Canisius head men’s lacrosse coach Mark Miyashita announced the leadership group for the 2023 season on Thursday.
Graduate student Isaiah Ricketts and seniors Nathan Conry and Jackson Naylor will serve as captains. Junior Jacob Pahnke and redshirt sophomore Colin Kelly will both be designated assistant captains for the upcoming campaign.
“This group of men have been chosen by their teammates to lead the team this season and our staff is excited to help them transition into these leadership roles,” Miyashita said. “Each of them brings a unique set of qualities that will help our program be successful on the field, in the community and in the classroom this season.”
Ricketts served as an assistant captain for the Griffs during the 2022 season, appearing in 13 games. The Evanston, Ill., native tallied a goal and an assist last season while adding four ground balls and three caused turnovers. In 44 career games with the Griffs, Rickets has amassed seven goals, eight points, 35 ground balls and 10 caused turnovers.
One of just five players to start all 14 games played last season, Conry ranked second on the squad in assists (11) and fifth in points (19). He tallied multiple points in seven games, highlighted by a four-point outing (1g, 3a) in a 13-11 victory at Bellarmine last February. A native of Shaker Heights, Ohio, Conry has appeared in 29 games for Canisius, recording 19 goals and 13 assists to go along with 20 ground balls and six caused turnovers.
Naylor also appeared in all 14 games for Canisius last season, making 11 starts for the Blue and Gold. The Castle Rock. Colo., product notched five goals, added four assists and also pitched in 13 ground balls. In his three seasons on Main Street, Naylor has taken part in 29 contests, recording 11 goals, 12 assists, 29 ground balls and three caused turnovers.
A 2022 All-MAAC Second Team and MAAC All-Rookie Team pick, Kelly started all 11 games played during his first season on Main Street. The Syracuse, N.Y., native paced Canisius in both goals (29) and points (37) while ranking among the top five players in the MAAC in goals (2.64/2nd) and points (3.36/3rd) per game. Kelly recorded multiple goals in nine games played and became the first Canisius player to open the season with hat tricks in the first four games of a campaign since Tim Spaulding in 2001.
Pahnke appeared in eight games for Canisius during the 2022 campaign, scoring one goal and adding nine ground balls. A native of Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Pahnke has taken part of 18 games with the Griffs, recording one goal, 38 ground balls and seven caused turnovers in those contests.
Canisius opens the 2023 season Feb. 11 with a noon contest at Hobart. The home opener is scheduled for Feb. 18 versus Bellarmine in a noon start.
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