This Week In The Arena Lacrosse League (ALL) For Week Eight

Five games were on tap this weekend in a busy ALL schedule. Many must win games to help with the standings, and upcoming playoff seeding, kept all the games intriguing.

Friday February 7th:

Whitby Steelhawks vs. Peterborough Timbermen at the Millbrook Arena in Millbrook, Ontario.

Although the Timbermen started off well, getting out to a 2-1 lead, the Steelhawks showed why they are the number one team in the league. Three powerplay goals plus four shorthanded goals helped in the onslaught, with Whitby dominating the game 19-7.

The Steelhawks kept Peterborough off the board for almost forty minutes, controlling the play throughout the night. Laine Hruska was sensational in net for the Steelhawks, neutralizing the Timbermen attack most of the night.

Liam Osborne (5g,3a) led the way for the Steelhawks with Jeff Fernandes (4g,2a) also having a big night. The transition game played well with Todd Greer (2g,3a), Curtis Conley (2g,2a), and Dylan Hutchison (2g,2a) scoring twice each. Joe Hall (2g,1a), and Justin Bragg (2g,0a) led the way for the Timbermen.

The Three Stars:

1. Liam Osborne F Whitby
2. Matt Marinier T Whitby
3. Jeff Fernandes F Whitby


Saturday February 8th:

At the Children’s Arena in Oshawa, Ontario…

3pm

Toronto Monarchs vs. Oshawa Outlaws had Toronto get out to an early lead, but couldn’t hold on through a dominant Oshawa team. The Outlaws came back with four goals to take the lead, leading 10-7 at the half.

The second half had Oshawa dominate, never really letting the Monarchs get on track for a 20-12 victory.

The one bright spot for the Monarchs was their special teams, scoring three powerplay goals, as well as three shorthanded goals. Oshawa was also strong on the powerplay, scoring five times.

Luke Laszkiewicz (8g,6a) led the way for the Outlaws, with help from John St. John (3g,8a). Geoff McNulty (1g,5a) was the playmaker.

For Toronto Tanner Buck (4g,1a) led the way with help from Cam Mancini (2g,3a), and play making from Graham Bergsma (1g,5a).

Of note, Luke Laszkiewicz broke the record for points in a game with 14, breaking the previous record of 12 set by Patrick Corbett of the Toronto Monarchs in the season opener against Oshawa.

The Three Stars :

1. Luke Laszkiewicz F Oshawa
2. John St. John F Oshawa
3. Tyler Halls T Toronto

7pm

Paris RiverWolves vs. Whitby Steelhawks was a battle of the top two teams in the league in a battle for top spot.

The Steelhawks, fresh off a win in Peterborough the last night, started quick with a goal just a few minutes in, but a three goal run in just under a minute, set the stage for the day. The game went back and forth with the teams tied 7-7 at the half. Whitby jumped out to a two goal lead half way through the third quarter, but another three goal run kept the RiverWolves in front after three.

The fourth quarter spotlighted the exceptional goaltending this league has to offer with Steven Orleman for Paris, and Lukas Coote for Whitby not giving up anything.

Final score was 10-9 for the RiverWolves.

Cole Spear (4g,1a) led the way for the RiverWolves, with help from Kyle Dawson (2g,2a), while Josh Medeiros (0g,3a) was the det up man.

Liam Osborne (3g,2a) was the Steelhawks leading scorer, with help from Rowan Kelly (2g,1a).

The Three Stars:

1. Steven Orleman G Paris
2. Cole Spear F Paris
3. Cory Upshaw D Whitby

Sunday February 9th:

At the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena (ILA)…

1pm

Oshawa Outlaws vs. St. Catharines Shockwave

The Outlaws were hoping to build on their big win over the Toronto Monarchs the day previous however the Shockwave had other ideas.

The game was played in a 4 on 4 format.

A good first half had Oshawa keeping the game close at 11-9, but a dominant second half had the Shockwave pull away for the 20-13 victory. Once again special teams was a problem for Oshawa, giving up five powerplay goals, and two shorties.

Leading the scoring for the Shockwave was Bryan Neufeld (4g,6a) and Layne Smith (8g,1a), while Cody Menzies (1g,4a) was the playmaker.

For the Oshawa Outlaws, Luke Laszkiewicz (5g,2a) led the way with help from Gage Board (3g,2a), with both John St. John (1g,4a), and Josh Gilray (1g,4a) as the playmakers.

The Three Stars:

1. Layne Smith F St. Catharines
2. Bryan Neufeld F St. Catharines
3. Luke Laszkiewicz F Oshawa

4pm

Peterborough Timbermen vs. Six Nations Snipers

The Snipers are winless no more!

The Snipers got off to a great start scoring the first five out of six goals in the game. The Timbermen came back scoring six of the next seven goals. Peterborough was leading by two goals after three quarters.

In the fourth quarter the roof fell in for Peterborough, being outscored 9-2, showing their tired legs from playing just two days earlier. Only one goal came on the powerplay, all the rest were even strength goals.

Cheyton King (5g,1a), Tye Argent (3g,1a), and Vern Hill (3g,1a) led the scoring for Six Nations, while Wes Whitlow (0g,5a) was the setup man.

Peterborough was led by Aaron Woods (4g,3a), and Jeff Geddis (2g,2a), with Zach Thompson (1g,3a), and Mitchell Geoffroy (1g,3a) as the setup men.


Four games are upcoming for week nine:

February 15th

Oshawa Outlaws vs. Peterborough Timbermen at the Millbrook Arena in Millbrook, Ontario. Game time is 3pm.

Six Nations Snipers vs
Toronto Monarchs at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre (TRAC). Game time is 8pm.

February 16th at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena (ILA)

Whitby Steelhawks vs. St. Catharines Shockwave. Game time is 1pm.

Paris RiverWolves vs. Six Nations Snipers. Game time is 4pm.

Standings:

Whitby Steelhawks………………7-1
Paris RiverWolves………………..7-1
Peterborough Timbermen…..4-4
St. Catharines Shockwave……3-4
Oshawa Outlaws…………………3-5
Toronto Monarchs………………2-6
Six Nations Snipers……………..1-6

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 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.