The National Lacrosse League’s Toronto Rock are getting back to their roots — in more ways than one — with their jerseys for Indigenous Heritage Night this weekend.
The Rock unveiled the jerseys on their website and social media channels earlier this week and will wear them when they host the Ottawa Black Bears on Saturday, January 31, at TD Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario. The jerseys and the logo on the front were designed by Kory Parkin, who is “a Kanyen’keha (Turtle Clan) artist/graphic designer and proud member of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte who calls Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory home,” according to his website.
The crest on the front of the Rock’s new jersey is jam-packed with imagery and inspired both by the Indigenous origins of the game of lacrosse as well as the Rock’s past life as the Ontario Raiders, who played out of Hamilton as well. The overall shape of the logo mimics that which the Raiders wore during their only season in Hamilton in 1998.
Meanwhile, the jersey design blends elements of the Rock’s current jersey with those of the Toronto Tomahawks, who played in the NLL during its first season in 1974. After that season, the Tomahawks were sold and relocated to Boston.
The numbers on the sleeves, back and front are set in a red font with median spurs outlined in silver and white. The name on the back is one-colour white.
The game between the Rock and the Black Bears kicks off at 7:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 31, at TD Coliseum and is available to stream on TSN+.
