(Photo courtesy of C. Bender NLL)
The Oshawa FireWolves (2-8) visited the Toronto Rock (5-3) in a rematch from game one of the season in which the FireWolves came out on top 8-7.
Emerson Clark had been activated from the Oshawa practice squad to add more muscle to a young FireWolves unit. For Toronto, Owen Hiltz is one of the rookies in the Rock offence that has acclimated early on. With a four-game multi-point streak, he has been perfecting his passing game lately as he’s posted eight assists in those games.
The goaltending match-up had Doug Jamieson in net for the FireWolves facing Troy Holowchuk in net for the Rock.
After almost thirteen minutes of scoreless action the Rock struck paydirt with a pair of late goals in the first quarter. Dan Craig stung the far corner followed by Chris Boushy diving from behind the net for a two goal cushion. Owen Hiltz continued the momentum with a laser to open the second quarter.
Oshawa finally got rolling when Tye Kurtz fired an absolute howitzer, followed by Dawson Theede with a shot Holowchuk wished he had back to tighten the game to 3-2.
Toronto got back on track with Dan Craig’s second of the game from the outside, followed by Josh Dawick with a laser to the corner late in the half. Challen Rogers scored an pretty goal while falling down to again open a four goal lead, but Alex Simmons replied with a laser from the side of the net to bring the FireWolves a bit closer. However, a late outside blast from Josh Dawick, put the Rock up by four at the half. Toronto took a 7-3 lead to the dressing room.
The third quarter had a lot of the same qualities of the first quarter with a track meet for the first five minutes before CJ Kirst increased the Rock lead. Emerson Clark scored his first goal since January of 2023 for Oshawa, but Challen Rogers and Chris Boushy replied to increase the lead to 10-4. Dawson Theede scored his second of the game, but the Rock would take a 10-5 lead to the fourth.
Toronto looked to have the game in hand until a pair of Latrell Harris penalties. Dawson Theede took over scoring a pair of goals on the power-play, followed by an even strength goal to bring Oshawa within two goals with six minutes left. Tye Kurtz brought the FireWolves within one with just over five minutes left, setting up a heart-stopping finish.
Oshawa pressed, but Troy Holowchuk was sensational down the stretch, making huge save after huge save. Challen Rogers gave the Rock some breathing room with an empty net goal with 43.5 seconds left . Toronto holds on to a slim 12-10 victory.
To The Game:
Things got chippy early with the anticipated tilt between Elijah Gash and Emerson Clark.
After almost an entire quarter of end to end action with no scoring, Dan Craig found the far corner from in close off a Josh Dawick feed at 12:08, followed by Chris Boushy with a great individual effort diving from behind the net at 13:25.
After one quarter, Toronto 2 Oshawa 0.
Second Quarter:
The Rock got rolling early in the second with Owen Hiltz finding the shortside off a CJ Kirst pass at 0:13 seconds.
Oshawa finally solved a very hot Troy Holowchuk when Tye Kurtz fired a laser to the corner off a Taggert Clark pass at 5:35, followed by Dawson Theede from the outside 0:26 seconds later.
Dan Craig got Toronto back on track with an overhand shot form the outside off a Challen Rogers pass at 10:12, followed by Josh Dawick with a laser off a Chris Weier pass in transition at 11:20.
Challen Rogers scored from in close while falling down off a Mark Matthews pass at 11:46, but Alex Simmons answered with a howitzer from the side of the net at 12:18.
Josh Dawick then blasted a howitzer from the restraining line off a Mark Matthews pass at 13:29 to give the Rock a four goal lead heading to the half.
At the half, Toronto 7 Oshawa 3.
Third Quarter:
CJ Kirst opened the third quarter scoring with a sidearm snipe from the outside off an Owen Hiltz flip pass at 5:12, but the FireWolves answered quickly with Emerson Clark scoring all alone in front at 5:35.
Challen Rogers increased the Rock lead with a bounced shot off a Josh Dawick pass at 6:41, followed by Chris Boushy with a quick stick from in front off a Challen Rogers pass at 8:42.
Oshawa stopped the Rock mini-run when Dawson Theede finished an Alex Simmons feed from in front at 12:48.
After three quarters, Toronto 10 Oshawa 5.
Fourth Quarter:
Owen Hiltz opened the fourth quarter scoring from in front off a Josh Dawick pass at 0:48 seconds, but Dyson Williams answered with a boast off an Ethan Walker pass at 1:09.
The FireWolves got closer with a pair of Dawson Theede power-play goals. The first was from in close off a Jackson Nishimura pass at 7:01, followed by converting a Tye Kurtz pass from the outside at 8:09. Theede then got his fiftj of the night with a spinarama move from in close at 8:53.
Tye Kurtz brought the FireWolves within one goal with a dive from behind the net off a Dyson Williams pass at 10:43, but an empty net goal from Challen Rogers with 43.5 seconds left sealed the deal.
Final score, Toronto 12 Oshawa 10.
The Three Stars:
1. Troy Holowchuk
2. Dawson Theede
3. Challen Rogers
Game Stats:
- Shots on goal were tied 51-51.
- The faceoff battle went to the FireWolves 16-10.
- The loose ball battle was won by Oshawa 76-65.
- The FireWolves went 2 for 3 on the power-play, while Toronto went 0 for 1.
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