(July 16, 2012)… Four former Rochester Knighthawks are among the six finalists announced today by the National Lacrosse League for the league’s Hall of Fame Class of 2012. The Knighthawks greats on the ballot are Regy Thorpe, Chris Driscoll, Curt Malawksy and Steve Dietrich. The list also contains Pat Coyle and the 1993 Bandits, who are the first team up for consideration. The nominees were selected by the league’s Hall of Fame Committee.

To win induction into the Hall of Fame, nominees must first be selected on a minimum of 75 percent of the ballots cast. The winner(s) will be announced next week. Ballots are cast by the teams, current members of the NLL Hall of Fame and senior members of the league’s media. Voters may select up to three of the six nominees on the ballot.

Three of the nominees were members of the Knighthawks’ 1997 World Championship team: Thorpe, Driscoll and Dietrich. Thorpe represents the only player to win the team’s first two championships: 1997 and 2007. The defenseman also had the distinction of spending his entire career with the Knighthawks (1995 to 2009). He played 193 regular season games and 24 playoff games over a 15-year career. His teams reached the Championship Game six times, winning twice (1997 & 2007) and made the playoffs in 14 of his 15 seasons. In 193 career regular season games, he picked up 966 loose balls and tallied 76 points (5 goals, 71 assists). He served as team captain during the championship 2007 season. In 2011, he was inducted into the Knighthawks Hall of Fame. Less than a year later, he stands on the verge of going into the NLL Hall of Fame.

“Obviously, it’s a huge honor and I am humbled,” he said. “I am proud to be nominated, but more proud of the City of Rochester where I played my whole career. The Rochester Knighthawks were a huge part of my life.”

Driscoll, who retired this season, could join his former teammate. The current Ontario Scout for the Knighthawks is coming off a Championship season in Rochester. He played parts of seven seasons with the Knighthawks, including 2010 and 2011. Driscoll played in 234 regular season games for five different teams, making two stops in Rochester (1995-99 and 2010-11). He also made stops in Detroit, Buffalo, New York and Toronto, scoring 240 goals and collecting 378 assists for 618 points. In 19 seasons of pro lacrosse (1993-2011), he reached the playoffs 12 times and played in the Championship Game four times, winning three Championships (Rochester 1997, Toronto 2003 & 2005).

“Winning championships was definitely a highlight of my career, especially the first one with the Knighthawks was a big thing for me,” said Driscoll. “It is an honor to be nominated. It took me by surprise after being out for just one season.”

Dietrich, an original Knighthawk like Thorpe and Driscoll, was the first great goalie in team history. He led Rochester to its first title in 1997, earning Championship Game MVP honors in a 15-12 win over Buffalo. He played seven of his 18 seasons with the Knighthawks and was the first team MVP in 1995. “Chugger” is still second in team history in saves and was a two-time All-Pro with Rochester. In his career, he played for Baltimore, Detroit, Buffalo, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto and Rochester. In 2006 he won the League MVP Award and had one of the best statistical individual seasons for a goaltender in league history, posting a save percentage of .808 and a goals-against average of 9.97. He made 5,531 career saves, logged more than 8,300 minutes and earned a record of 60-47.

Malawsky began his career with the Knighthawks and endeared himself to the fans. He spent six of his 12 seasons in Rochester and helped the Knighthawks reach the NLL Finals in 1999, 2000 and 2003. In his career, he played in 159 regular season games. He was a prolific scorer, recording 260 goals and 277 assists for 537 points. He made the playoffs in nine seasons, reaching the Championship Game five times, winning one Championship in 2009 with Calgary. Now retired, Malawsky serves as the Calgary Roughnecks' Assistant Coach/Offense Coordinator.