Bengals Draw First Blood With Victory Over Rivermen

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. 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.

The Hamilton Bengals (1-0) visited the Six Nations Rivermen (0-1) in Ontario Series Lacrosse playoff action at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena in Haggersville, Ontario.

The goaltending match-up had Aden Walsh in net for Hamilton facing Elan Henhawk in net for the Rivermen.

This was a game that special teams had a huge impact. Combined, the teams had two power-play goals, and FIVE shorthanded goals split down the middle (Hamilton 1-3, Six Nations 1-2).

Hamilton was able to string two separate three goal runs together to gain a slight advantage. However, the Rivermen continued to keep the game tight, continously fighting themselves back in the game. Led by Zach Sunderland (2g,4a) Hamilton was able to hold on for a 10-6 victory.

To The Game:

Shane Halliwell opened the scoring for Hamilton with a shorthanded goal off a Carson Moyer pass at 4:25, but a power-play goal from Rodd Squire evened the score at 13:45.

Zach Sunderland added another shorthanded marker off a Dawson Brown pass at 13:38, followed by Gareth Haigh with a blast off a Tye Argent pass at 15:14.

Josh Gilray increased the Bengals lead to three before Danton Miller answered back for the Rivermen finishing a Greg Elijah-Brown pass at 18:45.

After one period, Hamilton 4 Six Nations 2.

Second Period:

Danton Miller got Six Nations within one goal with a blast off a Rodd Squire pass at 1:22, but Jaden Patterson gave Hamilton a bit of breathing room again with a Low to low shot off a Josh Gilray pass at 6:16.

Squire himself added a goal for the Rivermen from the outside off a Thunder Hill pass at 7:11, but again the Bengals replied with Zach Sunderland converting a Carson Moyer pass at 11:35.

Moyer himself added a power-play goal to end the second period off a Zach Sunderland pass at 17:43.

After two periods, Hamilton 7 Six Nations 4.

Third Period:

Hamilton opened the third period with Dawson Brown increasing the lead shorthanded at 2:25.

The Rivermen clawed their way back with back to back shorthanded goals on the same penalty. Danton Miller finished a Ty Logan pass at 9:14, followed by Davin Bomberry with a quick stick off a Thunder Hill pass at 10:08, bringing Six Nations within two once again.

Trevor McDonald and Thomas McDonald added late goals for the Bengals to cement the victory.

Final score, Hamilton 10 Six Nations 6.