On Saturday night, Toronto and Philadelphia could have switched team names. The Rock were flying while the Wings dropped like a stone.
Category Archives: Game Review
Game report: Albany @ Toronto
We have a game between last year’s Champion’s Cup finalist and last year’s first-overall team. We’re expecting a hard-fought close game right? Yes, that’s what we’re expecting but no, that’s not what we got. Instead the powerhouse Albany FireWolves came into Toronto Hamilton Mississauga and destroyed the Rock.
Game report: Thunderbirds @ Rock
What a crazy game. This was one of those weird games where the Rock never led in the game at all, but still won. The shots on net numbers were wacky and there were a lot of penalties on both sides until the fourth quarter, when there were none.
Game review: Toronto @ Las Vegas
This past weekend, I added one to the list of NLL arenas I have visited, though I have to say that number is still pretty small (Toronto, Hamilton, Buffalo, Rochester, and now Vegas) compared to other people I know. My family and I (and a bunch of friends – 17 total) travelled to Las Vegas last Wednesday night and went to the Rock / Desert Dogs game on Friday. As I’ve mentioned before, my friend Mike is Shawn Williams’ uncle, and so when we found that the Rock were going to Vegas, Mike asked Shawn if he could get tickets for us, which he did. Thanks Shawn!
We also saw a show at Sphere, did a virtual flyover of Iceland, did a hike through the incredible Valley of Fire, and according to my phone, walked about 52 km (32 miles) in three days. But you’re not here to read about my travel adventures, so let’s get to the actual game report.
Game Report: Vancouver @ Toronto
If you didn’t know anything about the NLL and I told you before this game that one of the teams was 7-2 and tied for first overall and the other was 2-7 and in dead last, I doubt you could have told me during this game which was which. Both teams had offense that just wasn’t quite clicking, very strong defense, and great goaltending.
Game report: Buffalo @ Toronto
I haven’t done one of these in a while. I usually fold my thoughts about games I attend into the Awesome or Not Awesome section of my weekly report, but there was so much to say about this one that I split it out into its own report.
Game report: Buffalo @ Toronto, Eastern Division finals, game 2
By now, I’m sure you all know how this game ended, not only the outcome but the dramatic fashion in which it happened. But whether or not you are happy with the result, you have to admit this was an amazing game with an amazing ending.
Game report: Halifax @ Toronto
Friday night featured the first game of the 2022 NLL playoffs and if you don’t think playoff lacrosse is just a little more intense than the regular season, I urge you to check out Halifax’s visit to Toronto Hamilton. Actually Colorado’s visit to Calgary was pretty intense as well, but I’m just talking about the T-Birds/Rock game here. As the second seed in the East and the home team, the Rock were the favourites but in a one-game winner-take-all showdown, we know anything can happen. Both teams have a ton of firepower up front, solid defense and transition, great goaltending, a proven leader as their captain, and are well-coached. We all knew this was going to be a fantastic game.
Game report: Halifax @ Toronto
Toronto’s final home game of the year saw the Halifax Thunderbirds in town to help celebrate Indigenous Heritage Night. I’ve given some more details on that in my Weekly Report so I won’t repeat it all here but it was a great night and the specially-designed Rock jerseys were absolutely beautiful. The game itself was entertaining as well though I’m a little surprised at how much the Thunderbirds don’t look like the team that started the season 8-1.
Game report: Albany @ Toronto
Saturday night began the next chapter in the story of the Toronto Rock, their first game at the First Ontario Centre in Hamilton. The team made no secret of the fact that this was a cost-cutting measure; Scotiabank Arena is one of the most expensive arenas in North America to rent, and owner Jamie Dawick has said that he needed attendance of 12k just to break even there. That requirement is almost certainly lower at First Ontario Centre.
NLL Chatter 