Gary Groob
All Lacrosse All The Time – A Division of Edge of Philly Sports Network
The Toronto Rock (3-2) faced their rivals, the Halifax Thunderbirds (3-3) for the first time this season. The Rock were coming off a 15-7 win last week over the New York Riptide, while Halifax was beaten in overtime the night previous by Albany.
It was a premier faceoff matchup between two of the league’s best in the Thunderbirds’ Jake Withers (82%) and the Rock’s TD lerlan (80%). The Thunderbirds boasted some incredible depth on offence having five players with 10 goals or more through 6 games – Boushy (15), Fannell (13), Staats (10), Petterson (11) and Benesch (12). The Rock Countered with Tom Schreiber (14), Corey Small (11), and Stephen Keogh (10) who were 10 or more goals as well in just 5 games.
The goaltending match-up had Drew Hutchison in net for Halifax against Nick Rose in net for Toronto.
While the Thunderbirds looked good early, a fresher, hungrier Toronto squad found their stride en route midway through the second quarter, en route to a 17-8 victory. Tom Schreiber (5g,2a), Mitch de Snoo (3g,2a), and Challen Rogers (2g,1a) led the way for the potent Toronto offense. Nick Rose made 48 saves, only letting in seven goals on the night.
To The Game:
The Thunderbirds got on the board first when Ryan Benesch blasted an Austin Shanks feed past Rose at 1:45. The Rock were awarded a penalty shot at 4:10. Challen Rogers made no mistake to tie the score 1-1.
Ryan Benesch scored his second of the game again converting an Austin Shanks pass on the power play just 0:07 seconds later, but was answered by the Rock, also on the power play when Stephen Keogh scored from in close off a Latrell Harris feed at 8:32.
After on quarter, Toronto 2 Halifax 2.
Second Quarter:
The Rock took their first lead of the night when Stephen Keogh scored his second of the game. Again, scoring in close on the power play off a Tom Schreiber pass at 1:32. The Thunderbirds came back with a power play goal of their own when Clarke Petterson scored off a Cody Jamieson feed at 5:06. Tom Schreiber regained the Toronto lead with a laser off a Dan Craig feed at 5:54.
Halifax answered with a Dawson Theede goal at 6:32, but the Rock then took over the quarter and the game.
Mitch de Snoo scored his first of the evening on transition off a Chris Weier feed at 8:10, followed by Zach Manns with a howitzer off a de Snoo pass at 9:06. Tom Schreiber then converted a Latrell Harris pass at 12:29, giving the Rock a three goal lead heading to halftime.
At the half, Toronto 7 Halifax 4.
Third Quarter:
Corey Small opened the third quarter scoring converting a Dan Dawson pass with a quick stick at 1:31 on the power play, followed by Zach Manns with his second of the night off a Challen Rogers pass at 6:47. Dawson Theede got one back for the Thunderbirds but was answered by Tom Schreiber with his third of the night at 12:19.
After three quarters, Toronto 10 Halifax 5.
Fourth Quarter:
Mitch de Snoo scored his second of the game unassisted just 0:33 seconds in, followed by Tom Schreiber with his fourth of the game just 0:36 seconds later, on a great feed from de Snoo.
Eric Fannell got one back for the Thunderbirds on the power play off a Clarke Petterson pass at 4:19.
Things deteriorated for the Thunderbirds, with tempers boiling over. Halifax took three penalties on the same play. The third resulted in yet another Toronto penalty shot. Challen Rogers again made no mistake on the opportunity at 4:45.
The Rock blew the game wide open with three more tallies. Corey Small converted a Zach Manns feed at 8:24, followed by Tom Schreiber’s fifth of the night at 10:20.
The Rock replaced Nick Rose in net with Troy Holowchuk, getting him some game action for the last 4:40 of the game.
Mitch de Snoo scored his third of the game in transition off a long lead pass from goalie Holowchuk at 11:17. Austin Shanks got his first of the game for Halifax, off a Ryan Benesch pass at 12:11.
Things again deteriorated with Bill Hostrawser getting into it at the Halifax bench. Dan Dawson was visibly heated with this encounter as well. Dawson took that energy with a drive to the net on the next play, beating Hutchison while leaping through the crease at 13:51. Wake:Riat BowHunter added a late goal on the power play for Halifax to the shortside of Holowchuk.
Final score, Toronto 17 Halifax 8.
Coolbet Player of the Game – Nick Rose
The Three Stars:
- 1st Star Tom Schreiber
- 2nd Star Mitch de Snoo
- 3rd Star Brad Kri
Game Stats:
- Toronto outshot Halifax 61 -56.
- Jake Withers won the faceoff battle over TD Ierlan 21-10.
- The Thunderbirds won the loose ball battle 91-85.
- Toronto went 3 for 8 on the power play, also scoring on two penalty shots.
- Halifax went 4 for 10 on the power play.
Top Scorers:
Halifax Thunderbirds:
- Ryan Benesch 2g, 2q
- Clarke Petterson 1g, 3a
- Austin Shanks 1g, 3a
Toronto Rock:
- Tom Schreiber 5g, 2a
- Mitch de Snoo 3g, 2a
- Zach Manns 2g, 2a
- Stephen Keogh 2g, 2a
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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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