You may remember on Wednesday we told you about how to win a free pizza if the Leafs lose any Thursday games during this season.  Now it’s time for you to return the favour.

On Friday March 8th, the Rock will be hosting the Colorado Mammoth at the ACC.  But more importantly, the occasion will also represent the Rock’s annual charity night.

Over the last three seasons, the Rock have raised nearly $100,000 at this event.  However, this year they are also looking to collect food donations, which will benefit Toronto’s Daily Bread Food Bank.

As such, any one looking to attend the game on March 8th should take along non-perishable food items in support of a great cause.  In return, you will receive a voucher for a $10 upper bowl ticket to that night’s game.

MLSE has agreed to donate one dollar for every ticket sold directly back to the charity.  And if even all this isn’t incentive enough (do you even have a heart?!?!), check out this tweet by TSN’s Claude Feig, in respect of Rock Owner and President, Jamie Dawick:

Great gesture by @jdawick to pledge 25k to charity if @torontorocklax game vs @mammothlax Mar 8th sells out. It’s up to U #RockHard nation.

— Claude Feig (@ClaudeFeigTSN) February 21, 2013

If you’re interested in doing your bit for charity and watching an entertaining game into the bargain, either visit www.torontorock.com or call 416 596 3075 to enquire about tickets.

Photo credit: @daftonetwo 

If you have any questions, please email me at paul.taylor@bluetoro.ca

You can also follow us on Twitter @bluetoro_ca and like us on Facebook

• By paul.taylor
• February 22, 2013
• Comment

Short of being in the championship game, if ever there were an occasion to go and watch the Toronto Rock play, it would be tough to top last night.

For a start, the Rock used the occasion to honour Colin Doyle, who, save for three years, has been with the team ever since it relocated to Toronto in 1999.

And of course, what better way to celebrate your captain than having a ‘Colin Doyle bobblehead night’, with the first 5,000 people through the doors lucky enough to get one of these:

However, Doyle wasn’t the only one being honoured last night, with the Toronto Argonauts in attendance to celebrate their recent championship.

Here’s Jim Barker and the team in the locker room meeting the Rock coaching staff and players, who took the opportunity to pretend to be interested in the Grey Cup:

Next it was out onto the field to be introduced to the crowd before the game:

After this, the Argonauts settled into their seats to enjoy the main event:

And what an event it was.  Anyone lucky enough to be at the ACC last night was treated to one of the games of the season, with the Rock coming out on top in an enthralling encounter against the Calgary Roughnecks.

Despite being down 5-2 and 6-3 early on, the Rock battled back to win 17-12. Unsurprisingly, Doyle rose to the occasion and finished with three goals and four assists.

However, leading the way was Garrett Billings, who had six goals and six assists.  As such, he was quite rightly awarded the hammer:

To be honest, I think I’d prefer the pizza.  Regardless, if Billings keeps up his current form, there’s every chance he could be awarded the hammer again come season’s end, in the biggest game of all.

Here’s hoping.

Photo credits: @TorontoRockLax, @TorontoArgos & @JDawick

If you have any questions, please email me at paul.taylor@bluetoro.ca

You can also follow us on Twitter @bluetoro_ca and like us on Facebook

• By paul.taylor
• February 16, 2013
• Comment

Rock fans can look forward to a big night this Friday at the ACC.  And not just because the team is looking to bounce back against the Calgary Roughnecks after a heart-breaking 13-12 loss in Minnesota.

Friday will also be Colin Doyle bobblehead night, a chance for fans to give a tip of the cap (or should that be a shake of the bobblehead?) to the Rock’s team captain.

Certainly, there are few players in Rock history more worthy of the fans appreciation than Doyle, who, save for three years in San Jose, has been with the franchise ever since they relocated to Toronto in 1999.

Doyle’s resume makes for impressive reading: 1998   NLL rookie of the year, 2005 NLL Most Valuable Player, three time Championship MVP and most importantly, six time Champion’s Cup winner (all with the Rock.)

Make sure you arrive in plenty of time to be one of the first 5,000 fans through the door to get a Colin Doyle bobblehead.  Click here for tickets.

Update: It has now been officially announced that the Argonauts will be attendance at Friday’s game.  Make sure you take your cameras along for the chance to be pictured with the Grey Cup prior to the game, which starts at 7:30pm.

Members of the Argonauts will also be taking part in a ceremonial faceoff Doyle and Calgary’s captain, Andrew McBride.

Photo credit: @TorontoRockLax

If you have any questions, please email me at paul.taylor@bluetoro.ca

You can also follow us on Twitter @bluetoro_ca and like us on Facebook

• By paul.taylor
• February 13, 2013
• Comment

Last saturday in Calgary, Toronto Rock defenseman Cam Woods scored his first goal in over a year to give his team a sudden death victory in overtime versus the Roughnecks.

The second win in 24 hours gave a nice boost to the defendant champs who had a horrible 0-2 start to the 2012 season.

The Toronto Rock will now be in Philadelphia next Saturday to face the Wings, who are currently leading the East division with a 2-1 record.

• By Manny Frag
• January 30, 2012
• Comment