OAKVILLE – Elora native Kasey Beirnes will join an elite class as one of five new players named to the Toronto Rock Hall of Fame.
Rock owner, president and GM Jamie Dawick announced the 2019 induction class on March 7.
Kasey Beirnes, Sandy Chapman, Colin Doyle, Josh Sanderson and Aaron Wilson will be inducted on April 2 at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre in Oakville.
Prior to the Rock’s home game on April 5 against the Buffalo Bandits, Acton native Chapman, the most recently retired of the group, will be honoured with a special pre-game tribute highlighting his Rock career.
The new inductees join the inaugural class of 2014.
“We have assembled our second class of great players worthy of induction into the Rock Hall of Fame,” said Dawick.
“The five players being inducted are being recognized for their tremendous contributions to this franchise and were all members of championship teams.”
Beirnes retired at age 37 following the 2017 campaign. He spent the last 10 seasons of his 16-year NLL career with the Rock.
Beirnes was an instrumental part of the 2011 Rock championship squad and is in the top 10 in franchise history in games played (sixth – 156), goals (fourth – 245), assists (eighth – 179) and points (eighth – 424).
He also exhibited an unmatched chemistry with Doyle, never needing the ball for more than a second to do his damage and put the ball in the back of the net.
The sharp-shooting righty played in Columbus, Arizona and Minnesota before landing in Toronto for the 2008 season. Over his 16 seasons, he scored at least 20 goals thirteen times.
“Kasey is an ultimate professional both on and off the floor,” said Dawick.
Beirnes graduated from the Junior ‘B’ ranks after playing five seasons with Elora Mohawks.
“The chance to play in Toronto in front of family and friends and have the kids come to the games was a real highlight,” he said in 2017.
Go to torontorock.com for coverage of the 2019 Rock Hall of Fame induction.
