Toronto Rock forward Ryan Benesch was named today as the 2007 National Lacrosse League Rookie of the Year and as one of six runners on the league's annual All-Rookie Team.

Benesch led all rookies in goals scored (33) and points (58), and was second to fellow All-Rookie selection Jamie Shewchuk with 25 assists.

Benesch, the first-overall choice (by San Jose) in the NLL Entry Draft last September, joined the Rock in December in a blockbuster trade which sent veteran Rock forward Colin Doyle to the Stealth.

Thrust into the role of replacing Doyle, Benesch responded with the second-best goal total on the Rock, with ten of his 33 goals coming on the power play.

Over the 2007 season, Benesch won Rookie of the Week honors three times and was the league's Rookie of the Month for March.

Benesch is joined on the All-Rookie team by Shewchuk and Colorado Mammoth teammate Nenad Gajic; Philadelphia Wings forward Athan Iannucci and transition ace Geoff Snider; and Chicago Shamrox forward Bill McGlone.

A look at the All-Rookie Team selections (in alphabetical order):

Nenad Gajic scored 13 goals and dished out 24 assists, for 37 points total... second on the Mammoth with 102 loose balls recovered.... NLL Rookie of the Month for February.

Athan Iannucci finished second among rookies with 30 goals... tallied 24 assists, for a total of 54 points... eleventh among all NLLers in loose balls, with 123... twice named Rookie of the Week.

Bill McGlone finished second on the Shamrox in goals scored, 22... dished out 18 assists, for a total of 40 points... tied for league lead in shorthanded goals, five... named Rookie of the Week for Week Two.

Jamie Shewchuk led all first-year players in assists, 26... also scored 27 goals, for 53 points... scored 13 power play goals... selected as Rookie of the Week once this season (Week Five).

Geoff Snider posted an incredible 75.0 percent success rate on faceoffs (201 wins against 67 losses)... scored 14 goals and handed out 17 assists for 31 points... second in NLL with 180 loose balls... Rookie of the Month for January.