NLL: K-Hawks Sign Stars to Multi-Year Deals

from press release

For the Rochester Knighthawks, the future is now as Owner and General Manager Curt Styres announced today that the team has signed youngsters Shawn Evans, Craig Point, Sid Smith and Scott Ditzell to multi-year deals. The Evans’ contract is pending league approval.
 
Evans, 23, enters his fifth season with the Knighthawks after re-signing for the next three seasons. In 2009, the Peterborough, Ontario, native set career highs for assists (49) and points (79). In 2007, the forward helped Rochester win the Champion’s Cup and in 2006 he was named to the NLL All-Rookie Team. His resume also includes two Mann Cups (2004 and 2006), two Minto Cups (2006) and 2007) a Minto Cup MVP Award (2006). Additionally, Evans captured the Jim Veltman Trophy from 2005 to 2007, as the most outstanding player in the Junior “A” league.

During the 2007 season, he was teammates with Smith and Point on the Six Nations Junior “A” team.
“Shawn Evans has the heart of a lion and is in the best condition of his career. He is a versatile forward that can score from outside or inside,” said Styres.
 
Point, 23, enters his second season in Rochester in 2010 and will remain a Knighthawk until at least the 2013 season after re-signing for four years. The forward was acquired from the Minnesota Swarm last season and notched 17 goals and 11 assists in 10 games with Rochester. The third-year pro was the 2008 NLL Rookie of the Year. Point has three championships: a 2009 Canadian field lacrosse national championship, a 2007 Minto Cup and a 2006 National Junior College championship. In 2007, he also led the Iroquois Nationals in scoring at the World Indoor Lacrosse Championships en route to a silver medal.
 
“Craig has a great outside shot and can finish in close with the best of them,” said Styres.
 
Smith, 23, who was the first overall pick in the 2009 National Lacrosse League Draft, signed a four-year deal. The Syracuse University and Six Nations defenseman has won five championships in his young career, including back-to-back NCAA titles (2008-09) with the Orange and a 2009 championship with the Toronto Nationals of Major League Lacrosse. Smith also won a 2007 Minto Cup with the Six Nations Arrows and a 2006 National Junior College championship with Onondaga Community College. In addition, he won four straight Ontario Championships while playing his junior ball with Six Nations (2004-07).
 
"Sid Smith will make our defense stronger and makes everyone around him better. We also look for Sid to contribute offensively and score a few goals,” said Styres.
 
Smith and Ditzell will be reunited this year for the first time since the 2004 Junior “A” season when they both played for the Six Nations Arrows. Ditzell, 26, enters his fourth season in the National Lacrosse League and makes his return to Rochester for the first time since the 2008 season. The defenseman, who signed a three-year deal, began his career with the Knighthawks in 2006. He will make his return to the floor on Saturday, January 9th against the Buffalo Bandits at 8:05 p.m. at The Blue Cross Arena at the Rochester War Memorial. He was a key member of the 2007 Knighthawks championship team.
 
“We are all excited about Scott signing a multi-year deal. He is in fantastic shape and combines strength and ability,” said Styres. “He is a team player that demands perfection.”