scribani and Kyle Schuhart grow up and develop into young men. Nick was the first ambassador I met and Kyle enters his fifth year as the Ambassador of Hope. It was fun to see Nick get taller and more poised each year as he talked at the dinner. Kyle is also getting more mature and growing a ton. It’s always fun seeing his family and going to such events as building bears. He is also an old pro on the radio show. I think he has a future when Don Stevens retires as the Voice of the Amerks.

The money from the dinner and auction goes to help kids like Nick and Kyle and countless others with the disease. For those coming to the dinner tonight, please have fun and remember that your generosity helps people with CF meet challenges they face every day of their lives.

See everyone tonight.
Ripper

RELAXING IN THE SUN

2009-01-17T20:52:00.000-08:00

(San Jose, January 17)... Well, just bloggin' late at night here in San Jose. I could really get used to 60-degree weather in January. The weather is great and the city is pretty cool. We walked around the city after eating a huge dinner at Original Joe's on First Street. Chris Schiller and Troy Bonterre ate meatballs the size of baseballs. Everything was awesome.

That was followed up by a team video session and then the guys went back to their rooms to get some rest for the morning shoot around at HP Pavilion.

The trip out here was an early one, but it was fun connecting in Las Vegas. I got some good video of the airport and some guys trying their luck on the slot machines. The flight to "Sin City" was made enjoyable by Toll, Millin and Williams making the back of the plane laugh for nearly five hours with their humor.

Sunday should be interesting after the loss in Buffalo. I didn't really ask about the effort, but the guys seem focused on getting the first win against Colin Doyle and the Stealth. It will be a tough game as both teams enter the contest 0-2. The game is a 5:30 p.m. start out here so we will be able to enjoy the beautiful weather after the game.

I really love the weather, did I already mention that? I do, however, miss my son, Jacob, and my wife. I can't wait until Monday night to play with him and give him a big hug. He makes my day everytime I see him.

Well, good night.

Blog you later.
Ripper

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ROAD TRIP

2009-01-15T10:32:00.000-08:00

(Rochester, January 15)… Welcome to the Ripper Report! This blog will allow lacrosse fans to learn about their favorite players from the Rochester Knighthawks (NLL). The first blog will follow the Knighthawks to Buffalo and San Jose.

The Knighthawks communications and TV crew will also make the two-game road trip with the team this weekend. With video cameras in hand, the crew will provide pre- and postgame interviews and a behind-the-scenes look at traveling in the National Lacrosse League.

Fans can check back early next week on knighthawks.net for all the interviews and features from “Life on the Road.” Fans can also listen to audio interviews prior to each game by going on the team’s official website. The web will also feature some shots from the visiting buildings.

The Knighthawks open the road trip on Friday, January 16th against the defending champion Buffalo Bandits (2-0) at 7:30 p.m. at HSBC Arena. The game will be broadcast tape-delayed at 10:00 p.m. on WYSL 1040-AM and wysl1040.com. Then on Sunday, January 18th, Rochester battles the 2008 Western Division champion San Jose Stealth (0-2) at 8:30 p.m. at HP Pavilion. The game will be broadcast live on WYSL 1040-AM and wysl1040.com.

Talk to you soon.
Ripper