Rock Win Second Game in 24 Hours, Beat Vancouver 13-7

Toronto Rolls In Back-To-Back Wins

Toronto, ON – The Toronto Rock (8-5) defeated the Vancouver Stealth (5-8) by a score of 13-7 on Saturday night at Air Canada Centre, taking another step closer to clinching a playoff berth. Nick Rose stopped 46 of the 53 shots he faced and scored his second goal of the season into an empty net.

“I thought we were good in all areas tonight and the score reflected that,” said Rock Head Coach Matt Sawyer. “Our defence and goaltending was really good and our offence is clicking more and more every game.”

The Rock fell behind 1-0, 6:34 into the game but the beginnings of a six-goal run gave them control in the first quarter. Sophomores Turner Evans and Dan Lintner scored to give the Rock a 2-1 lead. Stephan Leblanc scored shorthanded for a 3-1 lead after the first quarter.

Kasey Beirnes, Reid Reinholdt and Brett Hickey extended the Rock edge in the second quarter. Brodie Merrill connected with a streaking Hickey off the bench with a long pass for the Rock’s sixth goal. Rhys Duch scored his second of the game for the Stealth, but Lintner and Leblanc replied for the Rock with their second goals of the game for an 8-2 Rock lead at the half.

Vancouver scored two in the third quarter but Toronto matched the visitor’s tallies. Lintner completed his hat-trick and Hickey picked up his second as the Rock continued to score goals when they needed to. The Rock led 10-4 after three quarters of play.

The Stealth tried their best to come back in the fourth with three goals but the Rock matched them once again. Tom Schreiber and Reid Reinholdt both scored pretty goals to add to the Rock goal total. Rose put the exclamation point on the win with an empty net goal at 13:55, his second of the season.

The Rock will play out the back end of this very busy stretch of the schedule that sees the team play four games in ten days. Next weekend, Toronto will play in Vancouver on Friday and then come all the way across the continent to play New England next Sunday afternoon. The Rock will then enjoy a much needed bye week, before returning home for their final regular season home game on Friday, April 14 against the Buffalo Bandits. It’s Fan Appreciation Night and Toronto Sun Autograph Night. For tickets, please visit torontorock.com or call 416-596-3075.