Matthew Caruk

NLL: Rock hope drastic off-season moves will bring championship to Hamilton

November 22, 2022

The Toronto Rock’s annual goal is simple – win the NLL Championship. After a thrilling 14-13 overtime win, the shorthanded Rock were swept in the Eastern Finals by perennial rivals, the Buffalo Bandits – both in one goal games. It’s very rare that the Rock make drastic moves in the offseason, even after a loss. But that’s just what General Manager Jamie Dawick did this offseason. Backup netminder Riley Hutchcraft…

OJLL: Jr. A playoffs provide plenty of storylines

August 4, 2022

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EDITOR’S NOTE: With a delay between writing and publishing, the Whitby Warriors defeated the Toronto Beaches for the OJLL Iroquois Trophy, winning the first two games of the best-of-three series and capturing the trophy on home floor. Both teams will now take a break and prepare for the Minto Cup later in August. —- On the eve of the Iroquois Trophy Finals between the Whitby Warriors and Toronto Beaches Tuesday…

OJLL: Mimico leads playoff bound teams into first postseason since 2019

July 13, 2022

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The Ontario Junior Lacrosse League (OJLL) playoffs begin on Wednesday. Ontario’s first full Junior A season since 2019 featured four players with one hundred points or more, and a chance for two separate three-way ties in the standings. The final three seeds were decided by the fourth league tie breaker. Here’s how the first round of the playoffs will matchup, and what to expect. (1) Mimico Mountaineers (16-4) vs (8)…

NLL: Rogers the Rock hero; Thunderbirds go down in OT

May 8, 2022

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“There’s nothing more exciting than one game, win or go home. It’s basically a game seven,” said Toronto Rock head coach Matt Sawyer following Toronto’s 14-13 overtime win over the Halifax Thunderbirds. Under normal circumstances, that’s a true statement. On Friday night, it was an understatement. Halifax fought back from a 9-3 halftime deficit to tie the Rock at 13 midway through the fourth quarter. Outside of the final media…

NLL: Knighthawks let lead slip away in final game of the season

May 3, 2022

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Following the Rochester Knighthawks’ season ending 13-10 loss to the playoff bound Halifax Thunderbirds, Paul Dawson called it a “microcosm of our season.” The description was not only unexpected (and awesome!) but perfect. Dawson said, “We’re there, we’re winning, we’re tied and then we just let it fall away from us.” Head coach Mike Hasen echoed the statement, saying, “We just stalled… They kept coming, they kept pushing.” Ryan Smith…

NLL: Hamilton feels like home for playoff-bound Rock

April 20, 2022

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It took 20 weeks, but after the Toronto Rock’s 15-7 victory in front of over 10,000 fans, Hamilton is feeling like home. Their victory came over the other team that called FirstOntario Centre home earlier this season, the Halifax Thunderbirds. Halifax was forced to play two home games in Hamilton due to Nova Scotia’s Covid restrictions (and won both). With the win, Toronto clinches a home playoff date, a fact…

NLL: Dawson sets all-time career assists mark as Rock defeat Knighthawks

April 11, 2022

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The Rochester Knighthawks led the Toronto Rock for 56:50 on Saturday night, but not when the final horn sounded. The Rock captured their third straight win 11-9 in Rochester, extending the Hawks losing streak to seven games. Once again, Toronto played without Rob Hellyer. Only five of their 11 goals were scored by traditional forwards, including an empty netter by Dan Craig, his second of the game. Tom Schreiber also…

NLL: Rock aiming to be at their best at end of season

April 9, 2022

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It was a whirlwind weekend for the Toronto Rock. They travelled to Georgia without Dan Dawson and won 13-9. A night later, they returned home with Rob Hellyer joining the injured list, but still claimed a 14-7 victory over San Diego. Over the course of 24 hours the team faced flight issues, flu and the normal bumps and bruises that come with playing professional lacrosse. But they battled it all…

NLL: Rock win helps Toronto clinch playoff spot

April 5, 2022

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On the weekend of Wrestlemania, the Toronto Rock and San Diego Seals contested a feisty affair in Hamilton. Just like the 2022 version of the WWE’s marquee event, the Rock (from Toronto, not Dwayne Johnson) claimed back-to-back wins, winning 14-7, clinching a playoff berth in the process. For the second night in a row, Toronto played without Dan Dawson. However, joining him on the sidelines was his right side tag-team…

NLL: Dawson’s record setting night dampened by Swarm

March 30, 2022

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Another night, another milestone for Dan Dawson. When all was said and done Dawson had set two NLL records. Those, paired with career benchmarks for Nick Rose and Rob Hellyer, were not enough to lift the Toronto Rock past the Georgia Swarm, however, as they lost for just the second time at home this season, 10-6. Prior to the game, Dawson was honoured by the Rock for playing in his…

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