Colorado Continues Dominant Play With Mammoth Win Over Toronto

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Gary Groob

Gary Groob has been involved with Lacrosse for the majority of his life, whether playing, coaching, or covering the sport for the media. An avid fan, with a real drive about helping to "grow the game", Gary became part of podcasts about the game in 2010. Through the podcasts, Mr. Groob was given an opportunity to write about lacrosse, and the rest as they say, is history. Through many miles (flying and driving) Gary has made inroads with the National Lacrosse League, Major Series Lacrosse, Ontario Series Lacrosse, the Ontario Lacrosse Association, CUFLA, as well as the Arena Lacrosse League, covering the leagues, their teams, and players, working for, and in concert with all of them. In the year 2019, Mr. Groob was made the media person for the Arena Lacrosse League, voted onto the board of directors of the Brampton Excelsiors Lacrosse Club, as well as being made administrator of the Lacrosse page "Global Lacrosse" with a membership of 14,000+ members in over 90 Countries. Gary was also made an administrator of Lacrosse History Past Present and Future in 2022 with a membership of 19,000+. Gary also has been the media person for Ontario Series Lacrosse (Senior B) since 2023. Mr. Groob also covers the Green Gaels for their excursions to Prague at the Ales Hrebesky tournament since 2022. In 2024, when Major Series Lacrosse was in need of a media person, Gary stepped in as their interim media person. His tasks were running their social media, as well as their website until a full time person was found to fill the role. In 2025 Gary was voted onto the Board of Directors for Ontario Series Lacrosse. Mr. Groob hosts a weekly lacrosse interview show formerly on Spanglish Sports World, and ZingoTV channel 250, now on StreamPunkEnt.com, Youtube, as well as Spotify. Groob also hosts a lacrosse talk show and podcast for All Lacrosse All The Time seen live Sunday nights at 8pm (ET), and archived on the All Lacrosse All The Time YouTube page, as well as Spotify. Gary also wrote a weekly lacrosse editorial column for La Portada Canada News both in print and online for three years from 2021-2024. In 2025, Mr. Groob joined the ownership ranks, becoming a minority owner of StreamPunk Entertainment, ensuring Lacrosse will always have voice in media. Mr. Groob's other sports interests include Hockey, Football, Boxing, Wrestling, and Baseball, competing competitively in Boxing and Wrestling for many years.

(Photo courtesy of John Matthew Harrison/ NLL)

The Toronto Rock (5-5) traveled to face the Colorado Mammoth (9-2) in NLL action Saturday night at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado.

The Mammoth have been white hot, tying a franchise record with a six game win streak.  Led by Andrew Kew, Jack Hannah, & Will Malcom, Colorado has been an offensive juggernaut.  Dillon Ward has been in championship form in net this season as well.

Recently, the Rock have gelled with Owen Hiltz, CJ Kirst, Mark Matthews and Josh Dawick leading the charge.  San English rejoins the team after a few gameson the injured reserve, to add even more depth to the offense.  Troy Holowchuk has been superb replacing Nick Rose in the Toronto goal.

The goaltending match-up had Troy Holowchuk in net for the Rock facing Dillon Ward in net for the Mammoth.

The Mammoth really never let Toronto into this game.  Matthew Paolatto scored just 0:07 seconds in, and the Mammoth never looked back.  Colorado scored five in the first quarter, chasing Troy Holowchuk before the Rock would get on the board.  The second quarter wasn’t any more pleasant for Toronto with the Mammoth building a 9-4 lead at the half.

The one bright spot for the Rock happened from later in the second quarter through midway into third quarter. Toronto defense was able to keep the Mammoth offense off the board for over 15:00 minutes.  During this time, they were able to get within three goals.  Chris Boushy and Owen Hiltz scored for the Rock.  Mark Matthews assisted on both to bring his career points total to 1100.

Colorado then erupted for six goals in 5:30.  Will Malcom stopped the Toronto run, followed by Andrew Kew and Braedon Saris scoring 0:25 seconds apart.  Dylan McIntosh and Matthew Paolatto then scored 0:05 seconds apart and the Rock were reeling.  Andrew Kew added a power-play marker and the damage was done.  Colorado took a 15-6 lead to the fourth quarter.   While the Mammoth did yield two goals in the fourth quarter, they were able to chew clock and leave with a 16-8 victory, setting a franchise record with seven wins in a row.

To The Game:

It took only 0:07 seconds for the Mammoth to strike.  Off the opening faceoff, Matthew Paolatto beat Troy Holowchuk high to the glove side, followed by Will Malcom converting an Andrew Kew feed 0:54 seconds later for a 2-0 lead.

Braedon Saris fired an absolute howitzer that beat Holowchuk off a Will Malcom pass at 2:29, followed by Andrew Kew with a low to low outside laser off a Saris feed at 5:15.  Jack Hannah then added a power-play marker from Braedon Saris to increase the lead to 5-0.

The Rock replaced Troy Holowchuk with Steve Orleman in net.

Phil Mazzuca finally got the Rock on the board going coast to coast in transition at 9:44.

After one quarter, Colorado 5 Toronto 1.

Second Quarter:

Challen Rogers scored quickly into the second quarter in transition finishing a Phil Mazzuca pass at 0:43 seconds, but the Mammoth would answer large, scoring three goals in 3:06 to take a huge lead in the game.

Owen Rahn scored from in front off a Braedon Saris pass at 1:02, followed by Andrew Kew with a sidearm snipe from the outside off a Will Malcom feed at 3:20.  Saris then converted a Will Malcom pass 0:48 seconds later to open an 8-2 lead.

Mark Matthews stopped the Mammoth run with a blast off a Josh Dawick pass at 4:55, but Dylan McIntosh would reply off a Jack Hannah feed at 6:03 to stop any Rock momentum.

Mark Matthews scored his second of the game on the power-play finishing a CJ Kirst pass at 12:45.

At the half, Colorado 9 Toronto 4.

Warriors

Third Quarter:

The Rock got rolling in the third when Chris Boushy finished a Mark Matthews pass at 0:55 seconds, followed by Owen Hiltz converting a Mark Matthews rebound with a dip and dunk from in close at 1:56.

On the Hiltz goal, Mark Matthews achieved his 1100th career point.

After just over 15:00 of scoreless play, Colorado exploded with six goals to finish the quarter.  Will Malcom stopped the Toronto mini run with a shot to the top corner off a Jack Hannah feed at 6:24, followed by Andrew Kew with a blast also off a Hannah pass at 8:04.  Braedon Saris then added his third of the game  0:25 seconds later.

Troy Holowchuk replaced Steve Orleman in the Toronto net.

Dylan McIntosh added a beauty from in close at 9:10, followed by Matthew Paolatto with another Mammoth marker 0:35 seconds later.  Andrew Kew then added a power-play tally off a Dylan McIntosh feed at 11:54.

After three quarters, Colorado 15 Toronto 6.

Fourth Quarter:

Challen Rogers opened the fourth quarter with a pair of goals.  The first had Rogers scoring with a blast off a CJ Kirst pass at 2:13, followed by a quick stick off a Mark Matthews pass at 7:19.

Colorado put Nathan Whittom in net to get some work, resting Dillon Ward.

Thomas Vela answered for the Mammoth with a dunk from behind the net off a Braedon Saris pass at 8:30.

Final score, Colorado 16 Toronto 8.

The Three Stars:

1. Andrew Kew
2. Braedon Saris
3. Mark Matthews

Game Stats:

  • Shots on goal favored the Mammoth 61-53.
  • The faceoff battle wss dominated by Colorado 23-5.
  • The loose ball battle went to the Mammoth 69-58.
  • Toronto went 1 for 4 on the power-play, while Colorado went 2 for 5.

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