Toronto Rock facts for kids
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| Sport | Box lacrosse |
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| Founded | 1998 |
| League | National Lacrosse League |
| Team history | Ontario Raiders (1998) |
| Location | Hamilton, Ontario |
| Arena | TD Coliseum |
| Colours | Blue, red, silver, white |
| Owner | Jamie Dawick |
| Head coach | Matt Sawyer |
| General manager | Jamie Dawick |
| League titles | 6 (1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2011) |
| Division titles | 9 (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2010, 2011, 2015) |
| Local media | TSN / TSN2 TSN Radio 1050 |
| Retired numbers | 3 (7, 29, 32) |
 Current season |
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The Toronto Rock is a professional box lacrosse team from Canada. They play in the National Lacrosse League (NLL). Their home games are held at the TD Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario.
The team started in 1998 as the Ontario Raiders in Hamilton. They were the first Canadian team in the NLL. The Raiders played at Copps Coliseum. Later, a group of investors bought the team and moved it to Toronto. They renamed it the "Toronto Rock." The team began playing at Maple Leaf Gardens in the 1999 season. The Toronto Rock won their 6th league championship on May 15, 2011.
In the 2001 season, the Rock moved from Maple Leaf Gardens to Scotiabank Arena (then called Air Canada Centre). They played there for 20 seasons. On May 11, 2021, the team announced they would move from Scotiabank Arena to FirstOntario Centre in Hamilton. This move started with the 2021–22 NLL season in December. The team still represents Toronto even though they play home games in Hamilton. The Rock temporarily moved to Mississauga for the 2025 season. This was because the FirstOntario Centre was closed for renovations.
Contents
Team History: How the Rock Started
The team began as a new NLL team in Hamilton, Ontario in the 1998 season. They were first known as the Ontario Raiders. They played their home games at Copps Coliseum. Les Bartley, a former coach, was hired to lead the new team. He convinced Jim Veltman, a great player, to join as captain. The team finished their first season with a good record of 6 wins and 6 losses. However, they just missed the playoffs.
After that season, the team's owner faced financial losses. A group of investors bought the team for $250,000. This group included Bill Watters, who was then Assistant General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs. They quickly moved the team to Toronto's Maple Leaf Gardens. They renamed the team the "Toronto Rock." This name was chosen to show the city's lively rock music scene.
Winning Years: The Rock's Dynasty (1999–2005)
In 1999, their first year in Toronto, the Rock won their first NLL Championship. They beat the Rochester Knighthawks 13–10 in Toronto. The next year, the Rock won back-to-back championships. They were the first team to do this since 1995. They defeated the Knighthawks again. In that game, Kaleb Toth scored a dramatic game-winning goal with only one second left. This was the last professional sports event ever held at Maple Leaf Gardens.
In 2001, the Rock moved to the Air Canada Centre. They reached the championship game again. But the Philadelphia Wings won their sixth championship, holding the Rock to only eight goals. The next season, the Rock bounced back. They finished first overall for the fourth year in a row. They made it to the championship game again, this time as the visiting team. The Rock defeated the Albany Attack in Albany 13–12.
The year 2002 was great for the Rock in terms of awards. Besides winning the Champion's Cup, three players received honors. Blaine Manning was named Rookie of the Year. Pat Coyle was named Defensive Player of the Year. Captain Jim Veltman received the Sportsmanship Award.
In 2003, Toronto reached the championship game for the fifth year in a row. They were the visitors again. The game was in Rochester, where the Rock had never won before. But they won 8–6 in the lowest-scoring NLL championship game ever.
Before the 2004 season, head coach Les Bartley announced he was battling cancer and stepping down. The team struggled at first. They then hired Terry Sanderson to turn things around. The Rock improved greatly, winning the East Division. However, the Buffalo Bandits upset them in the playoffs. Jim Veltman was named league MVP. He was the first Toronto Rock player to win this award.
In 2005, the Rock defeated the Rochester Knighthawks in the East Division Final. They then beat the Arizona Sting 19–13 in front of a record crowd. This made them NLL champions for the fifth time in seven years. This cemented their status as an NLL dynasty. Colin Doyle was named league MVP, making it two years in a row a Rock player won the award.
Sadly, the season ended with the death of Les Bartley, who passed away from cancer at age 51. Bartley is remembered as an amazing coach. He led the Toronto Rock to NLL Championships in 1999, 2000, 2002, and 2003. In 2004, the NLL Coach of the Year Award was renamed the Les Bartley Award in his honor.
Changes and Challenges (2006–2009)
From 1999 to 2005, the Rock always finished at the top of their division. They won five championships. However, the next few years were tougher for the team. In the 2006 season, the Rock struggled but still made the playoffs. They lost to the Rochester Knighthawks. Head coach Terry Sanderson was replaced by Mike Kloepfer and new head coach Glenn Clark. Clark had played for the Rock for eight seasons.
Mike Kloepfer made big changes. He traded star player Colin Doyle. In return, the Rock got Ryan Benesch, who had a great first year and won the Rookie of the Year award. But the team finished with a 6–10 record, their worst ever. They barely made the playoffs and lost to Rochester.
In 2007, the Toronto Rock created their own Les Bartley Award. It is given to the player who shows the best character and commitment to the team. The first winner was captain Jim Veltman.
The Rock continued to struggle in 2008. They missed the playoffs for the first time since moving to Toronto in 1999. Despite this, goalie Bob Watson was named Goaltender of the Year. 2008 was also the last season for Jim Veltman, the only captain the Rock had ever had. He retired after 15 seasons and seven championships. Chris Driscoll became the new captain.
After a slow start in the 2009, the Rock changed coaches again. They hired Jamie Batley. But the team still finished last in their division and missed the playoffs for the second year in a row.
The Jamie Dawick Era (2009–Present)
On June 10, 2009, the Rock announced that former GM and coach Terry Sanderson was back as the new General Manager. The team was also sold to businessman James Dawick. A few weeks later, Troy Cordingley was named the new coach. This meant the Rock had a completely new leadership team.
Sanderson quickly started rebuilding the team. He brought back Colin Doyle. He also made other trades to bring in strong players like Sandy Chapman, Phil Sanderson, Mike Hominuck, and Pat McCready.
These changes worked right away. The Rock started the 2010 season with a 6-1 record. They finished second in the East and made the playoffs for the first time in four years. They reached their seventh Championship game, but lost to the Washington Stealth.
In 2011, the Rock were in the Championship game for the second year in a row against the Washington Stealth. This time, they won 8–7, securing another championship!
In August 2011, Jamie Dawick started building the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre (TRAC) in Oakville. This $20 million lacrosse facility opened in 2012. It has two fields, one with seats for 500 fans. It serves as the Rock's practice facility and team offices. The arena has also hosted NLL exhibition games and drafts.
On May 11, 2021, Dawick announced that the Rock would move from Scotiabank Arena in Toronto to FirstOntario Centre in Hamilton, Ontario. This move started in December 2021 for the 2022 NLL season. The team kept its name, Toronto Rock, because it represents the entire GTHA.
It was planned that the Rock would temporarily move their home games to the Paramount Fine Foods Centre in Mississauga, Ontario, starting in January 2024. This was because Hamilton's FirstOntario Centre was closing for about two years for renovations. However, in September 2023, it was announced that the renovations would be delayed. So, the Toronto Rock played the entire 2023/24 season in Hamilton. They then temporarily moved to Mississauga for the 2025 season until the renovations are finished.
Awards and Special Honors
The Toronto Rock players and staff have won many awards over the years. Here are some of the most important ones:
| Year | Player | Award |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Colin Doyle | Champion's Cup MVP (Most Valuable Player in the Championship) |
| 2000 | Dan Stroup | Champion's Cup MVP |
| 2001 | Bob Watson | Goaltender of the Year |
| 2002 | Blaine Manning | Rookie of the Year |
| Pat Coyle | Defensive Player of the Year | |
| Jim Veltman | Sportsmanship Award | |
| Colin Doyle | Champion's Cup MVP | |
| 2003 | Chris Driscoll | Sportsmanship Award |
| Bob Watson | Champion's Cup MVP | |
| 2004 | Jim Veltman | Most Valuable Player |
| 2005 | Colin Doyle | Most Valuable Player |
| Les Bartley | Executive of the Year | |
| Colin Doyle | Champion's Cup MVP | |
| 2007 | Ryan Benesch | Rookie of the Year |
| 2008 | Bob Watson | Goaltender of the Year |
| 2010 | Stephan Leblanc | Rookie of the Year |
| 2011 | Bob Watson | Champion's Cup MVP |
| 2013 | Garrett Billings | Sportsmanship Award |
| Troy Cordingley | Les Bartley Award (Coach of the Year) | |
| Jamie Dawick | Executive of the Year | |
| 2014 | Garrett Billings | Sportsmanship Award |
| 2015 | Terry Sanderson | GM of the Year |
| 2017 | Brodie Merrill | Transition Player of the Year |
| Tom Schreiber | Rookie of the Year | |
| 2019 | Challen Rogers | Transition Player of the Year |
| Terri Giberson | Executive of the Year | |
| 2020 | Challen Rogers | Transition Player of the Year |
| Dan Dawson | Teammate of the Year | |
| 2022 | Mitch de Snoo | Defensive Player of the Year |
| 2023 | Latrell Harris | Defensive Player of the Year |
| Dan Dawson | Teammate of the Year | |
| 2024 | Nick Rose | Goaltender of the Year |
Retired Jersey Numbers
The Toronto Rock has honored three players by retiring their jersey numbers. This means no other player on the team will wear these numbers.
| No. | Player | Date | Years Played with Rock |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Colin Doyle | March 11, 2017 | 1999–2006, 2010–16 |
| 29 | Bob Watson | February 24, 2012 | 1999–2011 |
| 32 | Jim Veltman | April 12, 2019 | 1999–2008 |
NLL Hall of Fame Members
Several people connected to the Toronto Rock have been inducted into the National Lacrosse League Hall of Fame. This is a special honor for those who have made a big impact on the league.
- Les Bartley (Class of 2006)
- Johnny Mouradian (Class of 2008)
- Jim Veltman (Class of 2009)
- Dan Stroup (Class of 2010)
- Bob Watson (Class of 2011)
- Steve Dietrich (Class of 2012)
- Pat Coyle (Class of 2014)
- Terry Sanderson (Class of 2015)
- Josh Sanderson (Class of 2016)
- Colin Doyle (Class of 2021)
- Pat McCready (Class of 2021)
- Steve Toll (Class of 2021)
Meet the Team: Toronto Rock Roster
Here are the players and coaches for the Toronto Rock's 2025 season.
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Toronto Rock roster
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| Active (21-man) roster | Inactive roster | Coaches | |||||||
92
22 |
21
14 |
Roster updated 2025-3-6 |
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Team Performance: Wins, Losses, and Playoffs
The Toronto Rock has a long history in the NLL. They have played 26 seasons, winning 249 games and losing 172. They have made it to the playoffs 20 times, winning 24 playoff games and 6 championships!
Here's a quick look at their playoff success:
- 1999: Won NLL Championship
- 2000: Won NLL Championship
- 2001: Lost in the Championship game
- 2002: Won NLL Championship
- 2003: Won NLL Championship
- 2004: Lost in the Division Final
- 2005: Won NLL Championship
- 2006: Lost in the Division Semifinals
- 2007: Lost in the Division Semifinals
- 2008: Did not qualify for playoffs
- 2009: Did not qualify for playoffs
- 2010: Lost in the Championship game
- 2011: Won NLL Championship
- 2012: Lost in the Division Final
- 2013: Lost in the Division Semifinal
- 2014: Lost in the Division Semifinal
- 2015: Lost in the Championship game
- 2016: Did not qualify for playoffs
- 2017: Lost in the Division Final
- 2018: Did not qualify for playoffs
- 2019: Lost in the Division Final
- 2020: No playoffs held due to the COVID-19 pandemic
- 2021: Season cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
- 2022: Lost in the Conference Final
- 2023: Lost in the Conference Final
- 2024: Lost in the Semi-finals
- 2025: Did not qualify for playoffs
Coaches Who Led the Rock
Many coaches have guided the Toronto Rock throughout its history. Here are the head coaches and their time with the team:
| # | Name | Years Coached | Regular Season Record | Playoff Record | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Games | Wins | Losses | Win % | Games | Wins | Losses | Win % | |||
| 1 | Les Bartley | 1999–2003 | 70 | 51 | 19 | .729 | 10 | 9 | 1 | .900 |
| 2 | Ed Comeau | 2004 | 6 | 2 | 4 | .333 | — | — | — | — |
| 3 | Terry Sanderson | 2004–2006 | 42 | 28 | 14 | .667 | 4 | 2 | 2 | .500 |
| 4 | Glenn Clark | 2007–2009 | 31 | 12 | 19 | .387 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 |
| 5 | Terry Bullen † | 2008 | 4 | 2 | 2 | .500 | — | — | — | — |
| 6 | Jamie Batley | 2009 | 13 | 5 | 8 | .385 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 7 | Troy Cordingley | 2010–2013 | 64 | 38 | 26 | .594 | 9 | 6 | 3 | .667 |
| 8 | John Lovell | 2014–2016 | 54 | 28 | 26 | .519 | 6 | 2 | 4 | .333 |
| 9 | Matt Sawyer | 2017–Present | 137 | 83 | 54 | .606 | 14 | 5 | 9 | .357 |
† Bullen was head coach when Clark was suspended.
More About the Rock
- Toronto Rock seasons
- Sports in Hamilton, Ontario
