Every season teams go into training camp with battles for the final few roster spots, internal battles for playing time & veterans battling rookies to stay in the show. With Toronto Rock training camp opening in just under a month’s time, the biggest battle within the organization will come in between the pipes. The goaltending situation has been unsettled since Bob Watson retired, with veterans like Matt Roik & Pat Campbell giving it a run at things unsuccessfully. When Nick Rose was acquired from the Calgary Roughnecks mid way through the 2012 regular season, things finally looked to be settled in goal.
Rose came to the Rock highly touted and decorated having won back to back Minto Cups with the Orangeville Northmen in 2008 & 2009 along with numerous individual awards such as the 2007 OLA Jr. A Rookie of the Year Award and 2008 & 2009 OLA First Team All-Star Selections. Rose was thought of as a savior of sorts as the goaltending struggled in the early going of the 2012 regular season. Rose turned in a 5-1 record in 6 appearances with the Rock to finish out the 2012 Regular season cementing himself as the unquestioned started of the Toronto Rock. 2013 was again a good season for Rose as he posted a 10-5 record in 15 appearances to go along with a 10.61 GAA & a .791 Save Percentage. The 2013 playoffs is where things started to get a little shaky for Rose as the Rock where defeated 20-11 at home against the underdog Minnesota Swarm. Still going into the 2014 Regular Season Nick Rose was still cemented as the Rock’s unquestioned starter, after an opening 16-11 victory over the Calgary Roughnecks, the Rock stuttered losing two straight allowing 24 goals in the process, even in defeating the Vancouver Stealth in game 4 of the regular season, the Rock allowed 12 goals against.
The following 3 games saw the Rock go 1-2 allowing 39 goals in the process, still Nick Rose was the starter despite the Rock allowing 86 goals in their first 7 contests. The Rock where able to pull out a 14-12 over last place Minnesota at the Air Canada Centre to halt their brief losing streak, but followed that win up with 3 straight losses to top teams Edmonton, Calgary and Rochester. The 19-13 loss to Calgary & the 17-12 loss to Rochester seemed to be the final straw for Toronto Rock management as less then a week later Veteran Brandon Miller was acquired from the Philadelphia Wings. Miller had fallen out of favor of sorts in Philadelphia as youngster Evan Kirk had stole the starters job away from him, after being acquired in a off season trade from the Minnesota Swarm. Miller started the 2014 Regular season going 0-3 with the Philadelphia Wings allowing 32 goals in the process, although those aren’t exactly stellar numbers, Rock Management felt a change of scenario was all Miller needed to succeed.
An the Rock’s gamble paid off as Miller ended the season going 3-1 for the Rock with an excellent 8.95 GAA an a .830 Save percentage. What was even more impressive was the fact all the games Miller appeared in where must wins of sort, as the Rock where barely hanging on to their playoff lives. Miller ultimately started the Rocks one an only playoff game against the Buffalo Bandits, which ended up being a tight 15-13 loss. However Miller’s hot end to the 2014 Regular season, coupled with Nick Rose’s average at best start to the 2014 Regular season has created a goaltending controversy of sorts. So the question is, Who do the Toronto Rock go with in 2015 ?
Well on one hand you have the Veteran Brandon Miller who is coming off back to back Mann Cup Championships with the Six Nations Chiefs, and was named the MVP of the 2014 Mann Cup. On the other hand you have Nick Rose, who despite finding his game for the most part over the summer with the Oakville Rock still leaves something to be desired. The Rock clearly played with more confidence in front of Brandon Miller towards the end of last season, and seem to be more comfortable having the experienced veteran as their last line of defense. With that being said, Nick Rose is a very talented goaltender, his multiple Minto Cups & individual awards are no fluke. Brandon Miller and Nick Rose should battle it out right until opening night of the 2015 Regular season, however I feel the Rock’s opening night starter will be Brandon Miller. Miller has been known as a big game goalie throughout his career, its that type of label which makes it hard to keep him on the bench.
Rose’s skill will push Miller throughout the regular season, and don’t think the Rock coaching staff will hesitate to yank Miller in favour of Rose if Miller’s game struggles. With all this being said, the competition within the organization for the starting goalie position should only strengthen the team, as internal competition often brings the best out in fiery competitors like Brandon Miller & Nick Rose. Once a weakness of the Toronto Rock, goaltending should now be among one of their many strengths going into the 2015 Regular Season.
