Timely Saves and Clutch Goals Propel Rock to Victory

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. Gary was voted onto the board of directors as the social media director for Ontario Series Lacrosse (OSL) in November of 2025. In 2026 Mr. Groob was nominated for the Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame, made a voting member of the NLL media, was put as a voting member in the Ales Hrebesky Tournament awards, and was nominated for the Tom Borelli Award as media person of the year for the NLL. 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 Ryan McCullough Toronto Rock/NLL

The Toronto Rock (11-6) visited the Ottawa Black Bears (8-9) at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Ontario. 

This was the second meeting of the season between the two clubs. The Rock took the first meeting back on January 31 at TD Coliseum by a score of 17-10.  The Rock are still in the hunt for a top four spot in the NLL final standings and a first-round home playoff game, while the Black Bears are fighting for their playoff lives.

Entering Week 20, Rob Hellyer ranks tied for 8 in assists (61) and eighth in points (91) in the NLL. With just two regular season games remaining, Hellyer needs only two points to set the second-highest point total of his career.

For the Toronto Rock, they have two rookies in their top four scorers.  C.J. Kirst (33 goals, 33 assists, 66 points), and Owen Hiltz (31 goals, 28 assists, 59 points) have been dominant on the front end for Rock.  Toronto had a bit of bad news Friday after shoot around, as they placed Mark Matthews on the IR with an upper body injury.

The goaltending match-up had Nick Rose in net for Toronto facing Zach Higgins in net for Ottawa.

Chris Boushy’s pair of goals powered the Toronto Rock to a 5–3 halftime lead. Ottawa answered late with two from Phil Caputo to keep things tight, but clutch saves from Nick Rose helped the Rock stay in control.

Toronto pulled away in the second half with a composed, timely offensive push and steady control of momentum.

Sam English struck early in the third quarter to extend the Rock lead, and Josh Dawick followed shortly after to make it 7–3, putting Ottawa on their heels. Connor Kearnan responded for the Black Bears to stop the surge, but Toronto answered right back with a transition goal from Josh Jubenville to maintain a comfortable cushion. Ottawa kept pushing, with Jake Stevens cutting into the lead late in the frame to make it 8–5 heading into the fourth.

In the final quarter, Ottawa showed life on the power play as Rob Hellyer brought them within two, but that was as close as they would get. English added his second of the half to restore control, and Chris Boushy capped things off late with an empty netter to seal a 10–6 victory for Toronto.

To The Game:

The Rock opened the scoring with Chris Boushy finding the corner with a low to low shot off a Josh Dawick pass at 1:45. 

Both teams had opportunities throughout the quarter, but the goalies stood tall.

After one quarter, Toronto 1 Ottawa 0.

Second Quarter:

Josh Dawick gave Toronto a two goal lead ripping a high to high laser to the top corner off an Isiah Moran-Weekes pass at 1:37, but Jeff Teat got Ottawa back in the game in transition going in all alone off a Brent Noseworthy feed 0:13 seconds later.

Chris Boushy added his second of the night with another outside blast off a CJ Kirst pass at 6:47, followed by a give and go between Josh Dawick and Sam English.   English finished the pass with a twister at 9:50.

Phil Caputo brought the Black Bears within two with a sidearm snipe off a Jeff Teat feed at 10:54, but another transition goal from Owen Hiltz gave Toronto a three goal lead again at 12:11.

Phil Caputo answered with his second of the quarter unassisted at 13:40 to keep the game close going into halftime.

At the half, Toronto 5 Ottawa 3.

Warriors

Third Quarter:

Sam English opened the second half with a great individual effort scoring from in close off a Chris Boushy pass at 4:24, followed by another blast from Josh Dawick from the outside off an Owen Hiltz pass at 6:07.

Connor Kearnan pulled the Black Bears back within striking distance with a wrap around off a Rob Hellyer feed at 7:59, but Josh Jubenville answered in transition, going coast to coast beating Zach Higgins unassisted at 10:18.

Jake Stevens kept Ottawa close, finishing a Connor Kearnan setup from in tight at 10:45.

After three quarters, Toronto 8 Ottawa 5.

Fourth Quarter:

Rob Hellyer opened the fourth quarter scoring on the power play, ripping a laser to the top corner off a Jeff Teat feed at 6:50. Sam English answered right back, notching his third of the night off a Josh Dawick pass at 7:58 to restore Toronto’s three-goal cushion.

Chris Boushy sealed the deal with an empty net goal at 14:17.

Final score, Toronto 10 Ottawa 6.

The Three Stars:

1. Nick Rose
2. Sam English
3. Josh Dawick

Game Stats:

  • Shots on goal favored Ottawa 43-42.
  • The faceoff battle went to the Black Bears 12-8.
  • The loose ball battle was won by the Rock 72-60.
  • Toronto went 0 for 4 on the power-play while Ottawa went 1 for 4.

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

Popular Posts