(July 31, 2012)… Rochester Knighthawks Owner and General Manager Curt Styres announced today that the team has re-signed two players from the 2012 World Championship team: Tyler Burton and Jake Henhawk. The Knighthawks shored up their defense with the signings, inking Burton to a three-year deal and Henhawk to a one-year contract.

“I am excited to have signed with the Knighthawks again and thankful that they believe in me as a player. The Knighthawks have the best front office, coaching staff and fans in the league,” said Burton. “I can't wait to defend what we earned last season. This team gave me a shot when no one else did, and I wouldn't want to play anywhere else.”

Burton enters his third season with the Knighthawks after making the team after attending the team’s Open Tryouts before the 2010 season. In 2012, he had a career-high 68 loose balls in 14 games. Just before the 2012 season, he won his first Mann Cup with the Brampton Excelsiors. In his rookie NLL season, the London, Ontario native earned the team’s 2011 Most Improved Player. Burton made jump to the pros after a stellar four-year college career at Mercyhurst University. In 2010, he ranked third on the team in scoring, netting 26 goals and adding 12 assists for 38 points. He also garnered Second Team All-American and First Team All-East Coast Conference honors. Further, the Mercyhurst team captain played in the North-South Game.

The Knighthawks locked up goalie Jake Henhawk for another season. The Six Nations product returns for his fourth season with the Knighthawks after recording a career-best 11.18 goals-against average in 2012.

“It feels great. I am excited to defend our Cup,” said Henhawk.

This summer, he has led the St. Catharines Saints back into the Senior “B” Semifinals with the decisive fifth game set for tonight. It was just a season ago that he guided St. Catharines to an upset series win over the four-time defending champion Owen Sound in the 2011 Ontario Senior “B” Finals. Henhawk then led St. Catharines to a bronze medal in the Presidents’ Cup, as he earned First Team All-Star honors and won the Travis Solomon Outstanding Goaltender Award. Henhawk has also played in two FIL World Lacrosse Championships with Team USA.