Toronto – Toronto Rock General Manager Terry Sanderson announced today that Defenceman Drew Petkoff has been activated from the Injured Reserve List and placed on the Active Roster. To make room on the Active Roster for Petkoff, the Rock released rookie Jesse Gamble.
Petkoff is now eligible to play in his first game since injuring his knee on April 1, 2011 against the Washington Stealth. The tenacious defender required season ending knee surgery but feels he’s made a positive progression through training camp and the early part of the season.
“I felt pretty good all through training camp,” said Petkoff. “As we moved along through practices, I got more and more confident each time we were on the floor and with how far I could push myself. It’s now a matter of shaking off the rust and being game ready, which I’m confident I am.”
Coming off an injury like this for the first time in his career is a work in progress for Petkoff.
“This will be a learning process as we go,” said the 26-year old defender. “It’s been a long road getting back to being ready. My physiotherapists did a tremendous job in getting me prepared and back to the point of being ready to play again.”
First-year defender Gamble played in the season opener for the Rock collecting four loose balls and earning Rookie of the Week honours but was not in the lineup for Toronto’s second game, a 14-10 loss to Buffalo. Gamble was selected by the Rock with their top pick in the 2011 draft, which was 17th overall in the second round.
Friday night the Rock host the Rochester Knighthawks at Air Canada Centre at 7pm ET. For tickets to Friday night’s game, please visit www.torontorock.com or call 416-596-3075.
The following night, the Rock travel to Calgary to face the Roughnecks for the second time this season. Calgary downed the Rock in Toronto’s home opener by a count of 12-9. Also please note, Saturday’s game has been moved from TSN2 to TSN and will be broadcast live at 9pm ET.
