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I’m taking a well deserved step back from the whole Knighthawks situation on and off the floor this week and looking toward a lacrosse team that is full of hope and promise for this season.

The Rochester Greywolves are coming back, the reincarnated team will play against their Canadian counterparts in the Can-Am Lacrosse League.  If you’re reading this and wondering why I say “coming back,” the Greywolves actually played in Rochester in the early 1980s at arenas like Lakeshore Arena and the Culver Road Armory and was the first professional lacrosse club to play in Rochester since the NLL Champion Rochester Griffins moved in 1975.

These Rochester Greywolves are acknowledged as the official partner of the Rochester Knighthawks, which opens the doors for these players to be called up for tryouts by the Knighthawks. 

Rochester is one of the only cities in the Can-Am league to serve this purpose for their local NLL team and joint marketing efforts are already underway to draw Knighthawks fans out in the summertime for box lacrosse.  The Greywolves will play their home games at the Genesee Valley Arena on Elmwood Avenue and their season opens on May 1st as they host the Tonawanda Braves.  The Greywolves continue a long tradition of professional lacrosse in Rochester dating back to the turn of the 20th century where teams like the Rochester Iroquois played in the Main Street Armory to packed houses.

These Greywolves are 100% Native American owned and operated (thanks to Lou Grinzo for the team shot). Their GM is Craig Marvin, who has played in the Can-Am League for Onondaga and Alleghany, and their assistant  GM is Ansley Jemison who played professionally for Newton.  The Greywolves are coached by Buji Seneca.  A Jemison working with a Seneca brings a chuckle to any Rochester historian, because there’s a bit of history here. The Greywolves held their first exhibition scrimmage on April 5th against the Onondaga Redhawks with a strong crowd showing to see what Rochester’s newest lacrosse team was all about.

The Rochester Greywolves consist of 27 players, including 4 goalies. The Greywolves’ experience ranges every level of lacrosse from high school to college to the pros.  Their practices are free and open to the public at Total Sports Experience in Gates, N.Y. 

The Greywolves have a pretty cool Web site if you want more information.

Rochester indoor lacrosse has had a tough go of it this season, but the Knighthawks are still pushing toward the playoffs and the Greywolves know that pulling on a jersey that says Rochester on the front means you are expected to be a winner.  If you’ve never seen a summer box game, you owe it to yourself to make it to downtown Rochester this summer.  It’s harder hitting than the NLL, yet everyone still raises a pint afterwards to celebrate the game.  My family will be there on opening night in our Greywolves shirts and we hope to see you there as well.

Knabber from da ROC

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