(Rochester, NY, Knighthawks Communications)… Rochester Knighthawks Owner and General Manager Curt Styres announced today that the team has signed 2010 National Lacrosse League Goalie of the Year Matt Vinc to a three-year contract. He made the announcement at a press conference this evening as Vinc met fans and media.
“It is always good to have a young, athletic, professional athlete with a pro work ethic on your team,” said Styres. “He will help the players around him improve their abilities. When I talked to him he was excited and happy to be in Rochester.”
Styres captured the feelings of the goalie that now will backstop one of the most decorated franchises in the NLL.
“This is a big relief for me as a person and as a person. I like the fact that my mom can come to every game and I can play in front of everyone that has supported me through the years,” said Vinc. “I am really looking forward to embracing the team.”
Vinc was acquired on October 27th, along with transition man Matt Zash, the rights to transition man Brad Self, and the Mammoth’s first and third-round picks in 2012. Vinc is coming off one of his finest seasons as a pro, earning NLL Goaltender of the Year honors. The St. Catharines, Ontario, native was 10-5 last season with a league-best .810 save percentage and 609 saves. He became the first NLL goalie to post back-to-back 600-save seasons, recording 609 stops in 2009 and 2010. In 2009, he led the New York Titans into the NLL Finals. He was a two-time NLL All-Pro, winning First Team honors in 2010 and Second Team status in 2008. Widely regarded as one of the best goalies in the NLL, he has played five seasons and amassed 2,204 saves and an 11.27 goals-against average in 66 regular season games.
The 28-year-old St. Catharines, Ontario, native was looking for a team that would allow him to continue to teach in his hometown and also play the sport he has dominated the past five seasons: Lacrosse.
“I was looking for a home for the next 10 years. Rochester is a place that is established and I am going to love playing in front of the fans and developing a great relationship with them,” he said.
