Controversy As Warriors Dismantle Knighthawks

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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. Mr. Groob's other sports interests include Hockey, Football, Boxing, Wrestling, and Baseball, competing competitively in Boxing and Wrestling for many years.

(Photos courtesy of Micheline Veluvolu NLL)

The Vancouver Warriors (5-2) visited the Rochester Knighthawks (4-3) in the front end of a home and home series at the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, NY.

Both teams sport high flying offenses, with world class goalies.  Vancouver has been led by Marcus Klarich, Adam Charalambides, Curtis Dickson, Jesse King, and Keegan Bal.  Rochester has been equally as effective with Connor Fields, Ryan Smith, Ryan Lanchbury, Thomas McConvey, and Kyle Waters.

The goaltending match-up had Christian Del Bianco in net for the Warriors facing Rylan Hartley in net for the Knighthawks.

While this game had all the makings of a classic duel, a play at the 9:03 mark of the first quarter changed the trajectory of the match. 

Rochester goalie Rylan Hartley was ejected for hitting a defenseless opponent, Steph Charbonneau, on a transition play off a long lead pass from Vancouver goalie Christian Del Bianco.  The result had Charbonneau laying on the turf, and field erupting in scrums.  When the dust cleared, by rule 70.4 Hartley was ejected from the game.

When the teams got back to playing, Vancouver elevated their game and took control.  During the ensuing power-play Vancouver scored twice never to look back.  The second quarter saw the Warriors build up a 7-2 lead led with a pair of goals from Curtis Dickson.  Thomas McConvey and Zed Williams scored on the power-play for Rochester, but a late goal from Jesse King had the Warriors up 8-4 at the half.

Vancouver took total control in the third quarter.  Already up by four, the Warriors rhymed off seven unanswered goals in the quarter.  Led by Jesse King and Keegan Bal, Vancouver controlled every aspect of the quarter.  The fourth saw Rochester play better, holding Vancouver to just two goals, but the damage had been done.  Vancouver wins handily 16-6.

To The Game:

Ryan Smith opened the scoring for the Knighthawks converting a Ryan Lanchbury pass at 1:44, but a power-play marker from Curtis Dickson had the game tied at 5:51.

On a play that I’m sure we’ll be talking about for weeks, Rylan Hartley took out Steph Charbonneau on a long lead pass from Christian Del Bianco.  The result was a number of scrums, followed by Hartley being ejected from the game.  Riley Hutchcraft went in the Knighthawks net.

The ensuing power-play saw Vancouver score twice.  Keegan Bal converted a Jesse King pass at 12:22, followed by King himself finishing a Bal feed at 13:30.

Ryan Lanchbury got the Knighthawks within one with a blast off a Zed Williams pass at 14:26.

After one quarter, Vancouver 3 Rochester 2.

Second Quarter:

Adam Charalambides opened the second quarter scoring with a beautiful behind the back shot off a Keegan Bal pass at 0:19 seconds, followed by Curtis Dickson with a blast off a Bal feed as well at 2:35.

Marcus Klarich then added another Warriors goal off a Curtis Dickson pass at 3:55, followed by Dickson with his second of the quarter off another Bal pass at 6:36.

The Knighthawks tried to get back in the game scoring a pair of power-play goals.  Thomas McConvey converted a Ryan Lanchbury pass at 9:00, followed by Zed Williams with a laser to the corner off a Ryan Smith pass at 12:23.

Jesse King stopped the Rochester run with Jesse King with a low to low bounced shot ofd a Keegan Bal pass at 13:16.

At the half, Vancouver 8 Rochester 4.

Warriors

Third Quarter:

This quarter had the Warriors take total control of the game.  Jesse King opened the scoring on the power-play just 0:54 seconds into the quarter, followed by Marcus Klarich with his second of the game off a Curtis Dickson pass at 1:27.

The onslaught continued with Owen Grant scoring in transition off a Matt Beers pass at 3:20, followed by Jesse King on the power-play with his 4th of the game off a Keegan Bal feed at 10:39.

Adam Charalambides added to the total finishing a Marcus Klarich feed at 11:16.  Keegan Bal himself converted a Ryan Sheridan pass at 13:40, followed by Curtis Dickson with his fourth of the night just 0:20 seconds later.

After three quarters, Vancouver 15 Rochester 4.

Fourth Quarter:

Although the scoring was down in this frame, tempers flared all quarter long.   Ryan Smith scored for the Knighthawks on the power-play off a Connor Fields pass at 3:29, but Jesse King replied with a howitzer off a Marcus Klarich pass at 6:41.

Connor Fields finally got on the board finding the back of the net off a Ryan Lanchbury pass at 11:47.

In the waning moments of the game both Tyler Biles and Brad McCulley tried to get at Jackson Subach each getting a 10 minute misconduct for their troubles.  Ryan Dilks was also issued a 10 minute misconduct in the minor melé.

Final score, Vancouver 16  Rochester 6.

The Three Stars:

1. Jesse King
2. Keegan Bal
3. Curtis Dickson

Game Stats:

  • Shots on goal favored Rochester 51-47.
  • The faceoff battle was a 13-13 draw.
  • The loose ball battle went to the Knighthawks 76-66.
  • Vancouver went 5 for 10 on the power-play, while Rochester went 3 for 6.

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