Toronto Rock General Manager has announced the signing of Captain Colin Doyle to a one-year contract. Doyle is one of two franchise players, as designated by the lacrosse club, along with Josh Sanderson.
The 15-year NLL veteran has spent twelve of those seasons with the Rock franchise and has been a member of all six Toronto championship teams. Doyle began his NLL career in 1998 with the Ontario Raiders, played for the Rock from 1999 to 2006 and was then traded to San Jose prior to the 2007 season where he spent three seasons. He was re-acquired by the Rock in a blockbuster deal just prior to the 2010 campaign. In his twelve seasons with the Rock franchise he has accumulated 371 goals, 527 assists and 898 points, which are all franchise bests.
“Colin is one of the best leaders this sport has ever seen,” expressed Rock GM Terry Sanderson. “He’s done so much for this game, this franchise and this city. He’s a champion and his work ethic and professionalism are second to none in our business.”
The 35-year old forward is entering his fourth season as captain of the Rock, and he’s coming off a season in which the team fell short of their ultimate goal of winning a league record 7th NLL championship. Toronto’s training camp opens December 1st and Doyle’s competitive juices are flowing already.
“I can’t say how happy I am to be back for another year,” said the Kitchener, ON native. “The Rock, as they show year in and year out, continue to be the flagship franchise in the NLL. It excites me to embark on another season where we get to carry on such a winning and rich tradition. Toronto is where I want to be, it’s as simple as that.”
The impact Doyle has made on the franchise is easily measured. In his three seasons away from Toronto (2007-2009), the Rock never finished above .500, qualified for the playoffs just once losing in the first round and had a combined record of 19-29.
Upon his return for the 2010 season via trade from San Jose, the Rock made it to the NLL Championship game in the first year of his second tour of duty in Toronto. The Rock then finished the job in 2011 as the team won their first NLL championship since 2005 with an 8-7 victory over the Washington Stealth on home turf at Air Canada Centre.
