Knighthawks have Matt Vinc, but they also have Pat O’Toole and Aaron Bold, plus links

October 29th, 2010 by Bob Chavez

What is Pat O'Toole's future with the Rochester Knighthawks now that they have Matt Vinc?

The Rochester Knighthawks pulled the trigger this week on one of the bigger trades in recent National Lacrosse League memory, sending John Grant Jr. to the Colorado Mammoth to bring goalie Matt Vinc to their fold. So as Knighthawks Nation stews with excitement about what the addition of one of the game’s best keepers can do for its squad, it must also consider this: What becomes of Pat O’Toole and Aaron Bold? O’Toole is entrenched in Knighthawks lore as much as any of the current ‘Birds, and Bold was heralded last season as the eventual heir. Plans have changed, though, and coach Mike Hasen has some tough choices ahead of him as he tells NLLInsider.com that all 3 keepers come to camp on level ground.

“We have 3 quality guys and they’ll all battle for a spot,” Hasen said Friday afternoon. “Pat, it’s something he knew was eventually going to happen for the future. He’s 39 and he realizes that.”

Aaron Bold will battle Pat O'Toole and Matt Vinc for a job in Rochester.

The loyalty for Hasen to O’Toole goes beyond their Knighthawks ties. They’re family, as in brother-in-laws. Hasen said he talked briefly with O’Toole after the trade and he knows O’Toole’s not going to step aside easily. So anyone annointing Vinc as the new starter in Rochester would be wise to not quite bank on it.

“It’s a good situation to be in,” said Hasen, adding that O’Toole’s rest from the game this summer in Peterborough has the goalie recharged for a new NLL season. “Pat’s still got plenty of good years left in him, but Matt’s 10 years younger and is one of the best goalies in the league. Knowing Pat the way I do, he’s an easy guy to work with. And Aaron, he’s younger too and he’ll have plenty to learn from Matt and Pat.”

Hasen insists no one has been named the starter yet in goal, and camp will determine the order — for all 3 goalies. No word on whether any trades might be in the works, and Hasen says he’d much rather have a decision like this between 3 talented keepers as opposed to wondering if anyone will get the job done.

Plus the Links

Boyhood friends John Grant Jr. and Tracey Kelusky have teamed to form Evolve Elite Lacrosse, a program to develop lacrosse talent in Canada for players who have an eye on playing NCAA lacrosse. “It has been designed to field the most talented lacrosse players in each age group and provide the ultimate experience in development and opportunity,” Kelusky told The Peterborough Examiner … The Edmonton Rush have signed 3 players; defender and loose ball hound Ian Hawksbee, forward Andy Secore, who finished third in team scoring last season, and fifth-round draft pick Jarrett Toll, a defender who got permission from the University of Alberta hockey team to pursue lacrosse … Defenders Nick Inch and Eric Pacey, and forward Matt Lyons, have reached agreements with the Minnesota Swarm. Inch and Pacey signed 2-year deals, and Lyons agreed to terms on a 2-year deal … Defenders Andrew McBride, an assistant captain, and Peter McFetridge have signed new deals with the Calgary Roughnecks. McBride inked a 3-year deal and McFetridge signed a 2-year deal.

Chavez is an avid lacrosse player in Rochester and a journalist for the Democrat and Chronicle as well as a longtime Inside Lacrosse contributor. Email him at bob.chavez@nllinsider.com or go to RochesterSports.com.

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