Excelsiors Put Together Most Complete Game Of Their Season In Victory Over Kodiaks

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 Cam Mancini Media

The Cobourg Kodiaks (6-10) traveled west to face the Brampton Excelsiors (2-13) in Major Series Lacrosse action at the Memorial Arena in Brampton, Ontario.

The goaltending match-up had Jackson Brown in net for the Kodiaks facing Riley Hutchcraft in net for the Excelsiors.

A wild game from start to finish had both teams showing signs of greatness, but also signs of vulnerability. Cobourg started strong getting out to an early 2-0 lead, but then the Excelsiors offense woke up. Led by Finn Thomson (3g,3a), Eric Ward (3g,1a), Jacob Janke (2g 4a), Bowie Horsman (2g,2a), and Liam Patten (2g,0a), the Excelsiors caught fire later in the first period, never looking back.

Brampton controlled the tempo in the next two periods, chasing Cobourg’s starting goalie Jackson Brown 5:21 into the second period. Laine Hruska was greeted just as hastily as the Excelsiors were able to score seven times in 35:00 on him as well.

Alex Marinier (3g,1a), and Jake Harrington (1g,2a) were strong forces for the Kodiaks. However, the Excelsiors defense was able to de-rail Cobourg’s offense throughout the later periods. Brampton comes away with a 16-9 victory.

To The Game

The Kodiaks got rolling early with Briley Maxwell and Alex Marinier staking them to a 2-0 lead 2:29 into the game.

The Excelsiors got on track with Bowie Horsman scoring low to the shortside off a Jacob Janke pass at 3:37, followed by FinlayThomson blasting a Josh Medeiros pass in transition at 6:39 to tie the game.

Jacob Janke gave Brampton their first lead of the game off a Finlay Thomson pass at 7:55, followed by Bowie Horsman with his second of the game also off a Thomson feed on the power-play at 10:10.

Jake Harrington got Cobourg within one with a sidearm snipe off a Zach Thompson pass at 11:29, but Nate Ruff converted a pass from Josh Medeiros in transition to restore the two goal lead.

Liam Patten then increased the Excelsiors lead to three converting a Connor McClelland pass at 16:36, but Andrew Vradenburg kept the Kodiaks close with a low to low blast to the corner unassisted at 17:14.

After one period, Brampton 6 Cobourg 4.

Second Period:

Reed Kurtz opened the second period scoring for Brampton with a great individual off the opening faceoff scoring just 0:05 seconds into the frame.

Alex Marinier answered quickly for the Kodiaks scoring just 0:39 seconds later off a David Anderson pass, but again the Excelsiors came back with Coltrane Tyson finishing a Jacob Janke pass at 3:13.

Janke himself then scored off a Zach Sunderland feed at 5:21 chasing Jackson Brown form the Kodiaks net in favor of Laine Hruska. Hruska was welcomed to the game by Eric Ward who blasted a howitzer low to the far corner off a Reed Kurtz pass at 10:48,

Cobourg continued to show their compete when David Anderson was able to beat Riley Hutchcraft with a quick stick off a Jake Harrington pass at 12:27, but Finlay Thomson stopped their momentum with a low bounced shot that found the corner off a Coltrane Tyson pass at 12:54.

Kaleb Bingley kept the Kodiaks in the game with a great dig of a loose ball, followed by a strong effort to beat Riley Hutchcraft to the stickside unassisted at 14:29.

After two periods, Brampton 11 Cobourg 7.

Third Period:

The Excelsiors put together one of their most complete periods of the season in the third. Liam Patten scored in transition off a Callum Witter pass at 3:17, followed by Zach Sunderland with a sidearm snipe off an Eric Ward pass 0:38 seconds later.

Kieran McKay scored for Cobourg off a long lead pass from Laine Hruska in transition at 6:03, but again the Excelsiors had answers. Finn Thomson scored just 1:01 later to keep Brampton in control.

Eric Ward and Alex Marinier traded goals later in the period, but a power-play blast from Ward with just 0:47 remaining sealed the deal for Brampton.

Final score, Brampton 16 Cobourg 9.