IL Indoor

Colin Doyle adds even more K-W flavour to the Rock this year. (Photo: Matt J. Wiater)

This past week’s blockbuster swap between the Toronto Rock and Washington Stealth that saw Kitchener-Waterloo lacrosse legend Colin Doyle back in Toronto after months of trade speculation, sees him playing alongside another K-W boxla hero, goaltender Steve Dietrich.

The Rock made it known a few weeks back that they’d be going into the 2010 season with Dietrich as their backup behind Bob Watson, former GM and head coach Jamie Batley picking up the former National Lacrosse League MVP at last year’s trade deadline, prior to his departure from the franchise.

“It’s a long time coming,” Doyle told the Kitchener-Waterloo Record about the Rock’s latest K-W hookup, Dietrich adding, “Better late than never.”

The Record also notes that the move for both players back East was largely made due to a pretty hefty commute, Doyle and his family living in California last winter, not able to make that same commitment in Everett this year, and Dietrich making weekly flights from Ontario to Alberta just for “home games” previous to the trade deadline deal.

Due to work and family commitments back East, the paper also reports that Doyle requested the move to Toronto, the Washington Stealth seemingly no longer an option. Not surprisingly, newly appointed Rock GM, Terry Sanderson, also liked the idea of having Doyle back in a Rock sweater.

As NLL Insider noted earlier this week, trade talks between the Rock and Stealth seemed to have come to a standstill prior to the resignation of longtime Stealth president and GM Johnny Mouradian, promoted assistant GM Doug Locker spending much of last week trying to work on Doyle’s request.

Although there has been no official word from team or league, the Stealth have indicated on their facebook page that the team has also inked unsigned forward Jeff Zywicki to a contract, the former 48-goal scorer at camp with the franchise this weekend.

The Doyle-Dietrich K-W connection isn’t the only link between the two franchises this year, Dietrich also tied to another Rock vet from years past.

As former K-W Braves head coach, GM, player, and current Boston Blazers assistant coach Corey Hallman pointed out to NLL Insider earlier this year, Dietrich and Watson shared the K-W Braves (Jr. B) cage for four straight seasons from ‘87 – ‘90 (along with Larry O’Connell), winning back-to-back Founder’s Cups during their first two years with the Braves, which included an upset win over John Tavares’s heavily favoured Mississauga Tomahawks in ‘87. Hallman’s father, Lawrie Hallman, coached the team, a former Braves player himself.

The K-W Record also notes that locals Kasey Beirnes, Rob Marshall and the recently released Dave Cutten were also at the Rock’s training camp this season.

PLUS THE LINKS

Awesome. Will he go where only the likes of Tyson Leies have gone before? (Photo: Colorado Mammoth)

Campbell shelved – Winning a Champion’s Cup and Mann Cup over the past year, Necks’ keeper Pat Campbell is going back to school to turn his attention to computer programming, unable to commit to Calgary this year. ” It’s going to be an awful winter. As much as I’m enjoying what I’m doing in school and it’s a big thing in my life, lacrosse has been my life for 13 years. But this is a life decision I had to make. I’ve gotta think about my future a bit more. Hopefully, it’s just a break from the sport, but who knows.” – Campbell (Calgary Sun)

Accursi torched – Buffalo Bandits vet forward Mike Accursi will be running the Olympic torch when the flame passes through St. Catharines, Ontario later this weekend. ”I am thrilled to have this opportunity. I’ve always believed in the goals of the Olympics and to be chosen, not only to carry the torch but to also represent my community in this unique way, is an honor.” – Accursi (Buffalo Bandits)

Mammoth win – A week after taking a scrimmage against the Minnesota Swarm on the chin, the Mammoth ran off 10-7 victory over the Swarm in front of an insanely impressive 7,431 exhibition crowd at the Pepsi Centre. Cory Conway’s four goals, a big positive heading into the season with a refreshed Mammoth offense. (Colorado Mammoth)

Lethbridge exi- The Necks and Rush go toe-to-toe this weekend in Lethbridge, the Rush are ready. “We’re definitely taking 23 players to Lethbridge Saturday, so our roster will be set. I’ve been really pleased with the efforts of the players. These are tough cuts. All the guys that made it to this point in camp deserve to be on this team, but, there is only so many spots and some guys have played better that others.” – Derek Keenan (Edmonton Rush)

Hawks twitter – Just like last weekend, stay dialed into the Rochester Knighthawks‘ twitter page tomorrow night for live updates from their scrimmage against the Boston Blazers at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena. (Rochester Knighthawks)

Facebook fantasy- The NLL is switching gears and will be running their fantasy league through the social networking giant facebook this winter, also going the salary cap route. (NLL)

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