By Carly Szydlowski, Knighthawks.com --
Rochester Knighthawks goaltender Matt Vinc surprised his family and friends on Saturday, October 20th by showing up to a golf tournament with the 2012 National Lacrosse League Champion’s Cup in hand.  The tournament was a fundraiser for Vinc’s brother Eric’s men’s hockey team based in Niagara Falls.  Vinc grew up with many of the guys who play hockey alongside his brother in his hometown of St. Catharines, Ontario and has maintained his relationships with them throughout his NLL career. 

“It was great to be able to surprise the guys with the Cup. All of them are big supporters and most of them were there in Rochester cheering me on in the Finals,” said Vinc.

Vinc really did make the most of every minute he spent with the Champion’s Cup at the golf course. Vinc’s brother Jason was also playing in the fundraiser tournament and they took showing off the NLL Champion’s Cup to the next level. Matt and Jason played the tournament with the Champion’s Cup strapped onto the back of their golf cart.

Entering his seventh season as a goaltender in the NLL, Vinc is holding onto the Rochester Knighthawks’ title as the 2012 NLL World Champions for as long as he possibly can. This was Vinc’s first time being a member of a NLL World Championship team. He knows the 2013 NLL season is approaching quickly and spending the day with the Cup was one of his last opportunities to bask in the glory of being named World Champions before the Knighthawks have to focus on defending their title. 

Vinc’s family and friends were there for him the most through the 2012 NLL season and this is why he decided there would be no better way to spend the day with the Cup than with them. Many emotions came over Vinc on Saturday.

“What you realize is how much the championship meant to my entire family and group of friends,” he said. “I truly enjoyed every minute of having the Cup at the course with the boys. This was a last chance to enjoy the victory before we focus on training camp and starting the 2013 season.”