Toronto Rock forward Colin Doyle was named today as the National Lacrosse League's Most Valuable Player in balloting among the league's governors, general managers and head coaches.

2004   Jim Veltman
       Toronto
2003   Gary Gait
       Colorado
2002   Paul Gait
       Washington
2001   John Tavares
       Buffalo
2000   John Tavares
       Buffalo
1999   Gary Gait
       Baltimore
1998   Gary Gait
       Baltimore
1997   Gary Gait
       Philadelphia
1996   Gary Gait
       Philadelphia
1995   Gary Gait
       Philadelphia
1994   John Tavares
       Buffalo

Following Jim Veltman's selection in 2004, this is the second straight season that a member of the Rock has been chosen as MVP, an award which had been the exclusive domain of John Tavares and the Gait brothers (Gary and Paul) for a decade.

Doyle earned the award by recording a league-best 111 points, on 42 goals and 69 assists. His assist total would have set a new single-season record if not for 71 helpers from teammate Josh Sanderson (who held the old record, 67).

Together with Blaine Manning (66 assists), this year's Rock recorded three of the four highest single-season assist totals in league history.

The result of all this ball movement for Toronto was a league-best 227 goals, a 12-4 record, and the team's seventh straight first-place finish.

Toronto will play Saturday for its fifth NLL Champion's Cup in seven years, hosting the Arizona Sting at 3:30 PM in a game which will be televised live on NBC and The Score.

"Our goal from the start of the year was to win the championship and not for me to get personal accolades," Doyle told the Canadian Press. "It's an honor but my focus is on the championship game.

"When everything is said and done, I'll be able to look back and be more thankful."

Doyle, an eighth-year pro, got his break with the Rock (then known as the Ontario Raiders) in 1998 when another player missed a flight. He scored four goals in the emergency start and has played in every Rock game since.

The Most Valuable Player award was sponsored this year by Hummer.