The Toronto Rock are a lacrosse team based in Toronto playing in the National Lacrosse League (NLL). The 2009 season was the 13th in franchise history, and 12th as the Rock.
On November 6, 2008, the Rock announced that veteran Chris Driscoll would be the new team captain, replacing the retired Jim Veltman.
Only three games into the season, the Rock fired head coach Glenn Clark and assistant coach Terry Bullen and hired former Chicago Shamrox and Colorado Mammoth coach Jamie Batley as the new head coach. Assistant coach Jim Veltman was relieved of his coaching duties, but remained with the Rock as an advisor.
After winning their first game of the season, the Rock won only once in their next eight games before a three-game winning streak gave fans some hope that the season was not lost. However, three straight losses forced the Rock out of the playoffs for the second straight year. Rock President Brad Watters said that the team "drastically under-delivered", and vowed to make whatever changes were necessary to fix the team.
Regular season
Conference standings
Game log Reference:
Player stats Reference:
Runners (Top 10)
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; LB = Loose balls; PIM = Penalty minutes Player GP G A Pts LB PIM Luke Wiles 16 33 36 69 76 8 Lewis Ratcliff 16 34 34 68 68 8 Blaine Manning 16 20 42 62 68 22 Jason Crosbie 15 12 38 50 83 6 Kasey Beirnes 15 23 15 38 86 12 Craig Conn 11 14 18 32 68 52 Rob Marshall 16 8 15 23 116 8 Chris Driscoll 16 7 15 22 104 20 Bill McGlone 11 8 9 17 49 4 Totals 289 483 347 1126 31
Goaltenders Note: GP = Games played; MIN = Minutes; W = Wins; L = Losses; GA = Goals against; Sv% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average Player GP MIN W L GA Sv% GAA Bob Watson 16 820:46 6 8 180 .745 13.16 Steve Dietrich 4 48:39 0 1 11 .800 13.57 Mike Attwood 8 46:31 0 0 16 .600 20.64 Curtis Palidwor 1 45:26 0 1 10 .615 13.21 Totals 6 10 218 .736 13.63
Transactions
New players Craig Conn - acquired in dispersal draft Jason Crosbie - signed as free agent Stephen Hoar - acquired in trade Luke Wiles - acquired in trade
Players not returning Mike Poulin - taken in expansion draft Jamie Taylor - released Matt Taylor - released Jim Veltman - retired
Trades March 17, 2009 To Toronto RockSteve Dietrich To Edmonton Rush Second round pick, 2009 entry draft March 7, 2009 To Toronto Rock Second round pick, 2010 entry draft To Colorado MammothCurtis Palidwor February 26, 2009 To Toronto RockCurtis Palidwor To Colorado Mammoth Second round pick, 2010 entry draft January 14, 2009 To Toronto RockFirst round pick, 2009 entry draftSecond round pick, 2010 entry draft To Edmonton Rush Ryan BeneschDerek Suddons September 7, 2008 To Toronto Rock Luke WilesStephen Hoar To Rochester KnighthawksAaron Wilsonfirst round pick, 2009 entry draft (from Toronto) To San Jose Stealthfirst round pick, 2008 entry draft (from Rochester)
Entry draft The 2008 NLL Entry Draft took place on September 7, 2008. The Rock selected the following players: RoundOverallPlayerCollege/Club217 Mike Fleming Robert Morris College328 Nick Rose Orangeville, ON553 Derrick Gordon Orillia, ON666 Tommy Hurley Burlington, ON
Roster
See also 2009 NLL season
References