Jones And Killen Lead Desert Dogs In Knighthawks Mauling

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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. Gary was voted onto the board of directors as the social media director for Ontario Series Lacrosse (OSL) in November of 2025. In 2026 Mr. Groob was nominated for the Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame, made a voting member of the NLL media, was put as a voting member in the Ales Hrebesky Tournament awards, and was nominated for the Tom Borelli Award as media person of the year for the NLL. 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 Las Vegas Desert Dogs Instagram page)

The Rochester Knighthawks (5-7) visited the Las Vegas Desert Dogs (5-7) Sunday afternoon in NLL action at Lee’s Family Forum in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Knighthawks made news at the trade deadline picking up Blaze Riorden, but also with the firing of Head Coach Mike Hasen and Assistant Coach Pat O’Toole.  Randy Mearns comes in as the interim Head Coach.

Las Vegas also made a few moves, losing Dylan Hutchison, Justin Sykes, Casey Wilson and Josh Jackson, but gaining Tyson Bell as well as draft picks. 

The goaltending match-up had Rylan Hartley in net for the Knighthawks facing Alex Buque in net for the Desert Dogs.

Las Vegas started the game on a mission taking control of the flow early.  Led by a pair of goals from Chris Cloutier and Kyle Killen, Las Vegas led 6-2 after one.  The Desert Dogs added two more goals to get out to a six goal lead in the second quarter.  But, on a two man advantage the Knighthawks got one back.   Adam Poitras replied with 3.6 seconds left in the half. Las Vegas took an 9-3 lead to the dressing room.

The Knighthawks came out in the second half with jump scoring two goals in 1:01 to start the third quarter.  However, Las Vegas weathered the early attack, then stormed back with three of their own.  

Blaze Riorden made his presence felt for Rochester scoring a pair of in close goals, followed by Zed Williams bringing this to a four goal deficit after three quarters.

Las Vegas took charge in the fourth once again, outscoring the Knighthawks 5-2 led by Mitch Jones with a pair.  The Desert Dogs win convincingly 17-10.

To The Game:

Las Vegas got on the board when Kyle Killen dove from behind the net off an Adam Poitras pass at 1:14, followed by Jonathan Donville with a quick stick off an Adam Poitras feed on the power-play at 3:52.

Zed Williams got the Knighthawks on the board with a spinarama move and shovel finish off a Ryan Lanchbury pass at 4:56, but Connor Kirst replied with a high to high shot to the top corner at 6:32.

Vegas continued the onslaught with a pair from Chris Cloutier.  First Cloutier intercepted a pass making no mistake from in front at 7:31, followed by a great individual effort off a Kevin Crowley feed to find the top corner at 8:11.

The Knighthawks put Riley Hutchcraft in net in favor of Rylan Hartley.

Connor Fields got Rochester back on the board from in close with a high to low shot off a Ryan Lanchbury pass at 10:34, but Kyle Killen answered back with his second of the quarter finishing a Mitch Jones pass at 11:30.

After one quarter, Las Vegas 6 Rochester 2.

Second Quarter:

Kyle Killen opened the second quarter scoring on the power-play off a Mitch Jones pass at 7:13, followed by Jonathan Donville with a high to low shot off a Jones feed as well 0:29 seconds later.

Rochester got one back on a two man advantage when Ryan Lanchbury scored from the side of the net off a Connor Fields pass at 14:16, but with just 0:03.6 seconds left, Adam Poitras beat Riley Hutchcraft to restore the six goal lead.

At the half, Las Vegas 9 Rochester 3.

Warriors

Third Quarter:

The Knighthawks stormed out of the dressing room scoring two goals in 1:01.  Ryan Smith scored on the power-play 0:10 seconds into rhe quarter, followed by Thomas McConvey with a squibbler 0:51 seconds later.

Las Vegas stopped the Knighthawks run wirh a shorthanded goal from Mitch Jones off a Jonathan Donville pass at 1:53, followed by a howitzer from Kyle Killen off a Mitch Jones pass at 3:36.  Jackson Webster then added a transition goal off a Rhys Blake pass at 5:04.

Blaze Riorden scored his first two as a Knighthawk.  The first diving across the crease off a Connor Fields pass on the power-play at 9:40, followed by a low to low laser through the five-hole of Alex Buque at 10:48.  Zed Williams added a goal from on close off a Thomas McConvey rebound on the power-play to bring the game within four at 13:27.

After three quarters, Las Vegas 12 Rochester 8.

Fourth Quarter:

The Desert Dogs opened the fourth quarter with Chris Cloutier’s third of the night off a Jonathan Donville pass at 0:16 seconds, but Zed Williams came back with a blast off a Ryan Smith pass at 2:26.

Mitch Jones continued the Desert Dogs assault scoring back to back tallies.   The first was off a Jonathan Donville feed at 3:25, followed by converting a Kevin Crowley pass at 4:19.

Kevin Crowley added his first goal as a Desert Dog, finishing a Jonathan Donville pass at 7:34, followed by Donville himself with a beauty off a Chris Cloutier pass at 9:42.

Zed Williams scored his fourth of the night converting a Connor Fields pass at 12:15.

Final score, Las Vegas 17 Rochester 10.

The Three Stars:

1. Kyle Killen
2. Mitch Jones
3. Zed Williams

Game Stats:

  • Shots on goal favored Rochester 54-50.
  • The faceoff battle went to the Knighthawks 22-9.
  • The loose ball battle was won by Rochester 88-72.
  • The Knighthawks went 4 for 8 on the power-play, while giving up 2 shorthanded goals.
  • Las Vegas went 2 for 2 on the power-play.

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

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