ROCK FORWARD LEWIS RATCLIFF SIGNS THREE YEAR DEAL

TORONTO –The Toronto Rock Lacrosse Club is excited to announce they have signed forward Lewis Ratcliff to a three year deal. Due to club policy terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Ratcliff, who joined the Rock roster mid-season last year after a trade with the Calgary Roughnecks, tallied 42 goals and 50 assists during the 2008 season, 28 of those points (13 goals, 15 assists) in just five games with the Toronto Rock.

Last week, Ratcliff was also announced as fulfilling a Rock leadership role for the upcoming season as the second assistant captain with Blaine Manning alongside newly appointed captain, Chris Driscoll.

“Lewis is one of the top young stars in the League and we are happy to have come to an agreement on a long term contract with him. We look forward to him helping the Rock be a serious contender for years to come” said Mike Kloepfer, Director of Lacrosse Operations for the Toronto Rock.

A Victoria, B.C. native, Lewis has also made a temporary move to Toronto with his wife and son and will remain in the city throughout the season. After signing with the Rock back in March, Ratcliff would fly into Toronto for practice last season on Wednesdays and stay in the city for either a weekend home game or to travel with the team on the road before flying back home on Sundays.

“I am very excited to be in Toronto and looking forward to a full season with my new teammates” Ratcliff said.

Ratcliff was among many other players in Six Nations this weekend as the Rock kicked off their training camp in preparation for the club’s eleventh season.

“We have the most competitive camp during my time as coach with the Rock” said Coach Glenn Clark. “There is a real strong showing by the young players at camp and it is creating an intense environment” Clark added.

The Rock will continue their remaining training camp sessions divided between the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena in Six Nations and the Scarborough Soccer Centre throughout November and December before a final 23-man roster is submitted to the NLL in early December.

Clark says “players realize that jobs are up for grabs. Returning veterans and rookies alike are trying to make a statement.”

The Scarborough Soccer Centre will be the practice facility for the Toronto Rock once training camp concludes and the team begins regular practices in December.
-T.Workman-