Boushy Scores Five As Rock Maul Black Bears

Picture of Gary Groob

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 Kevin Sousa NLL)

The Ottawa Black Bears (4-5) faced the Toronto Rock (4-3) in NLL action Saturday night at the TD Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario in front of just under 7000 fans.

Ottawa had a rough outing last week in Vancouver and were looking to get back on track.  Jeff Teat has led the way, with Connor Kearnan, Reilly O’Connor, Larson Sundown, and Rob Hellyer also being major factors in an explosive offense.

The Rock have gelled more and more every outing.  Newcommers CJ Kirst, Owen Hiltz, and Sam English get more acclimated every time out, carrying an already talented offense.  Mark Matthews, now healthy, is back to his old dominant form.  The combination of Chris Boushy and Josh Dawick’s chemistry has continued since their breakout year last season.

The goaltending match-up had Zach Higgins in net for Ottawa facing Troy Holowchuk in net for the Rock.

Chris Boushy (5-0) and Challen Rogers (3g,4a) led Toronto in their most dominant performance of the season.  Mark Matthews (2g,9a) was paramount in this game, quarterbacking the Rock offense all night. For the Black Bears, Jeff Teat (2g,5a), Larson Sundown (3g,1a) and Rob Hellyer (3g,3a) led Ottawa’s offense.  

Toronto set the tone as the first quarter was coming to an end with Josh Dawick and CJ Kirst scoring 0:22 seconds apart to increase Toronto’s lead to 5-2 after one.   Picking up where they left off, the Rock scored two more quickly in the second.  Chris Boushy and Justin Martin continued the onslaught opening up a 7-2 lead.  While Ottawa would score three power-play goals in the frame, tallies by Mark Matthews, Owen Hiltz and Challen Rogers would give the Rock a 10-5 lead at the half.

It didn’t get easier in the second half for the Black Bears with Chris Boushy scoring back to back goals just 0:53 seconds apart.  Larson Sundown would answer, but throughout the rest of the game, everytime Ottawa would score, Toronto would reply, never letting the Black Bears gain any momentum.  Toronto comes away with a 17-10 exclamation point victory.

Toronto goalie Troy Holowchuk had another superb game in net making 37 saves on the night.  Being thrust into the starting job a few weeks back with an injury to Nick Rose, Holowchuk has taken full advantage of the opportunity, being rock solid in net.

To The Game:

Chris Boushy got the Rock rolling early converting a Mark Matthews pass from in close at 2:35, but Larson Sundown answered with a blast off a Reilly O’Connor feed at 6:11.

Josh Dawick regained the Toronto lead with a laser off an Owen Hiltz pass 0:33 seconds later, followed by Challen Rogers with a shot from in close off a Matthews feed on a delayed penalty at 11:12.

Reilly O’Connor brought the Black Bears within one finishing a Rob Hellyer pass at 13:11, but goals from Josh Dawick on the power-play and CJ Kirst just 0:22 seconds apart had the Rock up by three at the end of the quarter.

After one quarter, Toronto 5 Ottawa 2.

Second Quarter:

Toronto kept the pressure on in the second quarter with Chris Boushy and Justin Martin scoring inside the first five minutes to give the Rock a 7-2 lead. 

Ottawa got back in the game with goals from Rob Hellyer and Jeff Teat, both on the power-play, just 0:44 seconds apart at 5:49.

Mark Matthews answered the mini Ottawa run with a low laser to the corner off a CJ Kirst pass at 6:09, but Larson Sundown’s second of the night on the power-play kept the Black Bears close at 10:45.

Toronto finished the half strong with Owen Hiltz firing a howitzer off a Challen Rogers pass at 11:26, followed by Rogers himself scoring off a Mark Matthews feed at 12:19.

At the half, Toronto 10 Ottawa 5.

Warriors

Third Quarter:

Chris Boushy continued his hot night with back to back goals to start the third quarter.  The first was off a “thread the needle” pass from Mark Matthews at 1:31, followed by another goal.from in close off a Dan Craig pass at 2:24.

Larson Sundown helped keep Ottawa in the game with a blast to the corner off a Josh Dawick pass at 7:40, but Chris Boushy’s fifth of the game stopped the Black Bears momentum in it’s tracks at 9:27.

Rob Hellyer found the corner off a Jett Teat pass at 13:17, but again the Rock replied with Mark Matthews beating Zach Higgins off a Phil Mazzuca pass in transition at 14:21.

Hellyer added a late goal, converting another Teat feed from in close at 14:59.

After three quarters, Toronto 14 Ottawa 8.

Fourth Quarter:

Jeff Teat opened the fourth quarter scoring to start the fourth quarter, but power-play tallies from Owen Hiltz and CJ Kirst gave Toronto a 16-9 lead midway through the quarter.

Connor Kearnan scored for Ottawa finishing a Hellyer pass at 7:35, but Toronto’s fourth power-play goal of the night  this time from from Challen Rogers, sealed the result.

Final score, Toronto 17 Ottawa 10.

The Three Stars:

1. Chris Boushy
2. Mark Matthews
3. Challen Rogers

Game Stats:

  • The shots on goal favored Toronto 52-46.
  • The faceoff battle went to Ottawa 17-13.
  • The loose ball battle was won by the Rock 69-66.
  • Ottawa went 3 for 4 on the power-play, while Toronto went 4 for 4.

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

Popular Posts