Rock And Mammoth Clash Friday

Toronto, ON – On Friday night at Air Canada Centre, the Toronto Rock (6-3) and the Colorado Mammoth (2-6) will meet for the first and only time this season.  It’s also the first trip to Toronto by the Mammoth since 2007.  The game will be broadcast live on TSN2 at 7:30pm ET and will also be available on TSN Mobile TV.

While the Mammoth are struggling, the Rock also haven’t been playing their best lacrosse as of late in the eyes of the coaching staff and are coming off a tough loss at home to Buffalo last week.

“We weren’t very good and too many guys had an off night,” said Rock assistant coach and GM Terry Sanderson.  “In order for us to move forward, we have to be so much better than what we showed against Buffalo.  Colorado will be extremely hungry.”

This game also features arguably the top two players in the game as Colorado’s John Grant Jr. and Garrett Billings face off in a showcase of the league’s superstars.

Last season, Grant Jr. scored 116 points breaking the single-season NLL scoring record previously held by John Tavares by just a single point.  Billings finished second in league scoring with 114 points and was also the runner up to the Colorado forward in MVP voting at season’s end.

Billings has been red hot again this season and is coming off a February in which he was named the NLL’s player of the month.  In four games, Billings scored 12 goals, added 18 assists for 30 points.

The Rock will be looking to jump back into the win column as last week’s loss to Buffalo tightened up the standings in the Eastern Division as Philadelphia trails Toronto by just a half game in the standings and sit at 5-3.  The two teams meet next weekend in Philadelphia.

Earlier in the week, the Rock did a little roster shuffling.  Veteran forward Roger Vyse was signed to the active roster from the practice squad while Brandon Ivey was released from the active roster and signed to the practice squad.

Also on Friday night, the Rock will be raising funds and collecting food donations for Toronto’s Daily Bread Food Bank at the game.  Following the game, the Rock will auction off their game worn jerseys live on the floor.  If the game is a sellout, Rock Owner Jamie Dawick will donate an additional $25,000 to Daily Bread.  For the best ticket in town, visit www.torontorock.com or call 416-596-3075.