The NLL season begins this weekend but the Toronto Rock will have to wait till next Friday to kick off their season as they face off against the Calgary Roughnecks. This will be the opening game for both teams as they both sit out this week.
While the Rock are on a bye week there was still a bit of news this week as the Rock announced their Captains and Alternate Captains. Colin Doyle will once again head the Rock for the fifth straight year as Captain. Coach John Lovell had this to say about leadership “We are looking for guys that lead by example,” “Leaders are not necessarily the most vocal players, but are definitely players that have a strong voice in the room and most importantly care about the team and their teammates.”
Sandy Chapman was named the alternate captain for both Home and Away games. Chapman has played for 8 seasons with the Rock and has helped the team win 4 Champion’s cup titles.
Two veterans will split the alternate captain duties at home and on the road as Patrick Merrill and Josh Sanderson will split the duties. Sanderson has played for 16 years in the NLL. Sanderson has played for the Rock for six seasons and helped the team win the Champion’s cup in 2005. Merrill has played 11 seasons in the NLL and has hoisted the Champion’s cup four times throughout his eight seasons with the Rock.
Lovell mentioned that Sanderson, Doyle and Merrill are all vocal leaders while Chapman is the ultimate lead by example player. The Rock have numerous other players who will step up and lead during the regular season such as Garrett Billings, Stephan Leblanc and Jesse Gamble.
The Rock will look to start 214 off with a win in their home opener next Friday.
