Rock Put League On Notice With Convincing Win Over Rush

Picture of Gary Groob

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 NLL Twitter page)

The Saskatchewan Rush (11-4) visited the Toronto Rock (9-5) on Marvel Super Hero night at the TD Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario, in front of 7,477 fans.

Saskatchewan comes into the weekend as the first team in the NLL this season to clinch a playoff spot following last weekend’s 10-9 victory over the San Diego Seals. Ryan Keenan leads the team in overall points with 76, sharing the goal scoring lead with Zach Manns (31) and the assist lead with Robert Church (45).

Mark Matthews leads the scoring for Toronto with 62 points.  CJ Kirst is in second with 52 points and leads the team in goals with 27. Toronto currently sits 5th in the NLL standings.

The goaltending match-up had Frank Scigliano in net for the Rush facing Nick Rose in net for the Rock.

Although Saskatchewan took an early 2-0 lead, the Rock battled back to only be down by a goal after one quarter.   Toronto took over in  the second quarter, scoring four times led by CJ Kirst with a hat-trick.  The Rock went to the dressing room up 6-4.

The Saskatchewan Rush got an early jump in the third quarter with Brock Haley and Robert Church scoring to tie the game.  The Rock stormed back with three of their own to take a commanding 9-6 lead.  Robert Church added a late marker, leaving the Rock holding on to a two goal lead heading to the fourth quarter.

With a combination of strong defense, and opportunistic offense, Toronto would take over the pace of the game un the fourth.  The Rock outscored Saskatchewan 4-2 in the fourth, to give themselves a 13-9  victory.

To The Game:

The Rush opened the scoring with an outside shot from Robert Church off a Zach Manns feed at 1:27, followed by Brock Haley getting the rebound off a Church shot at 3:53.

Mark Matthews got the Rock on the board on the power-play with a howitzer off an Owen Hiltz pass at 6:23, but Ryan Keenan increased the lead on a bounced shot off a Ryan Barnable pass at 9:23.

Owen Hiltz then scored for the Rock on a low to low bounced shot off a Challen Rogers pass at 12:29.

After one quarter, Saskatchewan 3 Toronto 2.

Second Quarter:

The Rock tied the game off a CJ Kirst blast converting a Josh Dawick pass at 0:28 seconds activating the Teddy Bear toss.

CJ Kirst then gave the Rock the lead with a bounced shot from in close off a Mark Matthews pass at 2:29, but a power-play blast from Robert Church off a Ryan Keenan pass at 6:56 tied the game once more.

Kirst added his third of the game with an outside laser off a Challen Rogers pass at 10:57, followed by Chris Boushy diving from in close off a Mark Matthews pass at 14:44.

At the half, Toronto 6 Saskatchewan 4.

Warriors

Third Quarter:

Saskatchewan opened the third quarter with Brock Haley firing a high to low outside shot off a Zach Manns feed at 0:54 seconds, followed by Robert Church with a blast off a Ryan Keenan pass at 4:22 to again knot the game up.

Chris Boushy gave Toronto the lead off an Owen Hiltz rebound from the top of the crease at 6:15, followed by Isiah Moran-Weekes diving across the crease off a CJ Kirst pass at 7:16.  Owen Hiltz then increased the Rock lead with another goal from in close off a Sam English feed at 7:55.

The Rush got back on the board when Robert Church scooped a loose ball in front of the net scoring unassisted at 13:37.

After three quarters, Toronto 9 Saskatchewan 7.

Fourth Quarter:

Toronto opened the fourth quarter with Chris Boushy scoring from the side of the net off a Josh Dawick pass at 0:40 seconds, but Austin Shanks found the far corner with a bounced shot off a Zach Manns feed at 6:11 to keep the game close.

Latrell Harris answered back with a high to low shot in transition off a Nick Rowlett pass at 6:30, followed by Josh Dawick with a high to low outside shot off a CJ Kirst pass at 7:08.

Ryan Keenan caught the far corner with a low shot off a Robert Church pass at 11:43, but an empty net goal from Elijah Gash at 14:42 sealed the deal.

Final score, Toronto 13 Saskatchewan 9.

The Three Stars:

1. CJ Kirst
2. Nick Rose
3.Robert Church

Game Stats:

  • Shots on goal favored Saskatchewan 50-46
  • The faceoff battle went to the Rush 15-11.
  • The loose ball battle was won by Saskatchewan 73-72.
  • Saskatchewan went 1 for 2 on the power-play, while Toronto went 1 for 1.

Don’t forget to check us out every Sunday night at 8pm (ET) on StreamPunkEnt.com

Popular Posts