April 9, 2010
Ross is Blazers' travelin' man
by Andy Vogt/
Kyle Ross makes a cross-country trip each week to play for the Blazers.
It was a phone call that Blazers general manager Doug Reffue never wanted to hear.
Last August, Boston defenseman Kyle Ross informed Reffue that due to increased responsibility at his job in Vancouver, B.C., he would be unable to live on the East Coast for the upcoming season.
Under normal circumstances, the decision would have been easy.
But Ross was not just a normal player to Reffue.
“What goes through our minds is 100 percent financial,” Reffue said. “The cost of bringing a guy in cross-country is very high. It put us in a spot where we had to make a decision. We were sure we would have to trade him. But over time, I lost my stomach to trade Kyle Ross. He’s too important a part of our team.”
There was still a question of Ross’ willingness to stick with the Blazers. His situation was already unique; players from western Canada generally stick with teams in that part of the continent, and the Blazers focus their Canadian outreach around Ontario. But in his first year in Boston, Ross relocated and shared an apartment in the North End with teammates Brendon Thenhaus and Jon “Bubba” Durno.
This year, his commute jumped from less than three miles to more than three thousand. No one would have faulted Ross for requesting a trade to Calgary, Edmontonor Washington.
In Ross’ mind, however, that wasn’t even an option.
“We have a great group of guys in Boston with all-star talent, and guys that come in hungry,” he said. “We have a great opportunity to achieve something, and we’re not far away from bringing home a championship. So it is trying and difficult on both parties, but it’s something I felt I wanted to do if the opportunity was there.”
The investment has been worth it. Since the Blazers acquired Ross from Minnesota in the dispersal draft last year, the 26-year-old defenseman has been one of Boston’s most looming presences in the defensive end.
While his public profile is low compared to some teammates, his value is evident around the league; he was ranked by NLL Insider as the 47th-best player in the league, one of just four Blazers to make the top 50. His physical nature goes beyond the penalty minutes he piles up (second on the team through the first half of the season with 29, after leading the Blazers in 2009). It’s the ferocious hits, in-your-face defense and the occasional toe-to-toe battle that has Reffue glad he kept Ross around.
“He’s got a very high lacrosse IQ, he’s extremely tenacious, he never backs down, and he drops the gloves if he has to,” Reffue said. “But the most important thing is that he has a knack for putting himself in the right place at the right time.”
Taking a look at his career stats line with the Blazers, one wouldn’t immediately think of Ross as the type of player to score the biggest goal in the franchise’s brief history. Yet Ross shot his way into Blazers lore last year on Feb. 7. Boston trailed the New York Titans, 8-7, late in the fourth quarter; the Blazers’ Gary Bining tied things up with less than 10 seconds left. On the ensuing faceoff, Jay Thorimbert took a wild shot, hoping to beat the clock; Ross snagged the wide rebound, and blistered shot into the top right corner a half-second before the gun, giving Boston an improbable win that became the team’s signature moment.
“It is my favorite memory in my experience with the Blazers,” said Reffue, who ranked that moment just ahead of Boston’s victory earlier this year over Orlando, in which the Blazers scored two goals in the final 30 seconds and eventually won in double overtime. “It was a turning point for the franchise, and it gave us the confidence that we can do everything.”
It sparked something else in Ross, as well. The score was one of just two goals Ross had all year (along with seven assists). Always a factor in the defensive zone, he made a commitment at season’s end to be more involved with the Blazers’ transition and offense this winter, and sat down with the coaching staff to discuss adding that extra dimension.
“I thought that was a part of my game I could raise,” said Ross, who credited goalie Anthony Cosmo as the reason for his increased role in that capacity. “They kinda said the same thing. I think both parties were a little disappointed with my offensive output last year. I hoped to be like Jason Bloom was (13 goals, 10 assists for Bostonlast year).”
Ross topped his 2009 output in the first half of the 2010 season.
“Last year, he was definitely one of our most consistent defenders — a really gritty style, good at getting under people’s skin,” said Bostoncoach Tom Ryan. “He can tailor his game, depending on what we need of him. This year, we’re asking him to push and get a few more looks.”
Whether it’s a clutch goal or scrapping and fighting, Ross has the ability to make a game-changing play or get the TD Garden crowd into the action. Yet the plays that may seem out of the ordinary are the ones Ross expects himself to make.
“When I see my teammates make a big play, that gets me fired up,” he said.
Then again, Reffue said Ross’ mere presence should spark the rest of the roster. Generally, Ross’ flights from out west land just before 8 p.m. at Logan, which means there’s zero rest before Friday night practice, and not much recuperation before Saturday’s game.
“If he can fly cross-country and bring his ‘A’ game, we had better step up,” Reffue said. “It’s no mystery why he was voted assistant captain. People feed off his energy, positive attitude and willingness to do everything.”
There’s one thing he hasn’t done: play any form of field lacrosse. Ross said he may try it recreationally down the road, but currently his box lacrosse schedule is already pretty packed. In the offseason, he stars for the New West Salmonbellies, the British Columbiateam he nearly led to the Mann Cup title in 2008. And in 2007, he played for the CzechRepublicin the World Indoor Championships; Ross’ grandfather is from the country, and teams are allowed up to three non-passport holding players, as long as heritage can be proven.
Ross, however, hasn’t captured a championship yet with any of his clubs. He hopes to change that with Boston, and he’s willing to try for as long as they will have him, no matter the cross-country flights. So while Ross travels, don’t expect him to be going anywhere; the Blazers will let him pile up the frequent-flyer miles.
“It’s hard on the body, hard on the psyche,” Reffue said. “But he does it because he believes in the team.”
“The potential rewards I can get, at least in the immediate future,” Ross said, “the pros definitely outweigh the cons.”
