Knighthawks sign free agent Wenster Green

ROCHESTER — The Rochester Knighthawks announced that they have signed free agent defenseman Wenster Green. For Green, signing the one-year deal means returning to the city where he won the Champion’s Cup.

“My last experience here was great,” he said. “The coaches and team are great from top to bottom, so I am really excited to be back. I can really see myself fitting in well and playing a big role with the Knighthawks this year.”

During his first stint in Rochester, Green was a member of the Knighthawks practice squad and captured the 2014 Champion’s Cup. For the past two seasons, he has made stops with teams in Vancouver, New England and Georgia. He ended the 2016 campaign with the Swarm after agreeing to a one-year deal in April. Green was originally drafted 40th overall by the Buffalo Bandits in the 2012 NLL Entry Draft.

Green now heads back to Rochester to join a team that has been loading up on young, talented defensemen. It was just a year ago that the Knighthawks added four defensemen in the first two rounds of the 2015 NLL Entry Draft.

“The team is getting younger which is a bit of a change,” said Green. “When I was there, me and ‘Pup’ [Johnny Powless] were the youngest guys by far. This time around it will be different for sure.”

Green has changed as a player since hoisting the Champion’s Cup. The 22-year-old defenseman stressed that he has matured and grown as a player since the last time he was in Rochester.

“Physically I feel like I have grown into my body, as opposed to being 20 years old,” he said. “As much as I felt I was ready to play the last two years, everyone has a different path. I feel like it’s a step in the right direction coming back to Rochester.”

Knighthawks head coach Mike Hasen agreed that Green has improved his game and his fitness over the past two years.

“He has matured as a player and has gotten himself physically stronger,” he said. “We’re hoping he can step up to the next level.”

Entering Training Camp, Green will build on the success he had with the Iroquois Nationals at the 2015 FIL World Indoor Lacrosse Championship. There he played alongside Rochester team captain Sid Smith and future Knighthawk Adam Bomberry as the Iroquois won the silver medal. It was his first silver and second international medal, having captured a bronze with the Iroquois at the 2012 FIL U19 World Championship. Competing against the top players in the world was huge for his development.

“The world tournament helped a lot in terms of my confidence,” he said. “I showed myself that I can play at a high level and be just as good as everyone else, if not better. I learned a lot from that tournament and it was great playing with Sid. I am happy, to hopefully, be back on the floor with him in a Knighthawks jersey.”

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