Winless Toronto Rock hope Sanderson's return will spark a turnaround

By Neil Stevens

The 0-5 Toronto Rock are about to reboot their National Lacrosse League season and Josh Sanderson is going to help them try.

“I expect to play Sunday,” says Sanderson.

It is music to the ears of John Lovell.

“If he says he’s ready to play, we’re going to play him,” says the head coach. “He’s one of the best players and one of the best leaders in the game and we need some good leadership right now.”

The 38-year-old lefty forward, who was the leading Rock point-getter last season, was banged-up in camp last autumn and unready to begin a 19th season. But after working with a trainer and participating in two practises he's given the thumbs-up to a comeback which will begin against the New England Black Wolves in the Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut on Sunday afternoon. It is a must-win game for the defending East Division champs and it won’t be easy -- the 3-2 Black Wolves are one of the most improved teams in the nine-team league. There is a favorable omen: at the same venue in the last regular-season game of 2015, the Rock clinched first place overall.

“I’m going to grind through what’s left (of the 18-game schedule) and do my best,” says Sanderson. “I want to do a bit of everything. I’m hoping to get loose balls, set picks, try to produce offensively, do whatever I’m asked to do. I’ll do whatever I can.”

The players are coming off a weekend bye and view this game as a new beginning.

“It starts with one win,” says Sanderson. “We’ve got to be ready to go Sunday. Hopefully we can get that first one, gain some confidence, and build off of it.”

At 5-foot-7, Sanderson is one of the smallest players in the pro indoor game. But he’s always had big offensive numbers, which is why he’s known as Shooter. His 1,315 career points put him fourth on the all-time list.

“He’s a special player,” says assistant coach Blaine Manning, who is in charge of the offence. “He’ll find his own way to fit in. He’s one of the smartest lacrosse players I’ve ever seen.”

Talking about special, owner-GM Jamie Dawick, who relieved assistant coach Dan Ladouceur of his duties last week, is hoping something special happens soon so he does not have to make further changes.

“Josh’s presence will be nice,” he said as he stood outside the dressing room prior to practise at his Toronto Rock Athletic Centre in Oakville on Tuesday night. “He’s not going to win games on his own though. We’ve got to play better as a team. Last game (a 20-17 home loss to Georgia) our offence finally got going but we just haven’t been playing well. If the guys think Josh walking in the room is going to make us win, then we’re going to be 0-6. He’ll be ready to go. I hope everyone else is.”

The Rock sit last in goals for per game and goals against per game. Sanderson’s absence was one of a myriad of reasons for the offensive lethargy. Injuries on the back end have sidelined Jesse Gamble, Pat Merrill, Bill Greer and Damon Edwards.

“We’ve been awful,” says Dawick. “There’s no hiding it. I’m not happy with what’s going on here. Say what you want about coaches and coaching changes and what not, it’s on the players. They’re the ones on the floor. They’re the ones who have to get it done. It has to change immediately or there will continue to be changes in this room.”

Three of the five teams in the East make the playoffs.

“If we don’t win in New England, you’re putting yourself almost in an impossible position,” says Dawick. “Honestly, I think you’ve got to win 10 of your last 13 games to make the playoffs. We haven’t won one and we’re 0-5. Is it possible to turn it around? Absolutely.”

Forget the record and take a walk on the sunny side of the mental street, says veteran forward Kasey Beirnes.

“If you keep beating yourself up about the past, it’s a long road ahead,” he says. “So we need to stress positives. We’ve made some changes. We’ve got Josh back. There’s all this stuff going on off the floor. We’ve got to take all of that and turn it into a positive on the floor. There are going to be bumps in the road and that’s got to be expected in this league. We could have beaten any of those teams we played. We’ve got to keep that in our minds and go out and commit to the system we’ve been taught. We’ve got to stick with a plan and go with it and everybody has to buy into it.”

After an emotion-charged 2015 playing into June and coming so close to winning the championship, “It’s taking us a little while to find ourselves and to find our legs,” says defenceman-transition runner Brodie Merrill. “It’s starting to feel as if we’re getting back on track. I know we’re going to be a dangerous team down the stretch. I’m optimistic. John’s focus has been on the next game and getting that first win and not looking too much further than that. You get off to a slow start you start and you start playing the mental games. It’s easy to focus on things that might be out of your control. We just want to focus on the next game and making sure we’re well-prepared for that.”

Goaltender Brandon Miller got out of the country last weekend and didn’t turn on his phone other than to briefly check game scores.

“I cleared my head,” he says. “There’s no right way to deal with a start like this other than trying to get that next win. You want to go into it with a clear mind because I think we’re all trying too hard right now. You have to just go out and play. We have veterans on this team who have been in so many situations but this probably isn’t one a lot of them have been involved in. So, it is new to everybody, but I think we have enough character guys to pull through. It starts with one and, hopefully, we can go from there.

“It’s a fresh start but it also feels as if Sunday is a playoff game. This is a make-or-break game.”

Adds forward Brett Hickey: “We’re going to turn the corner and good things are about to come. We’ve had time to regroup, find our bearings, and come together as a team.”

With Sanderson back in the fold, chances of turning the corner are enhanced.

“Josh is a vocal guy who leads by example,” says Hickey. "He'll help us on the floor and off the floor. We're glad to have him back."