(Rochester, July 22)… While Rochester Knighthawks defenseman Marshall Abrams and Assistant Coach Jason Johnson were preparing their Six Nations Arrows team for tonight’s playoff game, they received some encouraging news from The Ontario Junior “A” Lacrosse Council. (Photo of Alex Kedoh Hill and Johnny Powless by Julie Farmer)

The coaches were notified that Arrows players had captured one individual award, a goaltending honor and two All-Star selections. The awards are testament to the hard work of the team, according to first-year Head Coach Marshall Abrams.

“It has been a lot of fun working with the guys,” said Abrams. “It hasn’t been difficult because they all bought into the system we put in place.”

Johnny Powless captured the Joey Nieuwendyk Award as the Rookie of the Year after leading the Arrows in scoring with 46 goals en route to 76 points. In the playoffs, he ranks second on the team with 16 points (7+9) in the four games to one series win over the Akwesasne Indians.

“For the points he put up he did a really good job for us,” said Knighthawks and Six Nations Assistant Coach Jason Johnson. “He is a really good all-around player and he just turned 17. Once he starts to mature he will be someone to watch.”

Additionally, the Arrows Randy Johnson and David “The Big Fish” Diruscio were named the league’s outstanding goalies as the recipients of the Robert Melville Memorial Award. Johnson carried a 9-3 record this season and a 6.26 goals-against average, while Diruscio was 8-1 with a paltry 3.96 GAA. Six Nations limited opponents to an average of five goals per game over a 22-game season. (Photo of David Diruscio by Julie Farmer)

“A big key is how well our defense played,” said Johnson about the award.

Six Nations also had two players named to All-Star teams: Alex Kedoh Hill and Mike MacNamara. Hill earned first team honors as a transition man after completing a regular season in which he led the Arrows in points with 93 (42+51). Defenseman Mike MacNamara was awarded second team honors in his third season with the Arrows. He notched career bests in goals (5), assists (7) and points (12) this season.

Tonight, the Six Nations Arrows host the Whitby Warriors at 8:00 p.m. at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena in Game One of the best-of-seven Ontario Lacrosse Association Junior “A” Semifinals. Six Nations concluded the season in second place with an 18-4 record.