Toronto Defeats Vancouver 13-11
Langley, BC – The Toronto Rock (4-9) got a much needed 13-11 win over the Vancouver Stealth (3-10) on Saturday night at the Langley Events Centre in Langley, BC. Rob Hellyer’s 9-point game (4 goals, 5 assists) paced the Rock to their first road win in six tries the season.
“Tough times show people’s true character,” said Rock Owner, President and GM Jamie Dawick following the win. “This is a great time for me to evaluate guys and how they handle tough situations. I’m really pleased with the effort tonight.”
After falling behind by a pair, the Rock offence got rolling with a pair of power play goals, one each from Kasey Beirnes and Hellyer, to end the first quarter tied 1-1.
Toronto’s run continued to begin the second quarter, building on a 4-2 lead 3:40 into the second frame. The Stealth rallied with four of the next five goals to lead 6-5 at the half. The Rock did get a shorthanded marker mixed in between Vancouver scores from Brodie Merrill. The veteran Rock defender took a heavy hit, collected himself and went on a breakaway and cashed in for the Rock.
The Rock’s Jesse Gamble tied the game just 34 seconds into the third quarter that turned into a back and forth affair, with neither team getting on any kind of substantial run. The score was tied 9-9 after three quarters.
Hellyer scored a pair to put the Rock up by two goals, but the Stealth responded with a pair of their own to tie the game 11-11. The Stealth’s Joel McCready and Jeff Gilbert got involved in a bit of an altercation with just over six and a half minutes to play that gave the Rock a five-minute powerplay. Josh Sanderson and Stephan Leblanc scored on the man-up situation, salting away the victory for the Rock.
“In order for us to win, our power play has to be dominant. We rely on it big time, especially when our offence is trying to get going. To score on the power play early and then again late to put them away, our power play was awesome,” said Hellyer who scored one of the Rock’s five power play goals on the night. “It’s a huge win, we’re going to enjoy it and get ready for next week.”
Just when the Rock thought the injuries couldn’t pile up any higher, defender Luc Magnan took a ball to the head that bent the bars of his facemask from a Vancouver shot and left the game early and did not return. Very late in the game, recently signed defender Mark Farthing went down with a knee injury and had to be helped off the turf. Both players will be re-evaluated upon their return to Toronto.
The Rock’s next game will be back at Air Canada Centre on Saturday, April 9th against the New England Black Wolves at 7 p.m. It will also be charity night, benefitting the Smilezone Foundation. Fans can register online at torontorock.com and also get in on the online auction beginning on Monday.
Toronto Rock Season Tickets, the Upper Bowl Season Pass, Flex Packs, Single Game Tickets and Group Tickets are on sale now. For more information about Toronto Rock tickets, please contact our account executives at 416-596-3075 or visit www.torontorock.com.
