The Toronto Rock President, Owner and GM Jamie Dawick has announced the signings of defenceman Patrick Merrill and goaltender Steve Fryer to 1-year agreements, pending league approval.
The 36-year old Merrill is a former 1st overall selection by the Toronto Rock in the 2002 NLL Draft. The gritty defender has spent the bulk of his NLL career with the Rock but has also played for the Orlando/New York Titans franchise. After 3 years with the Titans, Merrill returned to the Rock as a free agent prior to the 2011 season and captured his 3rd Champion’s Cup title, all of which have come in a Rock uniform. 2016 will be his 14th NLL season.
Merrill had a busy summer, serving as a first-year head coach of the Six Nations Arrows of the Ontario Junior A Lacrosse League. The Arrows won their second straight Minto Cup Canadian Junior A championship by defeating the Western Canadian Champion Coquitlam Adanacs.
Fryer is entering his 3rd season with the Rock. Signed as a free agent during the 2014 season, Fryer saw action in a couple of games that season but spent the entire 2015 season on the practice roster. His return gives the Rock tremendous depth in net with veterans Nick Rose and Brandon Miller already under contract.
Toronto Rock training camp will open near the end of November with exhibition games in December. More details will be announced shortly.
