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Aaron Pascas may have had the physical tools to crack the National Lacrosse League (NLL) sooner. But he didn’t have the focus. That all changed last summer, and Pascas has since worked himself into the new 23-man roster of the Toronto Rock, who are looking to defend their Eastern Division crown and contend for a NLL title in 2011.

The 24 year old forward from Port Coquitlam, BC, has always shown potential with excellent athleticism and lacrosse IQ.

As a field lacrosse player, Pascas was a phenomenal goaltender with lighting quick reflexes. He had NCAA scholarship offers to play collegiately in the States, but his grades weren’t there. Academic issues also forced him off of the Simon Fraser University field lacrosse team, after he starred earning All-Conference honours in his first two seasons with the squad.

“I was pretty young and immature,” reflects Pascas, who played his Jr A lacrosse in Port Coquitlam with other pros like Curtis Dickson and Tyler Codron. “I just wanted to play lacrosse and unfortunately I didn’t take my studies very seriously.”

At the Western Lacrosse Association (WLA) level, Pascas played his rookie season with the Langley Thunder. Over his next two seasons with the WLA Maple Ridge Burrards, he matured – as a person and player.

“I really started to take my off-season training a lot more serious,” adds Pascas of this past year, in particular.

After fitting into just 13 WLA games in both ‘08 and ‘09, Pascas played out the full year with the Burrards in 2010, registering 18 goals and 25 points. His new commitment to the game turned heads and Pascas was offered a spot at the Toronto Rock’s Free Agent camp by Rock GM Terry Sanderson and coach Troy Cordingley, who tour the summer loop. Pascas impressed at that camp, and in Toronto’s first exhibition game where he tallied a hat-trick and four points.

“He seemed to be a little bit greasy in there getting open,” said Cordingley of Pascas’ first pro game. “I thought he did a very good job moving off ball.”

And finding lanes will be important for the new Rock rookie, in an offense where his main role will likely be freeing others, like fellow lefty and the franchise’s star Colin Doyle. Toronto also hope Pascas can find some of that rookie scoring magic that fellow WLA forwards Garrett Billings and Stephan Leblanc supplied last season.

Pascas is the only rookie on the active roster for the Rock this year, however, Toronto also kept talented youngsters Rob Hellyer, Ryan Dilks and Glen Bryan as practice players that could find rotation in the line-up.

For his part, Pascas is up or the new challenge. This Monday, the 6-foot, 180 pound forward makes the move out to Toronto for the season.

“I’m just a hard-working, gritty player that’s not afraid to go into the rough areas of the floor,” adds Pascas, who scored on over 26% of his shots in this last WLA season, up from 20% as a rookie. “Setting picks and just creating space for other players on the floor is what I can bring.”

“I’m very excited to join such a respected organization as the Toronto Rock.”

The Toronto Rock open up their 2011 season against the Edmonton Rush on January 8, 2011, at 7pm ET. It will be an action filled night, with all 10 NLL teams in action to kick off the league’s 25th anniversary season.

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