NLL Toronto Rock

Toronto Rock Announces 23-man Active Roster

Published on December 13, 2005 under National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Toronto Rock News Release


TORONTO - The Toronto Rock Lacrosse Club announced its 23-man roster today, returning Jim Veltman, Colin Doyle, Bob Watson and Dan Ladouceur, four veteran players with five championships under their belt.

The Rock will welcome six new players to the fold including rookies Matt Taylor and Rob Marshall and free-agent signings Mat Giles, J.J. Dickie, Scott Campbell and Brad MacDonald.

Rock head coach and general manager Terry Sanderson said the privilege of having 17 players return is going to help the Rock repeat as champions in a highly competitive NLL East Division.

"We're pleased with the number of players we have returning from last year along with the new guys we brought in to replace guys lost through expansion," Sanderson said. "We're grittier and we know we're younger, but we think the upside is going to be good for this club."

Of the free agents, Dickie and Giles will play on offence while Campbell and MacDonald add young talent to the Rock's defence. MacDonald is also strong in transition.

"We realize the target is on our back," Sanderson said. "We're confident the adjustments are going to work, and we'll compete again."

Giles, who was a Mann Cup finalist with the Peterborough Lakers in the Senior A box lacrosse loop, spent last season with the rival Rochester Knighthawks, while Campbell spent most of the time on the Injured Reserve with the Minnesota Swarm. MacDonald won an NLL championship in his rookie season with the Calgary Roughnecks while Dickie did not play.

Eight of the 23 active roster players played with the Ontario Lacrosse Association provincial finalist Brampton Excelsiors squad.

The youngest player on the team is now Marshall, a 21-year-old rookie defender from Elora. Taylor, a 22-year-old who has won two consecutive Canadian University Field Lacrosse Championships with the Brock Badgers, is the next youngest player and the only other rookie on the active roster.

Here is the roster complete with details:

No. Name Pos. Previous Team Summer Team

29 Bob Watson G Toronto Rock None

90 Phil Wetherup G Toronto Rock Owen Sound (Sr. B)

6 Dan Ladouceur D Toronto Rock Ajax-Pickering (Sr. B)

7 Colin Doyle F Toronto Rock Coquitlam (WLA Sr. A)

9 Patrick Merrill D Toronto Rock Brampton Excelsiors

10 Aaron Wilson F Toronto Rock Brampton Excelsiors

14 Rob Marshall D None, Rookie Elora (OLA Jr. B)

15 Mat Giles F Rochester Knighthawks Peterborough Lakers

16 Blaine Manning F Toronto Rock None

17 Brian Beisel D Toronto Rock Brampton Excelsiors

18 Phil Sanderson D Toronto Rock Brampton Excelsiors

19 Josh Sanderson F Toronto Rock Brampton Excelsiors

20 Rusty Kruger F Toronto Rock None

22 Matt Taylor F None, Rookie Brooklin Redmen (Sr. A)

24 Matt Shearer F Toronto Rock None

25 J.J. Dickie F None, Free Agent Brampton Excelsiors

27 Derek Suddons D Toronto Rock Brooklin Redmen (Sr. A)

28 Brad MacDonald D Calgary Roughnecks Coquitlam (WLA Sr. A)

32 Jim Veltman D Toronto Rock Ajax-Pickering (Sr. B)

37 Scott Campbell D Minnesota Swarm Brooklin Redmen (Sr. A)

40 Ian Rubel D Toronto Rock None

77 Tim O'Brien F Toronto Rock Brampton Excelsiors

93 Chris Driscoll D Toronto Rock Brampton Excelsiors

A three-man practice roster will be announced early in 2006, before the season opener.

The Rock begins defence of the Champion's Cup on Jan. 7 at 7 p.m. at the Air Canada Centre in a rematch of last year's championship final against the Arizona Sting. For tickets, visit www.ticketmaster.ca or call (416) 872-5000.

Check out the Toronto Rock Statistics

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