Dan Ladouceur returns to bolster defence for last Rock game of regular season

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This article was published 12/04/2007 (6845 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

TORONTO (CP) – The return of Dan Ladouceur gives the Toronto Rock a boost for their must-win game against the visiting New York Titans on Saturday night.

The veteran defenceman broke a finger during a March 16 loss in Edmonton and, fit enough to go now, he’s eager to get back onto the green Air Canada Centre carpet.

“The last part of the season has been hell on wheels just watching and not being part of it,” said Ladouceur. “Knowing we had some huge games and not being able to play was tough.

“I don’t know if I’ll make a difference Saturday but I can’t wait to get out there. I’m super stoked. I’m anxious to get back in and contribute.”

Toronto (6-9) is fifth in the National Lacrosse League’s East Division going into its last regular-season game.

Third-place Minnesota (7-7) and fourth-place Philadelphia (6-8) each have two games left, starting with a Minnesota-at-Philadelphia clash Friday night. The outcome will clarify Toronto’s situation.

On Saturday, while the Rock are playing the Titans, Minnesota finishes up at home against Arizona and Philadelphia concludes its schedule in Chicago. Toronto holds the standings tiebreaker over both Minnesota and Philadelphia.

Toronto gets a playoff berth if Minnesota beats Philadelphia on Friday and it follows up with a win over New York on Saturday.

If Philadelphia beats Minnesota, Toronto will only make it if it beats New York and Minnesota loses to Arizona or Philadelphia loses in Chicago.

The Rock wouldn’t be in this precarious position, of course, had they taken care of business earlier.

“It’s been a roller-coaster from start to finish,” said Ladouceur. “We’ve shown moments of greatness and moments where we’ve looked like a first-year team.”

It’s been especially frustrating for veterans Ladouceur, goalie Bob Watson and captain Jim Veltman, who just two years ago were celebrating a fifth championship in seven years.

The game against the Titans is no gimme. The Rock lost–10 in New York on March 3, and the score would have been more lopsided had Bob Watson not had such a good game in the nets for the Rock.

The Titans (3-11) are weak defensively but have a lot of offensive weapons and are a better team than their record suggests.

“We feel really good about our chances Saturday,” said Ladouceur. “We’ve got nothing else on our minds except getting that win.

“It’s Priority One. The rest will work itself out, and I’m optimistic it will work itself out in our favour. I just hope the lacrosse gods are going to give us one more crack at this. We’re only four wins away from winning the Cup.”

That’s one big positive way to approach it.

The Titans are already out of playoff contention but would love to end their season with a win.

“This game has a lot of meaning for the Rock,” said Pat Maddalena, who leads the Titans with 38 goals. “If they don’t win, they won’t get into the playoffs.

“We’d love to spoil the party. We’re trying to build for next season and sweeping the season against Toronto would be great.”

Maddalena needs four goals to equal his career best.

“I’ve been fortunate to play alongside Ryan Boyle (28 goals) and Casey Powell (29 goals) this season,” he said.

The Rock have to stop the trio or they’re in trouble, which is why it is such a lift to get Ladouceur back. They lost another top defenceman, Pat Merrill, when he pulled a hamstring during a fight two weeks ago. Without Merrill and Ladouceur, they lost both their games last weekend.

It’s the first appearance in Toronto by the expansion Titans although Maddalena and many of his teammates have appeared in other uniforms.

“I love playing there,” Maddalena, who was with Arizona when he played in Air Canada Centre last year, said from Buffalo where he lives. “Canadian box fans are knowledgeable and it’s always pretty much a full house.

“It’s a great lacrosse atmosphere.”