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| Nick Rose is a fixture for both the Toronto and Oakville Rock. (Photo: Dave Fryer) |
The Toronto Rock season may have some to a premature end as the NLL regular season came to a close, but there is still lacrosse to be played in Canada’s summer amateur leagues as players stay sharp for the pros and the 2017 NLL season which will begin in January.
The bulk of Toronto Rock players on the floor this summer will suit up for the Oakville Rock of Ontario’s Major Series Lacrosse (MSL). The team plays out of the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre (TRAC) in Oakville and is coached by Rock assistant coach Matt Sawyer. Leading the front office of the Oakville Rock is Toronto Rock forward turned summertime GM, Josh Sanderson. Oakville’s home games are played on Mondays at 8 p.m. at the TRAC.
Anchoring the crease for ‘Oak City’ are goaltenders Nick Rose and Steve Fryer. Rose had a brilliant 2016 season for the Toronto Rock while Steve Fryer continues to battle for an active roster spot and spent the bulk of the season on Toronto’s practice roster.
Toronto Rock defender Damon Edwards who missed the entire 2016 NLL season as he recovered from off-season knee surgery leads the Oakville Rock back end. Edwards suffered a torn ACL last summer with the Oakville Rock. Also patrolling the defensive end for Oakville are Bradley Kri, Billy Hostrawser, and Jamie Batson. Oakville’s offence will rely heavily on Toronto Rock forwards Stephan Leblanc and Rob Hellyer.
In Brampton, Rock veteran Sandy Chapman will be a key piece of a deep defensive corps. Also pulling on an Excelsiors sweater will be forward Kyle Aquin and defender Luc Magnan. The reloaded Brooklin Redmen will feature Rock rookie Dan Lintner in their lineup this summer.
The Six Nations Chiefs will be looking to get back to the Mann Cup after losing in the Ontario finals in 2015 and will once again have a real Rock flavour. Brodie Merrill, Jesse Gamble and Rob Marshall will be among those hoping to get their hands on another Mann Cup with the Chiefs.
The defending MSL champions from Peterborough will be without Rock defender Brock Sorensen who tore his ACL at the tail end of the NLL season but they will have Rock rookie forward Turner Evans in their lineup.
Other players on the shelf this summer with injuries are Colin Doyle (Six Nations), Brandon Miller (Six Nations), Brett Hickey (Oakville), Scott Johnston (Cobourg) and Mark Farthing (Peterborough). Bill Greer and Patrick Merrill will once again be patrolling the bench of the Six Nations Arrows as they strive for a third consecutive Minto Cup Canadian Junior A Championship. Kevin Ross, Colin Boucher, Jeff Gilbert and Kasey Beirnes will be taking the summer off.
For more on the MSL, please visit majorserieslax.blogspot.ca and give @majorserieslacr a follow on Twitter.
