Nick Rose has steadfastly patrolled NLL goal creases dating back to the bygone days of 2010. Fifteen seasons into a career that includes 2024 Goaltender of the Year honors, the 37-year-old Orangeville, Ontario product will one day walk away from the sport equipped with a legacy built on hard work, perseverance and an unabashed love of the game.
With more yesterdays than tomorrows dotting his professional lacrosse existence, the 6’0, 285 lb goal-scoring blockade knows what it takes to achieve a prolonged level of success at the highest echelons of the box lacrosse universe.
“Especially for young goalies, it is an extremely tough league to break into as a starter,” opines Rose. “If you catch on as a third goalie or backup, just make the most of it. Make sure you’re seeing a lot of shots and try to understand what makes you successful as a goalie. There’s a lot of different styles and what worked for one guy is not going to necessarily work for the next guy. Try to understand your own game, put in the work and bide your time so when you do get an opportunity, you are able to make the most of it.”
Rose knows of what he speaks when considering his path to NLL stardom featured brief stints with the Boston Blazers and Calgary Roughnecks, before “making the most” of the opportunity provided by his home province Toronto Rock, where the 28th pick in the 2008 draft spent 12.5 seasons between the pipes.
Rose’s memorable Toronto tenure came to an abrupt conclusion in February, when the impending free agent was dealt back to Calgary, along with Tyler Hendrycks and a 2025 fourth-round pick, in exchange for Robert Hudson, Gowah Abrams and a 2026 first-round selection.
🚨 TRADE ALERT 🚨
Nick Rose is on the move! pic.twitter.com/zwRkV8vejL
— NLL (@NLL) February 25, 2025
As was the case with so many others within the lacrosse landscape, the man at the center of the transaction was in quite a bit of shock when news first broke.
“I wasn’t aware that a trade was happening,” recalls Rose. “Anytime a team with free agents is struggling, guys are in line to be traded for players and draft picks that involve looking towards the future. So, I totally understand it from a team standpoint, and really just tried to focus on going to Calgary and being a good teammate and trying to give the team a chance to win. Calgary is a first-class organization, with a great group of guys there, so the transition was pretty smooth for me.”
Rose later noted, “it was a weird season, but honestly, it’s just part of sports.”
Fast-forwarding to the shorter sleeves and longer days of the summertime calendar, Rose relies on the distractions that accompany his wide-ranging lacrosse-related pursuits, when the topic of his next NLL uniform enters the conversation. Whether it’s serving as president and general manager of an Ontario Junior Lacrosse League club, or competing for a Major Series Lacrosse squad, the man of many helmets is forced to maintain a focus on a multitude of different dimensions.
“I definitely don’t have a decision made,” informs the veteran keeper. “I’ve had a very busy summer. I run the Orangeville Northmen and I play for the Peterborough Lakers. So, it’s allowed me to step away and not really worry about the decision that will have to be made soon. I’m not really focusing on it too much until free agency opens and I’m really able to talk through some things with the teams that are interested in me. I’m still driven to win a championship in the NLL. I will chat with teams and decide what’s best for me and my family.”
As if this central character in the NLL, OJLL and MSL does not have enough roles to play, Rose also works as the general manager of the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre (TRAC), located in the Toronto suburb of Oakville, equidistant to the downtowns of both Canada’s largest city, and Hamilton, the home-field municipality of the Rock franchise.
— TRAC Athletics (@TRACAthletics) January 1, 2024
The 80,000-square-foot lacrosse nirvana lays claim to two indoor turf fields; one outdoor NCAA/FIFA turf field; locker, weight, training and meeting spaces; as well as The Dynamic Athlete, the elite training facility owned and operated by Rock Strength & Conditioning Coach Sean Holmes.
Hosting a bevy of sports including soccer, football, field hockey and rugby, the first and foremost objective of the TRAC centers around the stewardship and growth of the Creator’s Game, with the locale working as the world epicenter for lacrosse youth leagues and developmental programs.
Adding to the complex’s splendor, management and player instruction is led by a roster of current and former Rock players including Rose, Challen Rogers, Latrell Harris, Dan Dawson, Colin Doyle, Riley Hutchcraft and the aforementioned Tyler Hendrycks. Even Rock head coach Matt Sawyer spends time sharing his infinite lacrosse wisdom with the players of tomorrow.
“It’s definitely helped lacrosse in Ontario, especially the Greater Toronto Area explosion in participants,” boasts Rose. “Our programs have grown by maybe 200 or 300 per cent just in terms of overall numbers. The TRAC has become the center of the lacrosse universe here in Ontario. We love what we do, being able to provide different programs for the different needs and wants of the community. There has been so much growth in the last decade.”
From a National Lacrosse League perspective, the TRAC hosts the Rock’s practice facility and administrative offices, while also being the site of the league’s preseason media day and annual Junior NLL Tournament. In the past, it has hosted the NLL draft and Hall of Fame ceremony. In addition, Ontario-based players, some with no current affiliation to the Rock, utilize the building for a variety of conditioning and medical needs.
“I handle the booking of the facility, including the needs of our athletic programs and the Rock,” explains Rose. “As an example, we have a soccer group here year-round, then there are random groups that reach out to rent the facility. I also work closely with the maintenance needs here at the arena. Separate from building management, I am hands-on with TRAC athletics, making sure we have everything we need from an organizational perspective.”
While Rose’s affiliation with the TRAC dates back to his Toronto arrival in 2012, no longer being a member of the active roster appears to have created zero strain between employer and employee, with both sides as dedicated to the mission as ever.
“Not much has changed here at the TRAC as far as relationships with everybody. After the trade, I wasn’t around quite as often. But we all remain good friends, so it’s much of the same from a job standpoint,” shares Rose.
Reverting back to his on-field persona, with free agency and the 2025-2026 NLL campaign fast approaching, Rose has a message for those who may be wondering how much lacrosse the goalkeeping lifer has available in his tank of gas.
“I have lots of confidence in myself. I think I can provide many more good years as a starting goalie in this league. That comes with putting in the work and being prepared night in and night out. I don’t plan on hanging it up anytime soon.”