The Toronto Rock Lacrosse Club has announced their final roster for the upcoming 2010 National Lacrosse League (NLL) season today. The 23-man active roster will dress 12 new players, with 11 names returning from the 2009 season.
“Fans will see the hardest working team out there,” said Toronto Rock head coach Troy Cordingley about his final roster. “It is all about consistency and the work ethic of each player; if you have that down, success follows.”
Beside the 2009 NLL Coach of the Year on the bench this season will be general manager and assistant coach Terry Sanderson and assistant coaches John Lovell and Matt Sawyer.
Toronto will look to their newest acquisition, Colin Doyle, for an offensive push this season. Doyle led the League in points in 2009, accumulating 111 with the San Jose Stealth.
“He will add instant leadership,” said Cordingley of Doyle. “He is a really good player who has won at every level.”
Blaine Manning, Kasey Beirnes and Josh Wasson return from the 2009 offence. Mike Hominuck, formerly of the Edmonton Rush, has been added along with first round entry draft picks Garrett Billings (6th overall) and Stephan Leblanc (11th overall).
Kim Squire, who played for Toronto from their inaugural season in 1999 till 2003, returns to the Rock roster again, signed as a free agent in December 2009.
“Kim is a feisty offensive player that will to do whatever it takes to succeed,” said Cordingley. “He and Colin worked great together and won championships, we’re happy to reunite that magic.”
The Rock defence will again showcase Jeff Gilbert, Mike Hobbins, Rob Marshall, Cam Woods, Scott Campbell and Stephen Hoar.
“I’ve brought in a new defensive system that goes against what most have been taught, but they’ve picked it up real well,” comments Cordingley. “It fits the style of players that we have; we’re big on the back end, very athletic and strong.”
Other faces familiar to Toronto fans are Phil Sanderson and Sandy Chapman. Both return to the Rock this season to lead the defence with help from ex-Buffalo Bandit Pat McCready.
“We will be depending on these guys on our defence. They are veteran leaders and each has an unbelievable work ethic,” said Cordingley.
Entry draftee Anthony Lackey (43rd overall) and free agents Drew Petkoff, Creighton Reid and Brendon Doran round out Toronto’s defensive end.
In net, the Rock suit up the tag team of Bob Watson and Steve Dietrich.
Cordingley is very happy with his goaltending for the season. “We have two of the best goalies to ever play in the NLL,” he comments. “Both have come to camp in the right mind set and in very good shape. It is a nice feeling as a coach to be able to depend on both your goalies.”
“They are all hungry,” said Cordingley of his team. “We wanted to change the culture and it all starts with them. Each player has come to camp in unbelievable shape and is working hard to learn the systems we’ve brought in. Everyone is here for the right reasons, to win and all of them put the team first.”
The Toronto Rock begin the 2010 season with a home-and-home series with the Boston Blazers that starts in Boston on January 9 and continues on Friday, January 15 at the Air Canada Centre when the Rock open their home schedule of eight games.
