By Travis Larner, Knighthawks.com—
The defending World Champion Rochester Knighthawks were well represented in the Third Annual Bowhunter Cup on Saturday. Not only was the game played in The Blue Cross Arena, but 10 members of the championship team suited up for international game between the Iroquois Nationals and the United States. (Photos by Larry Palumbo)

Headlining the list of Rochester players was Champion’s Cup MVP Cody Jamieson. The Nationals forward from Six Nations was crowned the Player of the Game. He finished with a team-high three goals and was tied for the lead with four points overall, guiding the Iroquois to the 12-10 victory.

“I love it here (at The Blue Cross Arena). The fans that came out, they were loud and into the game. I think they saw an amazing game between both sides. I just love this building. I love the atmosphere as soon as you walk in. The fans are so close to you. There’s not a bad thing I can say about this building. I love being here,” said Jamieson.

Fellow Six Nations forwards Craig Point and Johnny Powless also contributed to the Iroquois offense. Point scored a goal and led the Nationals with three assists while Powless added a pair of goals, including the game-winner in the fourth.

Alex “Kedoh” Hill and Travis Hill each earned an assist. Also playing for the Nationals were defenseman Sid Smith and Assistant Coach Andy Secore, who was hitting the turf for the first time since playing for the Iroquois at the 2011 World Indoor Lacrosse Championships.

USA was backstopped by Knighthawks’ goaltender Jake Henhawk. After allowing six goals in the first quarter, Henhawk would allow only one goal in the second quarter, and five in the second half.

“Toward the end of the first quarter he settled in, and so much so our backup came to us and said ‘if you want to leave him in, definitely leave him in. He’s playing great.’ So we did,” said Team USA Head Coach Tim Soudan, a Knighthawk Hall of Famer.

Rochester native Joe Walters earned a game-high four assists for the Americans. Joel White scored his only goal at 5:10 in the fourth quarter, cutting the deficit 11-10. With Americans on the penalty kill, White split a double team in the left corner and dove into the crease, barely beating Iroquois goalie Mikey Thompson for the shorthanded goal.

Former Knighthawk draftee Grant Catalino matched his four-goal total from the 2011 Bowhunter Cup. He was tied with a game-best five points to lead USA’s offense. Catalino, who resides in the nearby suburb of Webster, NY, was taken in the sixth round of the 2011 NLL Entry Draft.

“I haven’t had the stick in my hand too much in the past two months or so since the MLL season ended. It’s good to get out here and play. This is the game that I love and the more I can play in front of all the fans that were here, the better,” said Catalino. “It was a lot of fun. It would have been more fun if we won.”