Six Inductees Announced For Inaugural Rock Hall Of Fame Class

Toronto to induct Coyle, Ladouceur, Manning, Stroup, Veltman & Watson

The Toronto Rock have announced six inductees for the inaugural Rock Hall of Fame class with the members set to be honored later this month. Rock Owner and President Jamie Dawick was pleased to announce that the final component of the team locker room at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre is complete with the unveiling of the Toronto Rock Player Hall of Fame and its first class of inductees.

Dawick has selected the first six inductees based on the player’s tenure with the Toronto Rock franchise. The qualifications include championships, longevity and their contribution to the Toronto Rock as a whole. For those reasons, the inaugural induction class of the Toronto Rock Player Hall of Fame consists of Pat Coyle, Dan Ladouceur, Blaine Manning, Dan Stroup, Jim Veltman and Bob Watson.

On Friday, December 12 at 7:00pm at a private ceremony at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre (TRAC), the Rock will officially induct the first six members.

After lengthy discussions with members of the Rock organization both past and present, the decision on the first six members of the Toronto Rock Player Hall of Fame was pretty much unanimous. Being a member of the NLL Hall of Fame is not a prerequisite for enshrinement at the TRAC, nor will it mean automatic recognition within the Toronto Rock Player Hall of Fame.

“We have a rich history and some of the best players to ever play in the NLL have pulled on a Rock jersey,” Dawick said. “Every player being inducted won multiple championships with the Rock and many of the inductees are already members of the NLL Hall of Fame. We are very proud of the success of the franchise and its players and we’re proud to honour them.”

This will not necessarily become an annual event, as only those players who have left an indelible mark on the history of the Rock franchise will be inducted.

Each inductee will be present at the ceremony alongside friends, family and other Rock players of the past and present. The class of 2014 will each be immortalized with an individual plaque that will hang in the Toronto Rock dressing room at the TRAC.

“It’s a real honour,” said Blaine Manning, who played his entire 12-year career with the Rock while winning four championships. “To be mentioned in the same breath as some of the best players of all-time is certainly humbling.”

Dawick will preside over the event as the emcee the ceremony. The complete Toronto Rock Players Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be available to be viewed at torontorock.com a few days after the event.