ROCK ACQUIRE ROUGHNECKS FORWARD LEWIS RATCLIFF

TORONTO – As part of a big deal this afternoon, the Toronto Rock Lacrosse Club have traded Josh Sanderson and a first round pick in the 2008 NLL Entry Draft in exchange for Calgary Roughnecks forward Lewis Ratcliff and a conditional first or second round selection in the 2009 NLL Entry Draft. Terms of the deal were not disclosed due to club policy.

Ratcliff, a 6’1″ Victoria B.C native joins the Rock roster with 64 points already accumulated this season on 29 goals and 35 assists and sits fourth from the top among the NLL Scoring Leaders. With 461 career points (210 goals, 251 assists), Mike Kloepfer, Director of Lacrosse Operations for the Rock says the team is excited to add a player of Lewis’ calibre to the offence.

“We think his size, speed and offensive abilities make him one the most talented players in the league” Kloepfer said.

Drafted 49th overall in the 2002 NLL Entry Draft by the Calgary Roughnecks, this recurring NLL All-Star for the past four years, including this past 2008 All-Star game on March 16th received All-Star MVP honours in 2006.

Kloepfer added, “Ratcliff is a young star in this league who we believe will be a huge part of our club for many years.”

The Rock bid farewell to Josh Sanderson, who has played for the Rock since 2005 when he was involved in another blockbuster deal after the 2003 season between the San Jose Stealth and the Toronto Rock.

“Josh Sanderson has been a terrific player for the Rock. It is difficult to land a player like Ratcliff without having to give up a very good player in return” Kloepfer said.

Sanderson won an NLL Championship with the Rock in 2005 and led the League in points for the 2006 season with 98 points (29 goals, 69 assists).

The NLL trade deadline was this afternoon at 3:00 p.m. EST.

The next Rock (7-4) game is at home at the Air Canada Centre on Saturday April 5th 2008 when they face the Rochester Knighthawks (4-6) at 7:00 p.m. EST.
-T.Workman-