Newcomer Saris The Hero In Lakers Late Victory Over The Rock

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 the Peterborough Lakers Instagram page

The Peterborough Lakers (7-1) visited the Oakville Rock (2-6) Monday night in Major Series Lacrosse action at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre in Oakville, Ontario.

The goaltending match-up had Nick Rose in net for the Lakers facing Landon Kells in net for the Rock.

Nick Rose made his homecoming back to TRAC in grandiose style making 52 saves in the 7-6 victory. Landon Kells was also impressive in the Rock net making 45 of 52 saves in the game himself.

As the game went on, so did the defensive struggle. Both Rose and Kells had been spectacular through two periods making a combined 64 saves (36 for Rose, 28 for Kells). Peterborough was up 4-2 with one period to go.

The Rock put up a tremendous fight in the third. Getting on a three goal run, Oakville briefly took the lead late in the game. Adam Thistlewaite played a big part in the late stages of the game for the Lakers. Thistlewaite set up the game tying and game winning goals, leading Peterborough to the narrow 7-6 victory.

To The Game:

Josh Dawick opened the scoring for Oakville with an outside blast off a Jack McAlpine pass at 7:10, but Thomas Hoggarth evened the game with a shot from in close off a Dylan Hutchison pass 0:31 seconds later.

Brad McCulley gave the Lakers their first lead of the night with a sidearm snipe off a Hoggarth feed at 17:09.

After one period, Peterborough 2 Oakville 1.

Second Period:

Tyler Hendryks got the second period scoring going for Oakville with a great move from in close off a Phil Mazzuca pass at 2:12 to tie the game.

Peterborough came back with a pair of goals. Mike Robinson converted an Adam Thistlewaite pass at 9:40, followed by Joe Resetarits with a sidearm blast off a Robinson feed from the side of the net at 12:51.

After two periods, Peterborough 4 Oakville 2.

Third Period:

Jack McAlpine got Oakville within one with a laser off a Josh Dawick pass at 0:37 seconds, but Austin Hasen answered with an outside blast off a Ben Trumble pass at 6:25.

McAlpine scored his second of the period off a Ty English pass at 8:02, followed by English with a great individual effort off a Sam LeClair pass at 10:49 to tie the game.

Things got chippy with Phil Mazzuca and Brad McCulley squaring off in a tilt at 11:20, setting the stage for a barn-burner of a finish.

Chris Weier then gave Oakville the lead in transition off a Zack Kearney pass at 14:41.

Taite Cattoni evened the score off an Adam Thistlewaite pass at 16:04, followed by newcomer Braedon Saris converting a Thistlewaite pass from in front at 17:45.

Final score, Peterborough 7 Oakville 6.
Shots on goal favored Oakville 58-52.