North Stars Tanner Buck The Hero In The See-Saw Battle With Brampton

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 Cam Mancini Media

The Owen Sound North Stars (4-5) traveled to face the Brampton Excelsiors (1-9) in Major Series Lacrosse action Thursday night at the Memorial Arena in Brampton, Ontario.

The goaltending match-up had Andrew Kidd in net for the North Stars facing Connor O’Toole in net for the Excelsiors.

In a penalty filled game, the special teams from both teams played a big part in the result. Nine power-play goals, as well as two shorthanded goals (5-1 Owen Sound, 4-1 Brampton) showcased the strong units each team had.

Jackson Webster (3g,6a) and Tanner Buck (3g,3a) led the way for the North Stars. Buck also had the game winner in overtime. For Brampton, Coltrane Tyson (3g,2a) and Finlay Thompson (2g,2a) led the Excelsiors.

This game was as even as you would find. No team had a lead over one goal the entire night. The teams were also even at the end of each period during regulation. Tanner Buck finally put an end to the game with a blast off a Josh Sanchez pass at 2:28 of the extra period, giving the North Stars the hard fought 12-11 victory.

To The Game:

Jackson Webster opened the scoring with an outside shot off a Tanner Buck pass at 2:43, but Coltrane Tyson evened the game with a low to low shot in front off a Tanner Thomson pass on the power-play at 4:53.

Webster gave Owen Sound the lead again with another laser to the corner off a Xander Derkatz pass on the power-play at 9:34, but yet another power-play goal from Tyson would even the game up heading to the break.

After one period, Owen Sound 2 Brampton 2.

Second Period:

The second period was a run and gun kind of period, with ten goals being scored in the frame.

Mitch Wilde opened the scoring for the North Stars in transition off a long lead pass from Andrew Kidd, but Coltrane Tyson’s third of the game on the power-play tied the game yet again.

Finlay Thomson gave Brampton their first lead of the night with a finesse move from in front off a Mike Trilo at 8:01, but Josh Rosa got the equalizer off a Jackson Webster feed at 9:12.

Briley Maxwell restored the Excelsiors slim lead at 9:56, but a shorthanded goal from Xander Derkatz, followed by a Tanner Buck marker had Owen Sound out in front once again at 12:26.

Not to be outdone, the Excelsiors answered with two of their own. Liam Patten scored in transition off a turnover at 16:04, followed by Josh Medeiros adding a transition goal off a Tanner Thomson feed at 17:08.

The North Stars tied the game again with Josh Sanchez beating Connor O’Toole to the stick side off a Xander Derkatz pass at 18:00.

After two periods, Owen Sound 7 Brampton 7.

Third Period:

Rory Graham opened the third converting a Finlay Thomson pass at 1:00, but a power-play goal from Mitch Wilde deadlocked the game once again at 2:12.

Finlay Thomson himself gave the Excelsiors the lead on the power-play off a nice feed from Tanner Thomson at 6:58, but once more the North Stars were there with the equalizer off a Cole Teeple transition goal, finishing a Tyler Halls pass at 7:40.

Jackson Webster scored on the power-play at 9:09, but again Tanner Thomson answered also on the power-play with a blast at 15:50.

Mike Trilo scored late for Brampton with a nice move in front off a Finlay Thomson pass at 16:54, but Tanner Buck tied the game with just 1:11 remaining, sending it to overtime.

After regulation, Brampton 11 Owen Sound 11.