Gary Groob
All Lacrosse All The Time – A Division of Edge of Philly Sports Network
The Vancouver Warriors and the Toronto Rock opened their 2022-2023 seasons at the first Ontario Centre in Hamilton, Ontario.
The Rock went “all in” with the additions of Corey Small, Stephen Keogh, and Chris Corbeil in the off season. Vancouver is in rebuilding mode with Troy Cordingley at the helm, and should see results sooner than rather than later.
Toronto jumped out to a big lead in the team’s “Guaranteed Win Night” never looking back. Tom Schreiber led the way for the Rock with eight points. Newcomers Corey Small (3g,2a), and Stephen Keogh (2g,1a) made significant contributions. The Warriors had trouble getting any sort of momentum against a very stingy Toronto defense. Adam Charlambides and Riley Loewen had two goals each, and Mitch Jones had five points in the loss.
Nick Rose made 51 saves leading the Rock to the 19-8 victory.
To The Game:
The Rock opened the scoring early when Brandon Slade converted a rebound off a Challen Rogers shot 0:51 seconds into the game. Corey Small got his first goal as a Rock when he converted a Tom Schreiber pass with a quick stick beating Steve Fryer stick side at 3:00. The Rock continued the onslaught when Josh Jubenville scored in transition off a long lead pass from Latrell Harris at 4:00, followed by Zach Manns blasting a shot to the far side just 0:50 seconds later. Corey Small added his second of the game again converting a Tom Schreiber pass at 7:56.
The Warriors changed goalies, replacing Fryer with Aiden Walsh.
Dan Dawson welcomed Walsh to the game getting on the score sheet at 9:57 making it a 6-0 lead for Toronto.
Riley Loewen finally got the Warriors on the board when he converted a Mitch Jones feed at 11:49, but Mitch de Snoo answered back shorthanded for Toronto with just 0:07 seconds left in the quarter.
After one quarter, Toronto 7 Vancouver 1.
Second Quarter:
Dan Craig opened the second quarter scoring with a quick stick off a Challen Rogers pass at 1:51, followed by Tom Schreiber finishing off a Latrell Harris pass at 2:23. Challen Rogers scored next for Toronto picking the top corner off a Dan Craig pass at 3:22.
Adam Charlambides scored for Vancouver diving from behind the net at 5:26, but the Rock answered Stephen Keogh finished off a Tom Schreiber pass at 5:46.
Steve Fryer went back into the Warrior net, replacing Aiden Walsh.
Mitch Jones scored for the Warriors on the power play off a Keegan Bal pass at 10:14, but again the Rock stopped the Warrior momentum when Corey Small converted a Challen Rogers pass at 11:16. Adam Charlambides scored his second of the night on a great individual effort at 12:21, but Mitch de Snoo scored his second of the game off a swim move over Chase Scanlon, firing it past Fryer at 14:13 to end the half.
At the half, Toronto 13 Vancouver 4.
Third Quarter:
This quarter started much more subdued with both teams standing tall for the first half of the quarter.
The Rock scored first when Tom Schreiber scored with a bounce shot through the five hole off a Dan Craig pass at 7:30, followed by Stephen Keogh scoring on the power play at 10:12. Challen Rogers then added to the lead with a penalty shot conversion, turning Steve Fryer inside out in the process.
Owen Barker scored for the Warriors off a Reid Bowering feed at 10:59 in transition to end the third quarter.
After three quarters, Toronto 16 Vancouver 5.
Fourth Quarter:
Tom Schreiber opened the fourth quarter scoring converting a TD Ierlan pass on the run at 0:21 seconds, but Vancouver answered when Keegan Bal scored on a beautiful individual effort at 1:16.
Mitch de Snoo scored his third of the game shorthanded off a Latrell Harris pass to the top corner at 2:45, but Vancouver came back with a Riley Loewen power play goal off a Mitch Jones pass at 3:47.
Brad Kri scored on the power play for Toronto at 10:00, but Logan Schuss answered 0:53 seconds later.
Final score, Toronto 19 Vancouver 8.
Game Stats:
- Toronto outshot Vancouver 65-59.
- The faceoffs were dominated by TD Ierlan of the Rock 25-7.
- Toronto went 2 for 3 on the power play, also scoring 2 shorthanded goals.
- Vancouver went 2 for 9 on the power play.
Top Scorers:
Vancouver Warriors:
- Mitch Jones 1g, 4a
- Adam Charlambides 2g, 1a
- Keegan Bal 1g, 2a
Toronto Rock:
- Tom Schreiber 3g, 5a
- Challen Rogers 2g, 4a
- Corey Small 3g, 2a
- Dan Craig 1g, 4a
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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 League, the Ontario Lacrosse Association, 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 2020, 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 9000 members in over 90 Countries. Gary was also made an administrator of Lacrosse History Past Present and Future in 2022.
Mr. Groob co-hosts a weekly Lacrosse show on Spanglish Sports World, and ZingoTV channel 250, as well as writes a weekly lacrosse column for La Portada Canada News (both in print, and online).
Gary also hosts a Lacrosse talk show and podcast for The Edge of Philly Sports Network, seen live Sunday nights at 9pm (ET), and archived on the Edge of Philly YouTube page, as well as Spotify.
Mr. Groob’s other sports interests include Hockey, Football, Boxing, Wrestling, and Baseball, competing competitively in Boxing and Wrestling for many years.
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