The man who carried the moniker of Toronto’s reigning longest tenured pro athlete has announced his retirement from the National Lacrosse League.
Rob Marshall, 33, who spent all 12 of his NLL seasons in a Toronto Rock uniform, has stepped away with friendships and memories that will last a lifetime and a Champion’s Cup ring won with the Rock in 2011.
“There comes a time in an athlete’s career when they know in the back of their mind that there is going to be an end to it,” said Marshall, who recently began a new career as a child and youth counsellor with the Upper Grand District School Board near his hometown of Arthur.
The veteran defender endured a difficult 2017 season that saw him play only one game as he battled through injuries.
Marshall was essentially a walk-on. He was coming off a Founders Cup Canadian Junior B Championship win with the Elora Mohawks in 2005 when he received an invitation to attend Rock training camp prior to the 2006 NLL season from the late Terry Sanderson, at the time the head coach and general manager of the team.
That team was also the defending NLL champion as the Rock were coming off their fifth Champion’s Cup win in seven seasons.
“When I was 18 years old, I almost gave up lacrosse, I didn’t see myself going anywhere with it and I didn’t love the game,” said Marshall.
“In the later stages of my junior career, coaches like Dean George and John Lovell influenced me a lot, developed me, helped me appreciate and love the game more.”
After landing a spot in the NLL, Marshall says his thoughts quickly turned towards winning a championship and just when and how often he would even have a chance to win the Champion’s Cup.
“There really is nothing like winning and the lifelong bond that it creates amongst teammates, coaches, trainers and staff. It’s a brotherhood that is always a level above anything else experienced in Sports,” states a release about Marshall’s retirement.
“I owe everything to the game of lacrosse,” said an emotional Marshall. “To hoist that cup and do it in Toronto in front of my family and friends is something I’ll never forget.
“To have twelve years of teammates and friendships with the Rock is pretty awesome.”
While Marshall recounted some of the fondest memories of his playing career, he was also very thankful for those around him that sacrificed their time and made a significant impact on his career both on and off the floor.
So, after 159 games played, 31 goals, 55 assists, 86 points, 759 loose balls and one Champion’s Cup title, Rob Marshall, best known to hardcore Rock fans as “The Sherriff,” has turned in his badge.
“Rob’s career really is a great story,” said Rock owner, president and general manager Jamie Dawick.
“He was a guy that came out of nowhere and ended up playing 12 years for his hometown team. He was a great player, a great teammate and a great representative of the Toronto Rock.”
