Thunderbirds Announce Protected Players List
Oct 21, 2019
Halifax, NS - The Halifax Thunderbirds announced their protected players list today prior to the 2019 National Lacrosse League Expansion Draft. Teams may only protect a maximum of five offensive runners. The Thunderbirds elected to protect one goalie and 10 runners instead of 11 runners.
The New York Riptides own the first selection in the Expansion Draft, which will take place on July 9. Each team can only lose a maximum of two players through the Expansion Draft.
Forwards: Ryan Benesch, Mike Burke, Kyle Jackson, Cody Jamieson, Austin Shanks
Defensemen: James Barclay, Brad Gillies, Graeme Hossack, Luc Magnan, Jake Withers
Goalie: Warren Hill
JAMES BARCLAY (25) 5-11, 186 lbs.
DEFENSE Shoots: Right
Born: Toronto, Ontario Date of Birth: June 13, 1995
Completed his first season in the NLL and first with the Knighthawks… Was named the team’s Rookie of the Year… Scored his first pro goal on 3/31/19… Made his pro debut and notched his first pro point/assist on 12/29/18…
| Season |
|
Team |
League |
GP |
G |
A |
PTS |
PIM |
LB |
| 2018-19 |
|
Rochester |
NLL |
16 |
1 |
7 |
8 |
16 |
60 |
RYAN BENESCH (17) 5-8, 180 lbs.
FORWARD Shoots: Left
Born: Kitchener, Ontario Date of Birth: January 30, 1985
Completed his 13th season in the NLL and first with the Knighthawks… On 4/20, he became only the 10th player in NLL history to reach 1,000 points… Played in his 200th game as a pro on 3/16/19… The forward is one of the most prolific scorers in the history of the game, ranking 10th all-time in assists (577) and points (1,010) and 11th in goals (433)… He is a two-time First Team All-Pro (2011 and 2015)… In 2007, he earned NLL Rookie of the Year honors.
| Season |
|
Team |
League |
GP |
G |
A |
PTS |
PIM |
LB |
| 2018-19 |
|
Colorado |
NLL |
10 |
17 |
30 |
47 |
2 |
55 |
| 2018-19 |
|
Rochester |
NLL |
8 |
18 |
15 |
33 |
0 |
42 |
MIKE BURKE (16) 6-0, 189 lbs.
FORWARD Shoots: Right
Born: Brampton, Ontario Date of Birth: March 20, 1990
Completed his fourth season in the NLL and first with the Knighthawks… In 2018-19, he posted career highs in goals (15), assists (27) and points (42)… Picked up his 50th career point on 3/15/19… Scored his first two goals as a Knighthawk on 2/1/19… Picked up an assist in his Knighthawks debut on 1/19/19.
| Season |
|
Team |
League |
GP |
G |
A |
PTS |
PIM |
LB |
|
| 2018-19 |
|
Rochester |
NLL |
14 |
15 |
27 |
42 |
11 |
47 |
|
BRAD GILLIES (10) 6-0, 196 lbs.
DEFENSE/TRANSITION Shoots: Left
Born: Mississauga, Ontario Date of Birth: June 14, 1991
Completed his fourth season in the NLL and fourth with the Knighthawks… Has won the team’s community service award the past three seasons (2017-19)… Scored his first professional hat trick in his playoff debut on 5/4/18… Had a breakout season, registering career highs in assists (11) and points (19).
| Season |
|
Team |
League |
GP |
G |
A |
PTS |
PIM |
LB |
| 2018-19 |
|
Rochester |
NLL |
18 |
4 |
8 |
12 |
0 |
89 |
WARREN HILL (76) 5-10, 250 lbs.
GOALIE Shoots: Left
Born: Six Nations Date of Birth: July 16, 1992
Completed his third season in the NLL and first with Rochester… Led the NLL with an .810 save percentage, which was the third best in team single-season history… Was 4-1 as a starter and finished third in goals-against average (10.36)… Notched a career-high four-game winning streak from 3/31/19 to 4/20/19… On 4/20/19, he made a career-high 53 saves… Made 50 saves en route to his first pro win on 3/31/19… Stopped 35 shots in his first start of the season on 3/15/19… Saw his first action as a Knighthawk on 1/19/19.
| Season |
|
Team |
League |
GP |
W |
L |
GAA |
SV% |
SVS |
| 2018-19 |
|
Rochester |
NLL |
15 |
4 |
2 |
10.36 |
.810 |
286 |
GRAEME HOSSACK (4) 6-2, 225 lbs.
DEFENSE Shoots: Left
Born: Guelph, Ontario Date of Birth: July 22, 1992
Completed his fourth season in the NLL and fourth with the Knighthawks… Named an alternate captain for the 2018-19 season… Has won three straight team Defensive MVP honors (2017-19)… Named the 2018-19 team MVP… In 2018-19, he was fifth in the NLL in loose balls (164) and tied for eighth in caused turnovers (25)… Third in points among league defensemen with 24… Posted career highs in goals (eight), assists (16), points (24) and loose balls (164)… Collected his 500th loose ball on 4/6/19… Notched his second straight three-point effort on 3/23/19… Tied his career highs with two goals and three points on 3/16/19.
| Season |
|
Team |
League |
GP |
G |
A |
PTS |
PIM |
LB |
|
| 2018-19 |
|
Rochester |
NLL |
18 |
8 |
16 |
24 |
12 |
164 |
|
KYLE JACKSON (47) 5-9, 175 lbs.
FORWARD Shoots: Left
Born: Sarnia, Ontario Date of Birth: August 22, 1993
Completed his third season in the NLL and third with the Knighthawks… Tied for the team lead in goals (30) and was second in points (63)… Notched the 100th assist of his career on 4/20/19… Named an alternate captain on 3/11/19… Tied for third on the team with nine playoff assists… Scored two goals and added one assist in his playoff debut on 5/4/18… One of only three Rochester players to record a point in all 18 games.
| Season |
|
Team |
League |
GP |
G |
A |
PTS |
PIM |
LB |
| 2018-19 |
|
Rochester |
NLL |
18 |
30 |
33 |
63 |
38 |
66 |
CODY JAMIESON (88) 5-9, 224 lbs.
FORWARD Shoots: Left
Born: Six Nations Date of Birth: July 17, 1987
Completed his ninth season in the NLL and ninth with the Knighthawks… Third all-time in team history in goals (255), assists (449) and points (704)… In Knighthawks playoff history, he ranks first in assists (51) and points (85), and second in goals (33)… Named the Knighthawks’ Offensive MVP for the third time in his career (2015, 2016, 2018-19)… Led the team in points (87) and was tied for the team lead in goals (30)… Posted the 700th point of his pro career on 4/20/19… Named team captain on 3/11/19… Served as an alternate captain the past seven seasons (2013-19)… Selected as a member of the Knighthawks’ All-Time Team… Scored the 250th goal of his career on 3/31/19… On 1/12/19, he notched his 400th career assist.
| Season |
|
Team |
League |
GP |
G |
A |
PTS |
PIM |
LB |
| 2018-19 |
|
Rochester |
NLL |
18 |
30 |
57 |
87 |
32 |
80 |
|
LUC MAGNAN (45) 6-1, 236 lbs.
DEFENSE Shoots: Right
Born: Pine Falls, Manitoba Date of Birth: May 30, 1992
CAREER
Completed his fourth season in the NLL and fourth with the Knighthawks… Finished third on the team with a career-high 108 loose balls… Tied his career high with two goals… Named a road alternate captain on March 11, 2019… Recorded points in four of the team’s five playoff games… Posted two assists his playoff debut on 5/4/18.
| Season |
|
Team |
League |
GP |
G |
A |
PTS |
PIM |
LB |
| 2018-19 |
|
Rochester |
NLL |
16 |
2 |
5 |
7 |
8 |
108 |
AUSTIN SHANKS (11) 5-9, 190 lbs.
FORWARD Shoots: Right
Born: Whitby, Ontario Date of Birth: February 24, 1994
Completed his second season in the NLL and second with the Knighthawks… Finished third on the team in goals (23) and points (48)… Posted a career-high seven goals and eight points on 1/26/19… Named to the NLL All-Rookie Team… In the postseason, he was tied for third in the NLL in goals (11) and fourth in points (18)… Scored four goals in his NLL playoff debut on 5/4/18.
| Season |
|
Team |
League |
GP |
G |
A |
PTS |
PIM |
LB |
|
| 2018-19 |
|
Rochester |
NLL |
13 |
23 |
25 |
48 |
8 |
58 |
|
JAKE WITHERS (18) 5-11, 205 lbs.
DEFENSE/TRANSITION Shoots: Right
Born: Peterborough, Ontario Date of Birth: February 12, 1994
Completed his second season in the NLL and second with the Knighthawks… Third on the team’s all-time faceoff wins list (554)… Named the 2018-19 winner of the Knighthawks’ Wolf Pack Award, which recognizes heart and dedication to the team… Led the NLL in faceoff winning percentage (.749) and was second in wins (275)… Fourth in the league in loose balls (166)… Posted the first two-goal game of his career on 3/31/19… Named a road alternate captain on March 11, 2019… Won a franchise-record 29 faceoffs on 3/15/19… Named the 2017-18 NLL Rookie of the Year and an NLL All-Rookie Team selection.
| Season |
|
Team |
League |
GP |
G |
A |
PTS |
PIM |
LB |
| 2018-19 |
|
Rochester |
NLL |
14 |
6 |
10 |
16 |
24 |
166 |