Toronto Rock back on top

Page 9

Thanks in part to the Squire brothers, the Toronto Rock is once again the National Lacrosse League champion.

Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation members Kim (Kid Rock) and Rodd (Moose) Squire, who live on the reserve in Ohsweken, Ont., are members of the pro squad that won this year's NLL title. The Squires and their teammates edged the host Albany Attack 13-12 in the league championship final staged on April 13.

The Squires were also members of the Rock when they captured back-to-back NLL championships in 1999 and 2000. Toronto also advanced to last year's final, which was won by the Philadelphia Wings.

The Rock players believe they have a dynasty in the making. They were obviously glad to recapture the league crown.

"It meant a lot," said Kim Squire. "And we proved a lot of people wrong."

Many league followers thought the Rock would fall a notch or two this season. That's because several of their key performers from previous seasons were either traded or scooped up by other franchises in league expansion drafts.

The NLL, which featured nine franchises during the 2000-2001 campaign, grew to 13 clubs this season.

The Rock posted a somewhat disappointing-for them at least-11-5 regular season record. Toronto still had the second-best record in the league, behind the 14-2 Attack.

But Toronto and Albany never faced each other during the regular season.

Kim Squire said the Rock players did see some videotapes of a few of the Attack games this year.

"I wasn't concerned," he said. "I sort of thought we had a better team than (Albany)."

Both Rock and league officials would have preferred to have the final game in Toronto. In previous years, the league staged its final in the city (from the two finalists) that had the best regular season attendance. But this year it was awarded to the club with the best regular season record.

No doubt a sellout of more than 19,000 fans would have been at the final if it had been held at Toronto's Air Canada Centre. As for the Attack, they averaged about 3,000 fans during the regular season.

But they managed to attract 9,000-plus fans to the final.

A good chunk of those fans - maybe as many as 1,500 of them -drove to Albany from Toronto, an eight-hour trip.

"It didn't matter where we played," said Rodd Squire. "It would have been better for us to have the game in Toronto. But that's OK because we still had a loud cheering section there for us."

The Squires were key reasons why the Rock advanced to the final. In 16 regular season games, Kim Squire racked up 55 points, including 27 goals. Rodd Squire, a face-off and defensive specialist, chipped in with nine points in the 12 regular season matches he suited up for.

Rodd Squire also had three assists in the Rock's 12-11 overtime victory against the Washington Power in their semi-final match. Kim Squire had a goal in that contest.

It might be several months now before the Squires suit up for another game. Kim Squire had toiled for the Western Lacrosse Association's Coquitlam Adanacs, who won the 2001 Mann Cup. But he's uncertain if he'll return to the WLA this year or whether he'll play anywhere in Ontario.

"I don't know yet," he said a few days after the NLL final. "I've got a few minor sores and bruises. I don't want to think about lacrosse for a bit."

Rodd Squire won't be playing during the next few months.

The Squires were the only Native players on the Rock roster this season. Albany's roster included back-up net minder Jake Henhawk, but he only appeared in one game this year.