Rock Acquire Star Defender Jason Noble from Georgia
July 6, 2020 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Toronto Rock News Release
Oakville, ON - The NLL transaction window re-opened on July 2 and just four days later, Toronto Rock General Manager Jamie Dawick made what is not only the NLL's first substantial off-season move but he made a move that has the potential to stand up as the biggest of the entire off-season.
The Rock have landed 2017 NLL Defensive Player of the Year Jason Noble from the Georgia Swarm in exchange for a 2020 NLL Draft conditional first round pick and a 2021 NLL Draft first round pick. The condition on the 2020 draft pick affords Georgia the opportunity to take the Rock's 2022 first round pick instead of this year's pick, with a deadline of Sept. 1 for the Swarm to make a decision.
"Jason is a player we have coveted among our group for quite some time," explained Dawick. "He's a player that I believe is in the conversation for the Defensive Player of the Year every season. Our top end defenders are very right-handed heavy, so adding an elite left-handed defensive weapon like Jason instantly gives us a player to help us match up much better against our opponent's best right-handed shooters.
"We gave up some considerable assets to make this move but we feel we are in a position, with how young our roster is, to part with those picks to add a core player who is still very much in his prime. I'm very excited to get this done and look forward to Jason playing out some of the best years of his career with the Rock."
Noble's lacrosse resumé is nothing short of incredible. In 2017, he not only won the NLL's top defender award, but was also named a 1st Team All-Pro and along the way was instrumental in Georgia's run to the franchise's first and only NLL Cup.
The addition of Noble to the Rock's already deep defensive corps gives the team a new weapon to run out of the back door. Noble isn't just a great defender, but he's the type of player that will frustrate the other team's top offensive players, simply because he is just that good. And he's relentless when it comes to being, that good.
"I'll be the new guy in the room and it's always just been my mantra to work as hard as I can and try and instill that in my teammates," said Noble. "Whether it's battling another defender for a loose ball or pushing an offensive player to be his best in practice, I want to make everyone around me better.
"When I was told it was Toronto that I was going to, and having grown up in the GTA, I was very excited. I was at my parent's home visiting them when I got the news. I can't think of two better people that I would want to share the news with than my parents, so the whole family is pretty excited. It's also bittersweet, leaving the only organization I've known at the pro level and having won a championship in Georgia with that group of guys."
Originally selected by the Swarm in the 1st round, 2nd overall in the 2013 NLL Draft, the 28-year old Orangeville, ON native has also starred for Canada on the world stage. In 2014, he was a member of Canada's gold medal winning squad at the FIL World Field Lacrosse Championship, he also won silver at the same event in 2018. Noble completed his gold medal collection, winning the World Indoor Lacrosse Championship with Team Canada in 2019, alongside Rock captain Challen Rogers.
Prior to beginning his pro career with the Swarm, the gritty shutdown defender won three Minto Cup Canadian Jr. A Championships with his hometown Orangeville Northmen. Rock Head Coach Matt Sawyer was the Head Coach of each of those championship teams. But, the connections to the current Rock roster don't end there. Nick Rose (2008, 2009), Adam Jones (2008, 2009), Damon Edwards (2009), Rob Hellyer (2012), Brad Kri (2012) and Bill Hostrawser (2012) all won at least one national title alongside their newest teammate.
Noble's NCAA collegiate lacrosse career took him to Cornell where he was a 1st Team USILA All-America selection in his senior year in 2013.
The Noble family is well represented in the NLL as Jason's twin brother, Jeremy plays for the San Diego Seals. Jeremy was also selected 2nd overall in the NLL Draft, a year after Jason, in 2014.
The next major date on the NLL's summer calendar is the opening of the free agent signing period on Aug. 1.
2020-21 Toronto Rock Season Memberships are on sale now! For more information or to purchase, please visit torontorock.com.
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National Lacrosse League Stories from July 6, 2020
- Thunderbirds Re-Sign Nova Scotian Chet Koneczny - Halifax Thunderbirds
- Mammoth Bid Farewell to Former Defenseman, Captain Dan Coates - Colorado Mammoth
- Bandits Acquire Sorensen, Tulett, First-Round Pick - Buffalo Bandits
- Rock Acquire Mitch De Snoo from Buffalo - Toronto Rock
- Mammoth Acquire Forward Zed Williams from Georgia Swarm - Colorado Mammoth
- Riptide Acquire Mitchell from New England - New York Riptide
- Black Wolves Trade Mackenzie Mitchell to Riptide - New England Black Wolves
- Rock Acquire Star Defender Jason Noble from Georgia - Toronto Rock
- Swarm Acquire Dan Coates and a First Round Entry Draft Selection for Zed Williams and Two Entry Draft Picks - Georgia Swarm
- Swarm Trade Jason Noble to Toronto Rock - Georgia Swarm
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