Toronto – The Toronto Rock have made a trade to shore up their back end and transition game by adding Ryan Sharp from the Minnesota Swarm. Going back the other way is Toronto’s first round draft pick in the 2013 NLL Entry Draft.
Sharp is in his fifth season with the Swarm and had appeared in only one game with Minnesota to this point in the young season.
In 2006, Sharp enjoyed his best season statistically while playing with the Portland Lumberjax. In 16 games, he scored 16 goals and added 14 assists for 30 points. He also collected a career high 137 loose balls.
“We’re looking for some grittier play out of our back end and that’s the biggest reason why we acquired Ryan,” explained Rock GM Terry Sanderson.
Sharp’s play in 2006 also earned him an All-Star Game selection where he scored once and added 2 assists for the West All-Stars.
Along with Minnesota and Portland, Sharp also played one season for Calgary. The Roughnecks selected Sharp in the 2nd round, 15th overall in the 2005 NLL Entry Draft.
With three Canadian Senior A Mann Cup titles to his credit with the Peterborough Lakers, Sharp is looking for his first taste of a championship in the NLL. The 27 year old was a part of the Lakers championship teams in 2006, 2007 and 2010.
“If you don’t have numbers to keep players honest sometimes whether they think they’re doing it or not, maybe they’re not being honest with their play,” said Sanderson. “And if you got somebody looking over their shoulder ready to take their job then it seems to make them play with a little more intensity.”
Saturday night, the Toronto Rock face the Buffalo Bandits at Air Canada Centre for a 7pm game. The re-match of last week’s battle in Buffalo will be broadcast live on TSN2.
To make room for Sharp on the active roster, the Rock have released goaltender Gee Nash.
For tickets to Saturday’s game against Buffalo at Air Canada Centre, log on to www.torontorock.com or call the Rock office at 416-596-3075.
