(Photos courtesy of Christian Bender NLL)
The Calgary Roughnecks(0-2) visited the Toronto Rock (1-1) in the newly renovated TD Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario in front of 5,706 boisterous fans.
Both teams were coming off losses in their first week, and were looking for redemption in this game. Led by Haiden Dickson, Tyler Pace, Braydon Mayea, and Noah Manning, the Roughnecks pushed the Rock to their limits. Toronto countered with newcomers Sam English, Owen Hiltz, and CJ Kirst, as well as veterans like Dan Craig, Josh Dawick, Mark Matthews, and Chris Boushy.
The goaltending match-up had Aden Walsh in net for Calgary facing Nick Rose in net for Toronto.
The Roughnecks took charge early on, going up 2-0, until Josh Dawick gave the home faithful something to cheer for. The second saw more of the same, where Calgary was scoring from in close, but the Rock were doing a lot of outside shooting. At the half, Calgary took a 6-4 lead to the dressing room.
The second half saw a more aggressive Toronto Rock team. The Roughnecks, however, had most of the answers. Both teams found the net twice, setting up a classic fourth quarter.
The Rock put together their best quarter of their young season in the fourth. Three quick goals had them up by one in the first five minutes of the frame.
With Calgary down by two, Riley Loewan put the Roughnecks on his back scoring a pair of markers. However, a late beauty from Chris Boushy gave the Rock the lead. The closing moments were frantic, but Toronto was able to hold on for an 11-10 victory.
To The Game:
Calgary opened the scoring on a delayed penalty when Tanner Cook converted a Tyler Pace feed from in front at 2:57, followed by Noah Manning with a shorthanded marker also from in close off a Tanner Cook pass at 7:35.
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Josh Dawick finally got the Rock on the board with a howitzer from the outside off an Owen Hiltz pass at 14:10, but was answered quickly with a sidearm snipe from Noah Manning 0:26 seconds later.
After one quarter, Calgary 3 Toronto 1.
Second Quarter:
Calgary continued to find the back of the net with Brayden Laity scoring in transition off an Aden Walsh long lead pass at 0:59 seconds, but CJ Kirst answered with a sidearm snipe from the outside off a Challen Rogers pass at 2:31 to being the Rock within two.
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Toronto got within one when Josh Dawick scored again with a cannon from the outside off a Mark Matthews feed at 4:27, but on a Roughnecks power-play, Riley Loewan quick sticked a Tyler Pace pass at 5:15 to restore the two goal lead.
The Roughnecks increased their lead when Haiden Dickson picked the corner off a Pace feed at 12:10, but Chris Boushy answered with a low to low shot that beat Aden Walsh off a Chris Weier pass at 13:52.
At the half, Calgary 6 Toronto 4.
Third Quarter:
Sam English got the Rock rolling with his first NLL goal on a great individual effort scoring from in close off a Latrell Harris pass at 3:21, but a power-play blast from Tanner Cook restored the two goal lead at 4:43.
Owen Hiltz converted a pass from Sam English from in close with a sidearm blaze at 5:40, but another goal from Noah Manning through the five-hole of Nick Rose restored the two goal cushion.
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After three quarters, Calgary 8 Toronto 6.
Fourth Quarter:
Toronto again brought the game within one on a blast from Mark Matthews from in close off a CJ Kirst feed at 2:13, followed by Chris Boushy with a low to low shot to tie the game off a Josh Dawick pass 0:12 seconds later.
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The Rock took their first lead of the game when Owen Hiltz fired a low shot from in close off a CJ Kirst pass at 4:39, followed by Josh Dawick with his third of the night off a Mark Matthews pass at 5:43.
Riley Loewan came back with a pair for the Roughnecks. The first was when he was left all alone in front, off a Braydon Mayea pass at 7:42, followed by a shorthanded goal at 11:55 tying the game once again.
The Rock stormed back with Chris Boushy’s third of the game diving across the crease off a Josh Dawick pass at 12:54 for what turned out to be the game winner.
Final score, Toronto 11 Calgary 10.
(Photo courtesy of Christian Bender NLL)
The Three Stars:
1. Chris Boushy
2. Josh Dawick
3. Tyler Pace
Game Stats:
- Shots on goal had Toronto outshoot Calgary 53-48.
- The faceoff battle was dominated by the Roughnecks 20-5.
- The loose ball battle had the Rock edge out the Roughnecks 64-63.
- Calgary went 2 for 3 on the power-play with a pair of shorthanded goals.
- Toronto went 0 for 4 on the power-play.
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