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Sports Oakville Beaver By Jon Kuiperij BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR 41 · Friday, December 7, 2012 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com SPORTS EDITOR:JONKUIPERIJ Phone 905-632-0588 (ext. 294) email sports@oakvillebeaver.com The home of the Rock NLL team will do all but play its games in Oakville can put what they want in it, they have control of everything... It's really unique in our league in this day." The two playing surfaces are NHL-sized pads, one of them outfitted with the artificial turf the Rock plays its games on and the team's logo in the centre of the floor. Upstairs are the Rock's offices as well as a gymnasium for sport-specific training. Facility will have other users Rock players won't be the only ones using the athletic centre, however. The Oakville Buzz junior B lacrosse team is scheduled to play its home games next season out of the facility, moving out of Glen Abbey Recreation Centre, while Oakville Minor Lacrosse Association squads will also play games there. And though the facility is designed for lacrosse -- even featuring a lacrosse equipment store, something Dawick said is a rarity in the surrounding area -- it can accommodate other groups. Ball hockey, indoor soccer and even football and baseball organizations have already made use of the athletic centre. Dawick, who has three sons who play in the OMLA, has no plans to ever feature ice rinks at the facility. "Ball hockey is a big thing, much bigger than people realize. Much like lacrosse, it doesn't get that much attention," he said. "I think there's enough ice rinks in Oakville. It's not necessarily a need. There's supply and demand, and to me this is the demand." And having a dedicated lacrosse facility within 40 minutes of the ACC -- the Rock used to practise at the Six Nations Reserve near Brantford -- has already forced Dawick into a dilemma. Several NLL teams have used the facility for pre-season training, and it's quite likely teams will rent the centre for weekend practices when they're in town to face the Rock. "This is where I put my league hat on. Plus, I'm running a business here," Dawick said. What if the Rock makes the Champion's Cup NLL final and the opposition wants to practise in Oakville in advance of the game? "We might be double-booked," laughed TRAC general manager Susan White. "My office overlooks the floor, and I might have to work late that night," added Dawick. "No, I'm not worried about that. A big part of being involved in the NLL is growing the game." When the National Lacrosse League season begins next month, don't be fooled by the jerseys of the area's nearest team. The logo on players' chests might include the name `Toronto', but Oakville is very much the home of the Rock. One could argue that's been the case for the past few years, ever since the Toronto Rock was purchased by Oakville native Jamie Dawick. During that span, the team has also been coached by Oakville resident Troy Cordingley and operated out of Oakville offices. But now, after the recent opening of the 80,000-square foot Toronto Rock Athletic Centre (TRAC) near Trafalgar Road, there's not much room for debate. "We do everything out of here," the 37-year-old Dawick beamed Tuesday, casually but proudly showing off the new facility that is part of a $20-million project on Invicta Drive. "Tickets, public relations, my offices, the board room... from selling our merchandise to running day-to-day operations to a change room to a gym. The only thing we don't do here is play regular-season games." Giving Rock players `a home' Those games have long been played out of the Air Canada Centre, and that certainly isn't going to change. The Rock has averaged more than 10,000 fans per game since its inception in 1999, and the TRAC can't accommodate more than 800 spectators. That seating capacity may be challenged a couple times this month. The Rock will play a pair of pre-season games at the TRAC, including tomorrow (Saturday) against the Edmonton Rush. The game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m., and admission is free. Limited seating aside, the centre has the feel of a professional sports venue. The Rock's dressing room at the centre is modelled after the Toronto Maple Leafs' room at the ACC, complete with a cold tub for players to use after practice. There is also an area for trainers and a coaches' lounge. "What I wanted to do is give the (Rock) players a home. We don't have a home, per se," said Dawick, noting the Rock use the National Hockey League visitors' dressing room for home games at the ACC. "Guys didn't get to leave their stuff there. It's nice, don't get me wrong, but this is our room. This is their room, their home. They PHOTOS BY MICHAEL IVANIN / SPECIAL TO THE OAKVILLE BEAVER Toronto Rock Athletic Centre general manager Susan White and Rock owner Jamie Dawick (top photo) stand beside one of two lacrosse playing surfaces at the new facility on Invicta Drive. The building also features a dedicated dressing room for the National Lacrosse League squad (middle photo) and the team's offices.