Top of the Rock Again

After three years of dominance by the Buffalo Bandits, the Toronto Rock reclaimed the National Lacrosse League (NLL) title with a 12-7 win over the Halifax Thunderbirds to sweet the series 2-0. Toronto won game one 13-11. It was the first title for the Rock in 15 years.

Owen Hiltz and Chris Boushy each scored three goals and added one assist, while Mark Matthews recorded a goal and three assists for the Rock. Goaltender Nick Rose made 34 saves in the title-clinching win.

Sam English, Hugh Kelleher, Lucas Hugal, C.J. Kirst and Latrell Harris also scored for Toronto, which led 8-6 at half-time before extending the advantage in the second half. Halifax was led by Clarke Petterson, who finished with three goals and one assist.  Mike Robinson, Randy Staats, Cody Jamieson and Brendan Bomberry also found the net for the Thunderbirds. Goalkeeper Warren Hill stopped 40 shots.

The championship is Toronto’s seventh overall NLL title and its first since defeating the Washington Stealth 8-7 in 2011.  The victory also ends the recent dominance of the Buffalo Bandits, who had won the previous three league championships.

Rock forward Sam English was named playoff MVP following the series victory.

For Halifax, despite the loss, the playoff run marked the deepest postseason push since the franchise relocated to Halifax in 2019.

The Thunderbirds entered the playoffs as the eighth seed after battling through injuries and a difficult regular season before upsetting the top-seeded Saskatchewan Rush in the opening round.

Season Review:

1. Vancouver Warriors (13-5)
2. Colorado Mammoth (12-6)
3. Saskatchewan Rush (12-6)
4. Georgia Swarm (12-6)
5. Buffalo Bandits (11-7)
6. Toronto Rock (11-7)
7. San Diego Seals (8-10)
8. Halifax Thunderbirds (8-10)
9. Las Vegas Desert Dogs (8-10)
10. Ottawa Black Bears (8-10)
11. Calgary Roughnecks (6-12)
12. Rochester Knighthawks (6-12)
13. Oshawa FireWolves (6-12)
14. Philadelphia Wings (5-13)

Playoffs

Quarterfinals

Halifax 10, Vancouver 7

Georgia 17, Buffalo 10

San Diego 13, Colorado 12 (ot)

Toronto 16, Saskatchewan 13

Semifinals

Halifax def. Georgia 2 games to 0

Toronto def. San Diego 2 games to 1

Final

Toronto def. Halifax 2 games to 0