ROCK REPORT

After getting down early, and being attacked by the Minnesota Swarm in a game at home on January 25th,

the Rock goaltender was pulled in the second quarter. When he returned to the game, re-focused, the Rock were down 12–8, needing a stellar performance from their netminder to come back in this one. And he delivered. Save, after save, after save was made by Rose and the Rock fired o! five unanswered goals to come back for the 13–12 win over the Swarm. If you are to learn anything about Rose when you watch him play or chat with him, you realize that for a young man with big shoes to fill, he doesn’t get rattled. “I thought we had a good e!ort all the way around in that game, but personally I was shakey for the first three quarters but [Zak] Boychuk went in and made a few big saves for us and got us going. They put me back in and I really felt that our defense stepped it up when we needed to,” said Rose after the game. “It was a real gutty win against an athletic, young team and [we’ll try to carry this momentum.]” Rose bounced back in a big way even though

NICK ROSEBLOSSOMING WITH ROCKBy Jordan Maxwell

Even when the going gets tough, Nick Rose is able to weather the storm and come out “Rosey” at the end.

ROCK REPORT

he was struggling. His play and mental focus have been a boon to the team so far as the Rock sit 5–2 on the year, many close games won on his glove. “At that point, I was thinking that I owed my team for that one. I wasn’t playing well and I had a chance to get us the win so I felt like I owed it to my teammates,” said Rose. Making some big saves down the stretch, as he’s becoming known to do, the Rock not only extended their lead in the division, but made a statement against one of the league’s most talented teams. “We’ve just got to stick to our guns and not get shaken against the good teams and we’ll be alright.” The Rock goalie has come a long way since his debut with the team. When Bob Watson retired

after six championships with the team, it was time for some new blood to make the stops in net. Matt Roik didn’t quite work out as expected and in came a 24-year-old Rose, standing six feet tall, weighing 285 pounds. On March 19th, 2012, the Rock traded a first-round pick in the 2014 NLL entry draft for the young netminder. A successful goaltender for the Orangeville Northmen, winning back-to-back Minto Cups in 2008 and 2009, Rose was actually drafted by the Rock in 2008 with the 28th overall pick. After being released from the team during his first stint, Rose played for the now-defunct Boston Blazers, playing two seasons behind now Bandits goalie Anthony Cosmo. Rose went on to play for the Calgary Roughnecks in 2012

ROCK REPORT

as a backup for Mike Poulin after the dispersal draft. Rose was traded to Toronto after Roik was released and already felt at home with the team that drafted him. Former Rock defenseman Glen Bryan and assistant coach Matt Sawyer were with the Rock in his first season. Bryan was a former teammate of Rose with the Orangeville Northmen and Sawyer was his former coach, also with the Northmen. “It’s a good group of guys and I know a lot of them so I’m pretty excited to be playing with the team,” said Rose when he first joined. “They’ve given me support, that’s for sure. Any time you have the trust of your teammates, it certainly helps, so I just try to go out there and win games.” Sandy Chapman, defenceman with the Rock, said that he’s been excited to play in front of Rose, who has blossomed into a player who is key in the clutch. “We still gave up far too many goals for our liking and it’ll be something that we need to work on. He’s been unbelievable and really steady back there for us,” Chapman said. Despite the loss, Rose gave the Rock a chance to win the game, which is all that you can ask for out of a starting goaltender, said Chapman. “The thing about goaltending in this league is getting that important save when you really need it, when the momentum is turning in your direction,” said the eleven-year vet. “That’s where he’s been really good for us. He’s been able to have times in games where teams aren’t able to score for five to ten minutes. “In the games that we’ve won, it’s been related to the defence and Rosey being able to have those long stands where he shuts the door. There

are going to be breakdowns in our defence but he’s got to be able to make those saves for us and he has. He’s been unbelievable. “He doesn’t get too high or too low. He plays the game hard and worries about the next play. That’s what is good about him. He’s always ready and he’s never really going to get flustered.” Rose currently sits atop of the league in wins and saves entering tonight’s game, not too bad for a 24 year old who’s only in his second year as a full-time starter. With a 5–2 record at this point in the season, good for tops in the East Division, the Rock will look to bounce back from their first road loss, falling 13–12 in overtime to the Swarm in Minnesota. To do so they will have to get through the Calgary Roughnecks — a tough challenge for any team.