(Rochester, July 25)… A group of dedicated Rochester Knighthawks’ fans will try to make history this weekend. The Fann Cup team of the reigning NLL Champions will travel to Blaine, Minn., to take part in the 11th Annual Fann Cup. The Krewhawks are bidding to become the first Fann Cup team to win a Championship the same year their NLL team wins the Champion’s Cup.

“We would be the first team to do it,” said Krewhawks Team Captain John Donnelly. “That’s our goal.”

The six-team charity Fann Cup tournament is being held at the Schwans SuperRink (National Sports Center) on Saturday, July 28th. The Krewhawks, established in 2002, are bidding for their second Fann Cup title after winning the event in 2005. The last remaining member from the inaugural team is Corey Frantz, who has played in all 10 Fann Cups.

“Representing Rochester and its fanbase is a matter of pride for me. It gives me a chance to play lacrosse with a great group of teammates. Being able to play lacrosse to raise money for charity shows that the fans of lacrosse are always willing to do the right thing and help out,” he said. “This whole thing started out as a group of people who wanted to get together and play a game of lax, and it’s unbelievable what it turned into. I owe the Knighthawks and their fan club a great big thank you for getting me back to playing lacrosse. If it wasn't for them, I don't think I would have ever picked up a stick and started playing lax again.”

The Krewhawks are guaranteed to play six games in Minnesota. The Championship Game is set for 5:00 p.m., with winner getting fan bragging rights until next summer’s Fann Cup game. It also serves as a venue where fans from around the NLL can gather and socialize away from the arena.

“I am excited to go to Minnesota this year to play in the Fann Cup Tournament,” said John Terrigino. “I get to play alongside a great group of people, which includes my stepson, and that is a great feeling in itself. We have a small team this year, a great goalie, and the potential to bring the Cup back to Rochester. Wish us luck in Minnesota.”

Krewhawks goalie Melanie Childers has been on the team since 2004, and admitted that the games are only a small part of the fun she has at the annual event. Childers, a longtime season ticket holder, gained a new appreciation for the Knighthawks after strapping on the gear to play in goal with the Krewhawks.“

Having been a fan of the Knighthawks for 12 years, and having been to as many road games as I have over those years, I've made a lot of friends in cities all over the league: Toronto, Philadelphia, Boston, Minnesota, and yeah, even Buffalo,” said Childers. “It's a chance to hang out together and appreciate the game we all love so much without the ‘barriers’ we have during the season, when we all want the other guy's team to lose. And when I started playing, I gained a whole new respect for what those guys do on that floor week in and week out.”
 
This year provides a little extra excitement for Childers, who will have her brother and his family in the stands. She will also get to meet her new niece, who was born on Monday.

“My brother has lived there for probably close to 20 years. I don't get to see him nearly as often as I might like to,” she said of her family that lives in Minneapolis. “When he comes to Rochester for a visit, he'll come out and play with us here, but I've never had the chance for anyone in my family to see me play when it counts. It'll mean a lot to me for him to be there. Plus, I have a brand new niece to meet.”

In the past 10 years, the event has raised over $50,000 for various charities. The host team this year is the Minnesota Stingers, a team comprised of fans of the Minnesota Swarm. This year’s recipient charities include PawPADS, a service that trains dogs for the disabled, and Lax-4-Life. Lax-4-Life is an annual summer camp for Native American youth that teaches lacrosse as part of a healthy lifestyle and a way to connect with cultural heritage. 

For more information on the tournament or the charities, go to www.fanncup.com.