Shawn Palmer, Toronto Rock Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome©
Featured Image Photo Credit: Christian Bender
The Toronto Rock (3-2) hosted the Halifax Thunderbirds (3-3) on Saturday night in front of their largest crowd of the season at 9,304 fans. In a game that included an expulsion just eight seconds into the game, two fights, two penalty shots for the same player where he scored on both as well as 25 goals, there wasn’t much more you could ask for if you were a lacrosse fan. Toronto handed Halifax their second defeat on the weekend as they won the game 17 – 8 one day after the Thunderbirds lost to the Albany Firewolves in OT in Halifax.
The game started with Jay Jubenville checking Clarke Petterson(1G, 3A) headfirst into the boards just eight seconds into the game which resulted in Jubenville being ejected along with a five minute major penalty. Halifax also received a penalty for the extracurricular activity after the play and the teams played four on four when Ryan Benesch (2G, 2A) took a bounce shot that made it through Nick Rose’s (48 saves) legs to give the Thunderbirds the early 1 – 0 lead. Toronto responded a couple of minutes later while shorthanded when Challen Rogers (2G, 1A) was on a breakaway he was pulled down from behind resulting in a penalty shot. Rogers went in on Drew Hutchison (44 saves) threw three fakes and beat him over the shoulder to tie the game at one. Less than a minute later while on the power play Benesch fired a sidearm shot that beat Rose to the bottom corner to give the Thunderbirds a 2 – 1 lead. While on the power play Latrell Harris (2A) picked up a loose ball, ran up the floor, passed to Stephen Keogh (2G, 2A) who went five-hole, and we were tied at two at the end of the first quarter. The shots favored Toronto 11—Halifax 8.
Less than two minutes into the second quarter the Rock found themselves on the power play and Keogh fired a shot over Hutchison’s shoulder into the top corner to give Toronto their first lead of the game at 3 – 2. Halifax responded on their own power play when Petterson shot around his defenseman and beat Rose to the bottom far corner to tie it at three’s. A minute later Tom Schreiber (5G, 2A), while on the run fired a low sidearm shot to the bottom corner restoring the one goal lead for the Rock at 4 – 3. Halifax came right back with some good ball movement Dawson Theede (2G) received a pass on the crease from Petterson and his quick stick beat Rose to the short side to tie the game for the fourth time. While in transition, Toronto’s Mitch DeSnoo (3G, 2A) fired a laser into the top corner behind Hutchison to give the Rock a 5 – 4 lead. Zach Manns (2G, 2A) would jump on the score sheet as his overhand bounce shot went through the wickets and the Rock had their first two goal lead of the game at 6 – 4. The scoring in the half ended when in transition Harris picked up a loose ball and passed to Schreiber off of the bench and the fans saw another shot between the legs and it was 7 – 4 for the Rock at the half. The shots at the end of the first half saw Toronto take a commanding lead 29—Halifax 19.
Toronto would open the scoring in the second half on another power play as Corey Small (2G, 1A) took a bounce shot that again beat Hutchison through the legs, it seems that the scouting report for the Rock was to take many bounce shots around Hutchison’s feet. Five minutes later Manns was all alone in front and went five-hole yet again with a bounce shot to increase the Rock lead to five at 9 – 4. Halifax finally stopped the Rock run when Theede cut through the middle and his over hand bounce shot beat Rose through the legs and it was 9 – 5 for the Rock. Toronto ended the scoring in the third quarter when Schreiber took a shot around a screen to beat Hutchison stick side to make it 10 – 5. The shots after three quarters still had Toronto leading by ten 43—Halifax 33.
The fourth quarter scoring started early as just 33 seconds into the frame, while in transition, De Snoo with yet another bounce shot between the legs and the score was 11 – 5 for the Rock. Forty seconds later again in transition, De Snoo passed to Schreiber off of the bench and his bounce shot beat Hutchison between the legs again to extend the Rock lead to seven. Halifax got that one back while on the power play as Eric Fannel (1G, 2A) took a shovel shot from in front and beat Rose under the glove to make it 12 – 6 for the Rock. After Halifax was issued three penalties on the same play the Rock were awarded a penalty shot and for the second time Rogers was chosen to take it. Rogers went in on Hutchison and beat him with a shot under the glove for his second penalty shot goal of the game. This made it 13 – 6 Toronto. A few minutes later Manns made a beautiful behind the back pass to Small and he went stick side and it was 14 – 6 for the Rock. Schreiber would notch his fifth of the night when he spun and fired a bounce shot through legs to make it 15 – 6. At this point Toronto decided to take Rose out of the game and replace him with Troy Holowchuk. Twenty seconds later De Snoo completed his hat trick with an over hand shot that beat Hutchison over the shoulder to make it 16 – 6 for Toronto. Halifax scored their first against Holowchuk when Austin Shanks (1G, 3A) fired a shot over Holowchuk’s shoulder into the top corner to make it 16 – 7. Dan Dawson (1G, 1A) finally made it on the score sheet as he swam his defender and beat Hutchison with a bounce shot and the sixth Rock player to fire a shot through his legs for a shorthanded goal and it was 17 – 7. Halifax ended the scoring in the last minute of the fourth quarter when Wakeriat Bowhunter (1G), while on the power play beat Holowchuk to the short side to make it 17 – 8 for Toronto. The final shots were Toronto 59 and Halifax 47.
The three stars of the game were:
Tom Schreiber—Toronto Rock: 5G, 2A
Mitch DeSnoo—Toronto Rock: 3G, 2A
Stephen Keogh—Toronto Rock: 2G, 2A
NEXT UP:
The Toronto Rock (3-2) will head to Wells Fargo Center to face the Philadelphia Wings (2-2) on Saturday January 21, 2023, game time 7:00 p.m. EST. Fans in the USA can catch the game on ESPN+. Fans in Canada can see the action on TSN.ca or the TSN app.
The Halifax Thunderbirds (3-3) have a bye week and will return to action when they play host to the Rochester Knighthawks (4-0) at Scotiabank Centre on Friday January 27, 2023, game time 6:00 p.m. EST. Fans in the USA can catch the game on ESPN+. Fans in Canada can see the action on TSN.ca or the TSN app.
Shawn Palmer, Toronto Rock Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome©