Toronto – Toronto Rock General Manager Terry Sanderson announced a major trade today that involves the acquisition of goaltender Nick Rose from Calgary coupled with the release of netminder Matt Roik.
“We’re not happy with our standing and how we’ve been playing,” said Rock GM Terry Sanderson. “It’s a move we felt we had to make and we were able to get a good young goaltender in Nick Rose coming in.”
Going to Calgary in exchange for Rose is Toronto’s first round selection in the 2014 NLL Entry Draft. There is also a conditional second round pick that could come Toronto’s way following the 2012 season depending on how the rest of the Rock season plays out. If the Rock fails to make it to the Champion’s Cup Final in 2012, the Rock will receive Calgary’s second round pick in the 2014 NLL Entry Draft.
Roik’s run through the first 10 games of the Rock season was a roller coaster ride that saw him shine brilliantly on many nights and he even earned one of two goaltender spots on the NLL’s East Division All-Star Team.
“In this case, I don’t feel our guys were playing well enough in front of Matt,” explained Sanderson. “After I talked it over with the coaches and a few other people, they had a lot of the same feelings that I did and that’s why I made the move.”
Rose was originally selected by the Rock in the 2008 NLL Entry Draft in the 3rd Round 28th overall. Rose battled through training camp prior to the 2009 season but failed to earn a spot with the Rock and was released.
From there Rose signed with the Boston Blazers where he played in 2010 and 2011 as the backup to starter Anthony Cosmo. When the Blazers suspended operations for the 2012 NLL season, the 24-year old netminder was then picked up by the Roughnecks in the Boston dispersal draft.
The new man in the Rock cage has some ties to the Rock staff as well. He played for current Rock Assistant Coach and former Blazers Head Coach Matt Sawyer both in Boston and in Junior A with Orangeville where Rose backstopped the Northmen to back-to-back Minto Cup Canadian Junior A Championships in 2008 and 2009.
Rose has seen limited duty with Roughnecks thus far in the 2012 season. He has played just under 33 minutes, mainly in relief of Calgary starter Mike Poulin.
With being a backup goaltender through his first three full seasons in the league, Rose will be getting his first chance to play important minutes as his career won-lost record stands at just 1-1.
Rose will see his first action in goal for the Rock on Saturday night in Rochester as Toronto travels south of the border to face the Knighthawks at 7:30pm at Blue Cross Arena.
