Kirst And Rogers Set Tone As Rock Roll To Victory

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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 the Vancouver Warriors X  page)

The Toronto Rock (7-5) visited the Vancouver Warriors (9-4) Friday night at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, BC.

The Rock are coming off a humbling game against the Buffalo Bandits last weekend, losing 14-9.  Leading the way for Toronto is forward Mark Matthews with 55 points (15G, 40A), good for 10th overall in the league. CJ Kirst has recorded 43 points (22G, 21A), and Owen Hiltz and Challen Rogers each have contributed 40 points.

The Warriors are coming off a successful double header, beating both the Las Vegas Desert Dogs 14-10 and the San Diego Seals 9-7..  Through 12 games, Keegan Bal is 2nd in the NLL with 82 points (28G, 54A), Jesse King has tallied 55 points (25G, 30A), and Curtis Dickson has a league-leading 32 goals to go along with 22 assists. 

The goaltending match-up had Nick Rose in net for Toronto facing Christian Del Bianco in net for Vancouver.

The first half couldn’t have gone any better for the Toronto Rock.   Led by CJ Kirst with four goals, and Challen Rogers with three, the Rock jumped out to a 10-3 lead at the half.  The Toronto defense was completely dialed in doing all the little things to frustrate the Warriors.  This was by far the best half of lacrosse this group had played in years.

The second half was a tale of a different game.  Led by Marcus Klarich scoring four goals, the Warriors tried to make a comeback.  The third quarter had Vancouver score four times in six minutes, only to have the Rock answer back with three of their own, in a span of just 1:04 to give themselves some breathing room.

The fourth quarter saw Vancouver dictate the pace, scoring three unanswered goals to get within three midway through the frame.  Nick Rose and the Rock defense were able to hold on, keeping the Warriors scoreless the rest of the way.  Toronto wins 13-10.

To The Game:

The Rock opened the scoring with CJ Kirst scooping up a rebound off an Owen Hiltz shot from in close at 1:35, but an outside bounced shot from Jesse King tied the game at 5:06. 

Challen Rogers regained the Toronto lead with a screened howitzer off a Dan Craig pass at 6:26, followed by Chris Boushy with a quick stick from in from off a Mark Matthews pass at 8:52. 

Rogers then added another marker with a great individual effort heading to the net off an Owen Hiltz pass at 12:05, followed by Nick Rowlett winning the faceoff, then going in solo 0:07 seconds later.

Marcus Klarich stopped the Rock run with a goal from the top of the crease off a Keegan Bal pass at 12:34, but CJ Kirst answered off a Latrell Harris pass in transition at 13:58.

After one quarter, Toronto 6 Vancouver 2.

Second Quarter:

Owen Grant opened the second quarter scoring with a screen shot off a Christian Del Bianco pass in transition at 3:48, but a highlight reel goal from CJ Kirst off a Hugh Kelleher rebound at 6:32 restored the Rock’s four goal lead.

https://twitter.com/i/status/2030129212124745899

Challen Rogers then added his third of the game with an outside shot beyond the restraining line off a CJ Kirst pass at 7:05, followed by Sam English with a great individual effort from in close off a Lucas Hucal pass at 8:50. 

Vancouver replaced Christian Del Bianco with Connor O’Toole in net for a few minutes, but Del Bianco returned three minutes later.

CJ Kirst welcomed Del Bianco back in net with a low to low shot off a Sam English pass at 10:47 for a seven goal Rock lead.

At the half, Toronto 10 Vancouver 3.

Warriors

Third Quarter:

Whatever was said in the Vancouver dressing room lit a spark.  Jesse King converted a Keegan Bal pass at 1:03, followed by Curtis Dickson finishing another Bal feed from in close at 2:15.

Marcus Klarich potted the next two tallies for the Warriors.  The first was from in close off a Jesse King pass at 3:47, followed a quick stick from the side of the net off a Curtis Dickson pass at 6:56.

The Rock struck back with three goals in 1:04.  CJ Kirst scored his fifth of the night converting a Sam English pass in transition at 11:38, followed by Hugh Kelleher with a great individual effort scoring unassisted 0:12 seconds later.  Mark Matthews then blasted a laser off a Josh Dawick feed at 12:42.

After three quarters, Toronto 13 Vancouver 7.

Fourth Quarter:

Keegan Bal opened the fourth quarter scoring with a low to low shot off an Adam Charalambides pass at 4:26, followed by Marcus Klarich with his fourth of the night diving g across the crease at 6:54.  Klarich then potted his fifth of the night with another great effort from in front off a Keegan Bal pass at 7:41.

Vancouver kept the pressure throughout the quarter, but Nick Rose and the Toronto defense were up for the challenge.

Final score, Toronto 13 Vancouver 10.

The Three Stars:

1. CJ Kirst
2. Marcus Klarich
3. Challen Rogers

Game Stats:

  • Shots on goal favored Toronto 50-47.
  • The faceoff battle was tied 14-14.
  • The loose ball battle went to the Rock 83-63.
  • Toronto went 0 for 1 on the power-play, while Vancouver had no power-play opportunities.

Don’t forget to check us out every Sunday night at 8pm (ET) on StreamPunkEnt.com

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