The Toronto Rock announced their final roster on Thursday afternoon, with little surprise, as there where know shocking omissions from their final roster. Given who the Rock have selected to their final roster, the youth movement they began last season has continued. The Rock boast a nice mix of veteran leadership and youth up front, with Brandon Benn, and Brett Hickey joining veterans Kasey Beirnes, Stephan LeBlanc, Josh Sanderson, Kevin Ross, and Rob Hellyer, who despite being just 22 years of age is entering his 5th NLL season. The Rock bolstered their defense with off-season trades to bring in Brodie Merrill and Brock Sorensen, the two defenders will help the Rock’s transition game, as well as bring size and skill to the defensive end of the floor. One thing that is fairly evident in scanning the Rock’s backend is the amount of speed and transition ability in the majority of their defenders. The goaltending battle, was never a three man race, with Brandon Miller and Nick Rose firmly cemented as the teams 1A and 1B options. Steve Fryer has shown continued improvements since being drafted in the 3rd round of the 2011 NLL draft by the Philadelphia Wings. While he’ll be in tough to see any playing time with the Rock in 2015, if an injury is to occur to either Miller or Rose, the Rock have a very capable option to bring in, in Fryer.
Offense
The Rock enter the season without their two biggest offensive weapons in Colin Doyle and Garrett Billings. Billings is expected back by at the very latest the midway point of the NLL season, however, Doyle will be out for the season after undergoing shoulder surgery. The Rock will need to rely heavily on the continued emergence of 22 year old Rob Hellyer, who is coming off an impressive 79 point season, as well as the veteran trio of Josh Sanderson, Kasey Beirnes and Stephan LeBlanc. Rookie Brandon Benn showed to be an effective option on the right side throughout training camp, and if he can continue to produce like he did in the Rock’s pre-season game against Rochester, the absences of Doyle and Billings should be less of a problem. Lefty Kevin Ross quietly posted 8 points in 2 games with the Rock last season, after coming over from the Philadelphia Wings. With the Rock going with just 3 left handed shots at this time, Ross will see his role expanded. If Ross can match his career high of 59 points, which he recorded in 2012 with the Minnesota Swarm, it will go along way in elevating the pressure on the likes of Sanderson, LeBlanc and Hellyer. Brett Hickey is the real wildcard to the Rock’s offense. He’s coming off an impressive 62 point season with the WLA’s Coquitlam Adanacs, and has been just slightly over a point per game player in 9 NLL games with the Stealth organization. If Hickey can find consistent offense in his first real opportunity to be an NLL regular, the Rock offense looks to be in good shape moving forward. It’s also important to note that the Rock offense will get a huge boost from their transition game with the likes of Brodie Merrill, Brock Sorensen, Damon Edwards and Jesse Gamble all having shown offensive capabilities in the past.
Defense
One could argue last season the Toronto Rock’s biggest weakness was on their backend. Did they get to young, to quick ? While that’s a reasonable question to raise, one thing is for sure, the Rock addressed their weakness this off-season. The Rock where able to pick up Brock Sorensen and all world defender Brodie Merrill through trades with the Minnesota Swarm and New England Black Wolves, respectively. The Rock also added Jeff Gilbert from the Minnesota Swarm and have brought Haydn Smith as well as Mark White in on their practice roster. The Rock defensive core got a lot bigger, a lot faster and overall a lot stronger with the additions of Gilbert, Sorensen and Merrill. Expect guys like Billy Hostrawser, Damon Edwards and Nick Diachenko to have breakout seasons on the backend. Edwards showed last season he was on the cusp of really breaking out, improving his defensive play, having a career year offensively and continuing to be one of the better transition players in the league. Edwards is great on lose balls, has the ability to get under guys skin, and with an improving offensive game, he possesses all the attributes to become one of the elite transition players in the game. Hostrawser is tough as nails, and he along with Scott Johnston and Brock Sorensen should provide some toughness that the Rock where lacking at times last season. Expect guys like Pat Merrill, Sandy Chapman and Rob Marshall to continue their steady play that has led them to year of success in the NLL. Once a weak spot for the Rock, one could argue the Rock’s defense is now their strength.
Goaltending
The Rock have arguably the best tandem of goaltenders in the league, and you could argue with practice roster players included that they have the best trio of goaltenders in the league. The consistent battle for the net between veteran Brandon Miller and Nick Rose should prove positive for the Rock, as some internal competition often brings the best out in competitors like Miller and Rose. As to who has the upper hand to star on opening night, one would have to assume at present day that Brandon Miller holds the slight advantage. Miller is coming off his second consecutive Mann Cup Championship with the Six Nations Chiefs and was named MVP of the Mann Cup. Miller’s superb late season play also played a huge part in why the Toronto Rock where able to battle their way back into a playoff spot, and ultimately a home playoff date. While it wouldn’t surprise me in the least bit to see the tandem split games this season, the way things sit as of today, it looks as though Brandon Miller will be the opening night starter.
Practice Roster
Mark White and Haydn Smith are exactly the type of defenders the Rock are looking for. They both are equipped with good speed, toughness, transition ability and well their young. Both White and Smith have shown the ability to compete at the NLL level and both could easily slide into the Toronto Rock lineup should injuries or poor play occur. If the NLL had one more team, Steve Fryer would be an NLL regular, he’s immensely improved over the years since being drafted by the Philadelphia Wings. He’s posted back to back impressive MSL season’s with both Brooklin and KW and looks poised to find full time NLL duty in the very near future. Jordan Robertson being kept on the practice roster over the likes of a Mike Burke or Jimmy Purves, two players with NLL experience may come to a surprise to some. But anyone who has seen Robertson play for the Toronto Beaches or Whitby Warriors of the OLA Jr. A loop know Robertson is well deserving off a practice roster spot. Despite being undersized Robertson plays with a grit to his game, has great floor vision, and can finish when the opportunity presents itself. It would not shock me to see Robertson suite up for games should injuries take place.
Potential Waiver Wire Pickups
Yesterday we saw the Buffalo Bandits cut Aaron Wilson only for him to almost immediately be picked up by the Rochester Knighthawks. We also saw the Knighthawks scoop up Justin Pychal after he was released by the Washington Stealth. Could the Rock make any moves similar to these? I believe its a distinct possibility, a player like Mat McLeod who was released by the Colorado Mammoth fits exactly what the Toronto Rock seem to be doing, plus he has a strong connection to the team as he plays summer ball for Rock Head Coach John Lovell with the KW Kodiaks, and played junior for the Orangeville Northmen, which the Rock have strong ties to as a team. Another under the radar option may be Cody Bremner, who was released by the Vancouver Stealth. While the Rock usually don’t employee many west coast based players, Bremner who is a left handed shot, has produced very well throughout his three year WLA career with the Nanaimo Timbermen, and was solid in a depth role with the Stealth last season. Finally one final player to keep an eye on would be another Western based player in Dane Stevens. Stevens is also a left handed shot, and despite not playing in the NLL since 2011, Stevens is still just 26 years of age and has been producing at a potent pace for the WLA’s Burnaby Lakers the past 5 seasons.
