(October 30, 2012)… The defending champion Rochester Knighthawks signed veterans Ian Llord and Tom Montour to one-year contracts today. The deals were two of six announced by the Knighthawks, as Rochester also agreed to one-year contracts with 2012 draft picks Cody Hawkins, Matt Hummel, Chris Attwood and Cody McLeod. The deals are pending league approval.

Five of the players recently attended the Knighthawks Open Tryouts this past weekend. Llord was personally invited by team Owner and General Manager Curt Styres. He also got a friendly nudge from fellow St. Catharines, Ontario native and Knighthawks team captain Pat McCready.

“I am really glad that I did because he’s been treating us well and this is only the Open Camp,” said Llord after Day Two of Open Tryouts. “I can just image what it’s like in the real camp and playing for the Knighthawks full time, if I am that lucky.”

The Knighthawks will begin Training Camp on Saturday, November 24th at Total Sports Experience in Gates. Llord comes to Rochester after spending five of his six seasons in the NLL with the Knighthawks’ thruway rivals, the Buffalo Bandits. He was drafted in the first round by Philadelphia in the 2006 NLL Entry Draft and spent the 2007 season with the Wings.

He was eventually traded to Buffalo, where he played 65 games with the Bandits since 2008. In his first season with Buffalo, Llord won the Champion’s Cup alongside current Knighthawks Mike Accursi and Kyle Laverty. He also won a Minto Cup with St. Catharines in 2003 and a Mann Cup with Brampton in 2007.

Montour enters his 11th season in the NLL in 2012 after spending the last four seasons in Buffalo. Originally drafted by the Toronto Rock in 2002, the transition man has played for four teams. The 30-year-old won a Champion’s Cup in 2003 with Toronto. In his career, he has collected 153 points and 646 loose balls in 105 professional games. Last season, he recorded 12 points and 72 loose balls in nine games. Internationally, the Six Nations product played for the Iroquois Nationals at the 2011 World Indoor Lacrosse Championships.

Check out this goal by Montour.

Hawkins will also attend training camp in Rochester. The defender from Delta, BC was crowned the British Columbia Junior “A” Lacrosse League Defender of the Year. He helped the Delta Islanders finish with a franchise-best 14-5-2 record. He was Rochester’s second selection in the draft with the 29th overall pick in the third round.

“I know I have a lot to learn, but I am excited to get around the veterans,” he said. “I just want be a sponge, learn from those guys, shut my mouth and listen to everything I can.”

Another draft pick invited to Training Camp is Hummel, who played transition for the Major Series Lacrosse’s Kitchener-Waterloo Kodiaks this past summer. He also played at Mercyhurst University, where he finished third on the team with 15 goals and fifth with 22 points. In the fourth round, Hummel was drafted by his favorite NLL team.

“Growing up I watched many NLL games and Rochester was always an elite team, so to have the opportunity to step on the floor with top-caliber players is an opportunity of a lifetime. The only NLL jersey I have ever had is a Rochester Knighthawks jersey,” he said.

Rochester also signed highly-decorated scorer Chris Attwood out of St. Catharines, Ontario. The 47th overall pick in the fifth round led the Canadian Lacrosse League in points scored (71) and was crowned the Offensive Player of the Year and Most Outstanding Player. He won the inaugural Creator’s Cup with the Ohsweken Demons. Attwood is the all-time single-season point leader for the Six Nations Junior “B” Rebels with 134 points.

McLeod, another stout defenseman, will try to crack the Rochester lineup. The sixth-round pick captured the 2012 Minto Cup with his hometown Orangeville Northmen. McLeod and the Northmen defense limited their opponents to less than six goals per game in the playoffs and Minto Cup series. He was excited to participate in the team’s Open Tryouts this past Friday and Saturday.

“I liked the pace,” said McLeod. “I can get better as a whole and work a little bit harder. I tried to prove myself.”

At Training Camp on Saturday, November 24th, the team will undergo fitness testing from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. with practice slated for 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. The second day of camp is set for Sunday, November 25th from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. All the practices at TSE are free and open to the public.

The Knighthawks will play their home opener on Saturday, January 19th against the rival Buffalo Bandits at 7:30 p.m. at The Blue Cross Arena. Season tickets are currently on sale at the Knighthawks Office and can be purchased by calling (585) 454-HAWK.