Rock steady in shutout showing

BRAMPTON, Ont. – The Belleville Bulls made Aaron Rock work an entire 60 minutes for his shutout Tuesday night.rrThe Brampton Battalion goaltender had faced only 13 shots through two periods of an Ontario Hockey League preseason game at Baltimore, Ont., that the Troops won 1-0. The Bulls came on in the third, forcing Rock to make 15 saves, none bigger than a shorthanded breakaway stop against John Hughes in the final minute.rrI was hoping I wouldn’t get any shots over the last two minutes,” Rock said Wednesday. But it’s always a good feeling to make a stop on a breakaway at the end of the game.”rrRock, a 19-year-old resident of Wheaton, Ill., said he likes to keep busy even when he’s not seeing much rubber.rrWhen I’m not getting a lot of shots I like to be vocal with the guys when we’re in our end, and I like to try to get out and play the puck. It helps me stay loose and in the game, so when those pressure situations come I’m ready.”rrThe Battalion acquired Rock’s OHL rights from the Saginaw Spirit last June for an eighth-round pick in the 2007 OHL Priority Selection. He’s had a stellar preseason, appearing in three games and allowing two goals in 110:02. He made relief appearances in two games before going all the way against the Bulls. rrComing in without playing during the summer, it makes it tough coming on in relief,” said Rock, who played last season with the Tri-City Storm of the United States Hockey League. Those can be difficult situations, but they helped me get ready for last night. rrBut I’ve been fortunate. I think I’ve played well and I’m feeling really good. I have to play to the best of my ability every single night or I won’t get the opportunity to play.”rrRock appeared in 12 games with Saginaw in 2004-05, compiling a won-lost-tied record of 1-6-1, including one overtime loss, with a goals-against average of 4.29 and an .891 save percentage. Rock said he’s a completely different goalie from what he was in his first OHL stint.rrI was a rookie in Saginaw with a team that wasn’t very good, and I saw a lot of shots. I got a lot of confidence last season and I’m pretty much a new goalie from the last time I was in the OHL.”rrRock played 48 games with Tri-City, with a won-lost-extended record of 24-14-7, seven shutouts, a 2.09 goals-against average and a .905 save percentage. Leading the USHL in appearances, minutes, shutouts and goals-against average, Rock said, he grew into a leadership role.rrThe coach had a lot of faith in me and gave me a lot of responsibility right away, and that helped me grow up. That gave me the confidence to approach other guys on the team, so I have no problem doing that here.”rrWith veterans John de Gray and Phil Oreskovic away at National Hockey League camps and second-year defender Stephane Chabot out with a sprained ankle, Rock said he’s been communicating with the Battalion’s five-man defence corps, which includes rookies Brad Albert, Kevin Christmas and Ken Peroff.rrIt’s part of my job to talk to them. With young guys, we have to tell them what we see happening and what they might need to be doing, whether it’s during practices or during games.” rrThe Battalion wraps up its five-game exhibition schedule at 7:30 p.m. Friday against the host Guelph Storm. r