(Photo courtesy of Ryan McCullough/Toronto Rock)
The Halifax Thunderbirds visited the Toronto Rock to open the 2025-2026 NLL finals at the TD Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario in front of 7,812 boisterous fans.
While both teams finished down in the standings (6th & 8th), both squads showed tremendous resilience and character during the playoffs, making it to the final. The Return of Randy Staats has paid dividends for the Thunderbirds, adding to an already potent offense of Jamieson, Petterson, Bomberry, Knox, and Bowhunter.
Toronto has lived off the great play of their three main rookies. Sam English, Owen Hiltz, and CJ Kirst have all been nothing short of electrifying. Nick Rose has played exceptional since coming back from injury late in the season.
The goaltending match-up had Warren Hill in net for the Thunderbirds facing Nick Rose in net for the Rock.
The Toronto Rock came out flying in the opening quarter, striking twice in just 24 seconds as Dan Craig opened the scoring with a high-to-high blast from the outside off a Josh Dawick feed, followed quickly by Owen Hiltz ripping a sidearm snipe to the corner from a Mark Matthews pass. Halifax answered right back, beginning with Wake:Riat BowHunter finishing from behind the net before Mike Robinson buried a low-to-low laser to even the score. The Thunderbirds then seized momentum midway through the frame as Jason Knox hammered home a blast from the outside and Clarke Petterson followed just 23 seconds later with a finish from the top of the crease. Mark Matthews responded late for Toronto with a howitzer from the outside off an Owen Hiltz setup, but Halifax carried a 4-3 lead after one quarter.
The Thunderbirds took control early in the second quarter with a stunning opening sequence. Jake Withers won the faceoff and went coast-to-coast just seven seconds in, and Jason Knox followed 15 seconds later with another outside bomb off a Cody Jamieson feed to quickly extend the lead. CJ Kirst helped spark Toronto back into the game with a terrific side-to-side individual effort midway through the quarter, but Halifax continued to answer every push. Casey Wilson restored the three-goal cushion with a slick inside move before Stephen Keogh scored from beside the net and Knox crashed the crease for his third of the half. Kirst added another highlight-reel marker late in the quarter with a twister finish in front, but Halifax controlled the pace and physicality through the opening 30 minutes to take a 9-5 advantage into halftime.
The third quarter saw the game swing back in Toronto’s favour after Halifax had built momentum early. CJ Kirst struck twice for the Thunderbirds, first diving across the crease off a Chris Boushy feed at 1:10, then cashing in after Owen Hiltz battled for loose balls behind the net before finding Kirst at 4:14. Toronto answered midway through the frame as Josh Dawick quick-sticked home a Dan Craig pass at 7:30, before Boushy tied the game 9-9 with a slick finish in front off a Challen Rogers setup at 11:13. After three quarters, the teams were deadlocked in a fast-paced, physical battle.
Toronto took control for good in the fourth quarter with timely offense and transition play. Challen Rogers blasted home a power-play marker off a Mark Matthews pass at 2:04 to give the Rock the lead, but Halifax responded with back-to-back goals from Cody Jamieson to reclaim the advantage. The Rock refused to fold, as Owen Hiltz raced in alone in transition and buried the equalizer at 8:33 before Sam English finished a beautiful passing play from Rogers less than a minute later to restore Toronto’s lead. English added an empty-net goal while going coast-to-coast at 14:43 to seal a hard-fought 13-11 victory for the Rock
To The Game:
The Rock opened the scoring with a high to high blast from the outside by Dan Craig off a Josh Dawick pass at 4:04, followed by Owen Hiltz with a sidearm snipe to the corner off a Mark Matthews pass 0:24 seconds later.
The Thunderbirds came back when Wake:Riat BowHunter scored from behind the net off a Jason Knox shot at 4:56, followed by a low to low laser from Mike Robinson off a Casey Wilson feed at 8:57.
The Thunderbirds took their first lead of the night with a blast from Jason Knox off a Stephen Keogh pass at 11:10, followed by Clarke Petterson with a shot from the top of the crease off Brendan Bomberry pass 0:23 seconds later.
Mark Matthews brought Toronto within one with a howitzer from the outside off an Owen Hiltz pass at 12:59.
After one quarter, Halifax 4 Toronto 3.
Second Quarter:
Halifax increased their lead off the opening faceoff with Jake Withers going coast to coast at 0:07 seconds, followed by Jason Knox with a bomb from the outside off a Cody Jamieson feed 0:15 seconds later.
CJ Kirst got the Rock rolling again with a great individual effort going side to side off a Sam English pass at 6:53, but a great inside move from Casey Wilson restored the three goal lead for the Thunderbirds at 11:43.
Stephen Keogh then increased the Halifax lead from the sodenof the net off a Clarke Petterson feed at 12:15, followed by Jason Knox crashing the crease off a Cody Jamieson pass 0:28 seconds later.
The Rock kept fighting with CJ Kirst scoring with a twister from in front off a Hugh Kelleher pass at 12:53.
At the half, Halifax 9 Toronto 5.
Third Quarter:
CJ Kirst opened the third quarter scoring with a pair of goals. The first was diving across the crease off a Chris Boushy pass at 1:10, followed by finishing the great effort of Owen Hiltz grabbing loose balls, diving from behind the net at 4:14 for the tally.
Josh Dawick brought the Rock within one with a quick stick off a Dan Craig pass at 7:30, followed by Chris Boushy with a sweet finish from in front off a Challen Rogers pass at 11:13 to tie the game.
After three quarters, Toronto 9 Halifax 9.
Fourth Quarter:
Challen Rogers gave the Rock the lead on the power-play with a blast from the side of the net off a Mark Matthews pass at 2:04, but a pair from Cody Jamieson gave the Thunderbirds the lead once again. The first was a power-play marker from the outside at 7:15, followed by a low laser at 8:19.
Owen Hiltz went in all alone in transition, making no mistake at 8:33 to again tie the game, followed by a beauty from Sam English that found the back of the net off a Challen Rogers pass at 9:19 to put Toronto up once again.
English then sealed the game with an empty net marker going coast to coast at 14:43.
Final score, Toronto 13 Halifax 11.
The Three Stars:
1. CJ Kirst
2. Sam English
3. Jason Knox
Game Stats:
- Shots on goal favored Toronto 59-49.
- The faceoff battle went to the Thunderbirds 18-11.
- The loose ball was won by Halifax 70-67.
- Both teams went 1 for 2 on the power-play.
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