Shawn Palmer, Toronto Rock Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome©
Featured Image Photo Credit: Christian Bender
The Toronto Rock (1-1) hosted the Calgary Roughnecks (0-2) on Saturday night at the newly refurbished TD Coliseum in Hamilton. The Rock fans came out to see two of the top picks from this year’s draft and they did not disappoint, as CJ Kirst (1st pick overall) had 1 goal and 3 assists, while Owen Hiltz (3rd pick) had 2 goals and 4 assists. They helped the Rock come back in the fourth quarter after being down all night to top the Calgary Roughnecks 11 – 10.
The Roughnecks opened the scoring in the game less than three minutes into the first quarter, While on a delayed penalty, Tanner Cook (2G, 3A) shot around his defender and beat Nick Rose (38 saves) to the low stick side to give Calgary an early 1 – 0 lead. Calgary would double their lead halfway through the first when Noah Manning (3G) came off of the boards and his side arm shot went short side to make it 2 – 0. Seven minutes later the Rock would finally get on the score sheet. Josh Dawick (3G, 3A) fired an overhand laser from the top that beat Aden Walsh (42 saves) over the shoulder cutting the lead in half at 2 – 1 for Calgary. The Roughnecks would respond 25 seconds later and close out the frame. Manning came around the top and his side arm low-to-low shot beat Rose to the glove side to give the Roughnecks a 3 – 1 lead at the end of the first quarter. The shots were even at 6 apiece.
In the first minute of the second quarter Calgary would extend their lead. While in transition, Brayden Laity (1G) came down the floor, and his overhand shot went short side and it was 4—1 . It took less than 90 seconds for Toronto to strike back. Kirst got a pick on his defender, came around it and his high to low shot beat Walsh through the legs and it was 4 – 2 Calgary. Less than two minutes later, they would fine twine again. Dawick let another missile go from the top that went over the shoulder, almost a carbon copy of his first goal to get the Rock within one goal at 4 – 3. The Rock would get hit with a holding call at the 9:45 mark and it took only 10 seconds for Calgary to strike. Riley Loewen (3G) got a pass from Tyler Pace (6A) in the middle, and his quick stick shot went through the legs of Rose, and Calgary was up by two again at 5 – 3. With just under three minutes remaining in the first half Haiden Dickson (1G, 2A) received a flip pass from Pace, took an overhand shot that went over the shoulder and the score was 6 – 3 for Calgary. Toronto closed out the frame with 1:08 left in the second. While in transition, Chris Weier (3A) passed to Chris Boushy (3G) off of the bench, his bounce shot went far side and the score was 6 – 4. Toronto held a slight lead in shots on goal with 23 versus Calgary by 22.
The Rock would open the scoring in the second half 3:21 in. Sam English (1G, 1A) picked up a loose ball, beat his man down low, jumped across the crease, and beat Walsh through the legs with a bounce shot and it was back to a one goal game at 6 – 5 Calgary. At 3:54 into the frame, Sam English would get nabbed for an “unsportsmanlike” penalty putting Calgary on their third man up on the night. Tanner Cook would take advantage with a low to high shot that beat Rose over the shoulder to make it 7 – 5. The Rock would wipe that one off the board less than a minute later. Hiltz came from the boards, shot around his defender and beat Walsh through the legs and it was 7 – 6 for Calgary. After seven minutes of scoreless lacrosse, and just over two minutes to go in the third with one second left on the shot clock, Manning came out from the corner and fired a low to low shot five-hole for hat trick goal and at the end of the third quarter it was 8 – 6 for Calgary. The shots on goal were Toronto 37 and Calgary 32.
Toronto found new life in the fourth and would outscore Calgary 5-2. Mark Matthews (1G, 3A) received a pass from Kirst, put a side arm shot over the shoulder and into the top corner to make it 8 – 7 for Calgary. Twenty seconds later Boushy leaned on his defender, pushed off to take a low-to-low shot that beat Walsh through the legs, tying the game for the first time since the scoresheet read Zero’s and it was 8 apiece. The Rock would take their first lead on the night less than five minutes in. Hiltz came around a pick and his low-to-low shot beats Walsh through the legs to make it 9 – 8 Rock. A minute later, with some great ball movement, they increased their lead to two. Matthews passed to a cutting Dawick whose bounce shot beat Walsh through the legs for his hat trick goal, and it was 10 – 8 Toronto. Halfway through the fourth Calgary would cut the Rock lead in half. Loewen was left all alone in front, got the pass from Brayden Mayea (6A), he faked once low and beat Rose over the shoulder to make it 10 – 9 Rock. Calgary tied it up with less than three minutes left and while shorthanded. Loewen would notch his second in a row and third on the night when he came in on net, his shot hit Rose’s arm, bounced up, hit his back and went just over the line to make it 10 all. Toronto would take the final lead with just over two minutes left in the contest. Boushy backed his defender in, reached around Walsh and put his shot past him to the far side for his hat trick goal and it was 11 – 10 for the Rock. Calgary pressured the Rock in the last minute with an extra man on the floor but two separate caused turn overs by Kirst and English preserved the win for the Rock and sent their 5,706 fans home happy with an 11 – 10 win.
The three stars of the game were:
Josh Dawick – Toronto Rock: 3 goals, 3 Assists
Owen Hiltz – Toronto Rock: 2 goals, 4 Assists
Brayden Mayea – Calgary Roughnecks: 6 assists
GAME STATS:
Calgary Roughnecks—SOG 48; Saves 42; Sv% .792; FO 20-25; PP 2-3; PIM 8
Toronto Rock—SOG 53; Saves 38; Sv% .792; FO 5-25; PP 0-4; PIM 6
NEXT UP:
Both teams have a bye week next week and will be back in action after Christmas.
The Toronto Rock (1-1) will play host to the Las Vegas Desert Dogs at TD Arena on Saturday December 27, 2025, game time 7:00 p.m. EST. Fans in the USA can see the game on ESPN+ and NLL+. Fans in Canada can watch the action on TSN+.
The Calgary Roughnecks (0-2) will host the Buffalo Bandits (1-1) at West Jet Field at Scotiabank Saddledome on Sunday December 28, 2025, game time 8:00 EST. Fans in the USA have three ways to watch the game, ESPNU, ESPN+ and NLL+. While fans in Canada can see the game on TSN+.
Shawn Palmer, Toronto Rock Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome©