The Arena Lacrosse League had four games on the schedule this weekend. Every game was competitive until the final horn showcasing future NLL stars in the making, and giving an opportunity to some that might not have that opportunity.
Children’s Arena in Oshawa
Friday February 21st:
St. Catharines Shockwave vs. Oshawa Outlaws, in a re-schedualed game from January 18th’s cancellation due to inclement weather.
The game was played in a 4 on 4 format due to both teams being short players.
The Oshawa Outlaws outlasted the St. Catharines Shockwave 24-18 on the strength of seven powerplay goals and a shorthanded marker, while only giving up two early powerplay goals, and a late shorthanded goal in the special teams department.
Gage Board (4g,8a), and Luke Laszkiewicz (8g,2a) led the way for Oshawa, with support from Josh Gilray (4g,5a), and Alec Simons (4g,3a). John St. John (1g,9a) was the playmaker in this game.
The Shockwave were led by Bryan Neufeld (5g,11a), Talon Badaway (4g,4a), Seamus Shanahan (3g,3a), and Cody Menzies (3g,0a)
Of note, Bryan Neufeld set the ALL points record with 16 points.
The Three Stars:
1. Bryan Neufeld F St. Catharines
2. Gage Board F Oshawa
3. Luke Laszkiewicz F Oshawa
Saturday February 22nd:
The early game had the Toronto Monarchs vs. Whitby Steelhawks.
The Monarchs played a strong first half, keeping up to Whitby almost the entire half. Tanner Buck had a hat-trick for Toronto, while the Steelhawks spread their scoring to five different scorers to lead 5-4 at the half.
The second half was entirely different, with Whitby controlling almost all of the play. Cam Milligan scored three of his four goals in this half leading the Steelhawks to an 8-1 half, and a 13-5 final.
Cam Milligan (4g,2a), and Jeff Fernandes (3g,3a) led the way for Whitby, While Tanner Buck (3g,1a), Campbell Parker (1g,2a), and Riley Kumano (1g,0a) accounted for the Monarchs goals.
The Three Stars:
1. Rowan Kelly D Whitby
2. Joel Watson G Toronto
3. Cam Milligan F Whitby
In the late game, the Paris RiverWolves faced the Oshawa Outlaws.
This game was played in a 4 on 4 format due to low numbers on either team.
Oshawa gave the RiverWolves all they could handle for three quarters, even getting as much as a two goal lead with five minutes left in the third, but ran out of gas in the fourth, coupled with a few questionable penalty calls, and Paris finding another gear. Paris wins 20-13.
Drake Smith (3g,8a), Brett Kloepfer (5g,3a), Kyle Dawson (3g,4a), Josh Medeiros (3g,3a), and Connor Watson (3g,2a) all had big nights for the RiverWolves.
Luke Laszkiewicz (4g,3a), and Josh Gilray (3g,2a) led the way for Oshawa, with help from John St. John (2g,7a), and Geoff McNulty (2g,6a).
The Three Stars:
1. Drake Smith F Paris
2. John St. John F Oshawa
3. Connor Watson F Paris
At the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena (ILA)
Six Nations Snipers vs. St. Catharines Shockwave.
Six Nations jumped out to a 5-0 lead eleven minutes I to the game, and the Shockwave were forced to chase the rest of the day.
The Shockwave had a better showing in the second half clawing all the way back to down 10-9 with five minutes to go, but the Snipers scored twice more to secure the 12-9 victory.
Brent Longboat (2g,2a), and Vern Hill (3g,0a) led the way for Six Nations, with help from Alec Tamas (1g,3a), and Wes Whitlow (0g,3a) as set up men. Dante Miller (1g,1a) had a powerplay goal, and Vern Hill had two shorthanded goals.
Layne Smith (4g,2a) led the scoring for St. Catharines, with help from Bryan Neufeld (1g,2a), and Cody Menzies (1g,1a).
The Three Stars:
1. Layne Smith F St. Catharines
2. Brent Longboat F Six Nations
3. Dylan Sprentz G Six Nations
Upcoming games…
Saturday February 29th:
Whitby Steelhawks vs. Peterborough Timbermen at the Millbrook Arena. Game Time is 3pm.
Paris RiverWolves vs. Toronto Monarchs at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre (TRAC). Game time is 8pm.
Sunday March 1st:
St. Catharines Shockwave vs. Six Nations Snipers. Game time is 2pm.
Standings:
Whitby Steelhawks…………….8-2
Paris RiverWolves………………8-2
Peterborough Timbermen…..5-4
St. Catharines Shockwave…..4-6
Six Nations Snipers…………….4-6
Oshawa Outlaws………………..4-7
Toronto Monarchs……………..2-8
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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