Five Toronto Rock Players Earn Top Honours
May 11, 2005 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Toronto Rock News Release
Toronto, ON â The National Lacrosse League has announced the Subway First and Second All-Pro Teams for the 2005 season. For the first time in franchise history, Toronto Rock players have earned nearly half of the 12 spots that were up for grabs. Special honours this year went 5 Rock players including Colin Doyle, Bob Watson, Josh Sanderson, Blaine Manning and Jim Veltman.
The First All-Pro team consisted of the winners of the following categories: Most Valuable Player (To Be Announced on May 12), Defensive Player of the Year, and Goaltender of the Year. The three remaining spots are comprised of the next three players who received the most points from votes for the Most Valuable Player category. One Rock player made the cut for the First All-Pro team - Colin Doyle.
Rock top point getter, Colin Doyle was named to the First All-Pro team for the second time in his 8 year career. He earned the honour after finishing the regular season as the League's 2005 points champion, tallying a career best 111 points on 42 goals and 69 assists. The Kitchener native's 111 points is the fourth best single season points total in league history. Doyle, a four time Second Team All-Pro, lead the Rock to their sixth Champion's Cup Final this season and was Week #13 and Week #14 Offensive Player of the Week. The 27-year-old's 42 goals was a league wide fifth best this season and his 69 assists was the second best this season and the second highest single season assist total All-Time. Doyle was selected to the 2005 East Division All-Star team and totaled four points on one goal and three assists.
Also named to the First All-Pro team were Steve Dietrich (BUF), Andrew Turner (ROC), Dan Dawson (ARI), John Tavares (BUF) and John Grant (ROC).
The Second All-Pro team is comprised of the player with the second most votes for Goaltender of the Year and the remaining spots are comprised of the next five players who receive the most points from the votes for the Most Valuable Player category. Four Rock players were named to this year's Second All-Pro team: Bob Watson, Josh Sanderson, Jim Veltman and Blaine Manning.
Rock goaltender, Bob Watson earned his first All-Pro selection since 2001. The veteran netminder has previously earned All-Pro Honors four times, First Team in 2000 and 2001, and Second Team in 1998 and 1999. The Guelph native posted a league best 11-4 record, with an impressive goals against average (11.78) and a save percentage of .757. He also collected 13 loose balls and helped the Rock offense with three assists during the regular season. Watson was co-winner of the Player of the Month Award for March, and earned Defensive Player of the Week honors twice (Week #7 and Week #13).
Forward, Josh Sanderson earned his fourth consecutive All-Pro selection (fifth in his career). The Rock playmaker was the key component of Toronto's league-best offense. Sanderson was previously named First Team All-Pro in 2002, and Second Team All-Pro in 2000, 2003 and 2004. The Orangeville native was acquired in a trade with San Jose during the off-season and has been an instant hit in Toronto. Nicknamed "Shooter", Sanderson broke his own assist record with 71 helpers, and scored 31 goals for 102 points. Josh also scooped 112 loose balls, finishing second behind only Jim Veltman.
Rock Captain, Jim Veltman of the Toronto Rock earned his fifth Second Team All-Pro honors and his 12th overall selection. Veltman, the returning league MVP and seven time First Team All-Pro, notched his twelfth looseballs title in as many season with 193. The 39 year old scored eight goals and added 28 assists for 36 points this season and scored a game-winning goal. At the 2005 All-Star Game, the Brampton native represented the Eastern Division and notched two points on one goal and one assist in the game.
Finally, offensive powerhouse Blaine Manning earned his third consecutive All-Pro selection, previously being named Second Team All-Pro in 2003 and 2004. Manning scored 39 goals and added 66 assists for 105 points this season. Manning's 105 points was good for the second overall in the league in 2005, tied with Rochester's John Grant Jr. The Calgary native's 66 assists were the third best assist total in the league this season. Manning was the Week #3 and Week #15 Overall and Offensive Player of the Week. The 25-year-old also collected 83 loose balls and notched two game-winning goals.
Also named to the Second All-Pro team were Gary Gait (COL) and Tracey Kelusky (CAL). The All-Pro Teams were created based on a vote by the Head Coaches, Governors and General Managers for the league's ten member clubs. The voting for all annual awards took place at the conclusion of the regular season and ended before the start of the Champion's Cup Playoffs.
National Lacrosse League Stories from May 11, 2005
- NLL places expansion franchise in Portland - Portland Lumberjax
- Gait named second-team All-Pro - Colorado Mammoth
- Knighthawks Grant and Turner named Subway First Team All-Pros - Rochester Knighthawks
- Five Toronto Rock Players Earn Top Honours - Toronto Rock
- NLL places franchise in Portland - NLL
- League Announces Subway First and Second All-Pro Teams - NLL
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
