(May 28, 2012)… Last season, the Hamilton Nationals fell one goal short of winning a world championship. A title, however, would not elude several of those in the indoor game as Cody Jamieson, Joe Walters and Stephen Keogh captured the NLL Champion’s Cup on May 19th.
 
The trio of Rochester Knighthawks players helped their team defeat the Edmonton Rush 9-6. The players have two weeks to savor the championship before they return to Major League Lacrosse. On Saturday, June 2nd, the Nationals will travel to play the expansion Charlotte Hounds at 7:00 p.m. on the CBS Sports Network.
 
Jamieson, Walters and Keogh were activated, while the Rochester Rattlers added Knighthawks defenseman Joel White to their roster. This weekend, they will begin their quests for a Major League Lacrosse title. Last season, the Nationals lost 10-9 to the Boston Cannons in the MLL Championship Game.

“The 2011 season was bitter sweet. It was a different experience for guys like me, Brodie (Merrill) and Jordan Hall. We were the veterans leading the way for a very dynamic group of rookies. It took us time, but when we gained that chemistry we were a dangerous team to face,” said Walters. “To lose by one goal in the championship was a tough pill to swallow, but we will be back to make another run and be on the winning side.”

Walters rejoins the Nationals for his third season. Last season, he led the offense with 39 points (18+1+20) and finished fifth in the MLL in points and second among league midfielders. His 20 assists were a single-season franchise record. Walters ended the 2011 regular season as the Nationals’ all-time leader in assists (37) and points (81). He ranks second in goals with 41. He was named to the All-MLL team for the third time in his career.

Jamieson, who was named the 2012 NLL Championship Game MVP, joins the Nationals for his third season. In 2011, he finished third on the team with 26 points. He was the Nationals’ second-round selection (10th overall) in the 2010 MLL Collegiate Draft.

Keogh begins his second season with Hamilton after scoring seven goals in three games in his rookie season. The attackman was the Nationals’ fifth-round selection (25th overall) in the 2011 MLL Collegiate Draft. Keogh won two national championships at Syracuse (2008 and 2009), and received Second Team All-American honors in 2011 after earning honorable mention status the previous two years.

White returns to the Rattlers for his second season after getting selected second overall in the 2011 MLL Collegiate Draft. The Syracuse product finished the season second in MLL with 71 ground balls. He also scored three goals, which was third best among MLL defensemen. The Rattlers host the Boston Cannons in their home opener on Friday, June 1st at 7:00 p.m.