Rock tops Express, 17-12, in game for the highlight reels
Kelusky wows crowd with amazing, creative goals
Ben Knight (Radio Free Cabbagetown)

Dan Stroup fived five goals, Kim Squire added four and player-of-the-game Steve Toll dished out seven assists as the Toronto Rock thumped the Montreal Express, 17-12, Sunday afternoon, in a contest filled with brilliant goals. Tracey Kelusky poured in five for the losers, dazzling all on hand with his astonishing range of creativity.

The first quarter breezed by in a tight, defensive 2-2 tie. Colin Doyle got the Rock going with a running 20-footer off a long square pass from Dan Stroup. Stroup made it 2-0 four minutes in with a lovely aerial crease job to the top corner behind Express goalie Curtis Palidwor. Bruce Codd got the visitors on the board at 5:38 capping a two-on-one counterbreak, and Peter Lough knotted the game on a long, low screamer at 11:02.

The Rock blew the game open with three goals in 22 seconds just after the restart. Kim Squire got it going with a step-in five-hole muscle job at 4:08. Steve Toll won the ensuing faceoff, nabbed the loose ball, burned a defender to the outside and breezed a perfect pass to an onrushing Pat Coyle, who ripped home his first goal of the season at 4:15. Blaine Manning capped the three-spot from all alone in front at 4:30. Montreal tried to settle things down, but Kim Squire added to their problems when he picked the corner on Palidwor from 25 feet at 5:46 to put the Torontos into a sudden and emphatic 6-2 lead.

Eric Pacey battled back for the Express, zapping a head-on 25-footer past Bob Watson when the entire Rock defence neglected to check him. Controversy popped up moments later when Dean Harrison appeared to score for Montreal while flying Watson's crease. The goal was announced, but crew chief Chet Couture was forced to take it back, citing an unpopular new NLL rule that scorers are not allowed to make contact with goaltenders, even if they are checked into them by defenders. It was an embarrassing moment for the league. The intentions of this rule are admirable, but the practical considerations need to be better worked out.

Play resumed, and Ian Rubel soon scored his first goal of the year for Toronto, closing out the opening half with the Rock leading 7-3.

The second half was a high-scoring treat. The goals were well-earned, and there were some great ones.

Brian Bendig and Mat Giles scored for Montreal in the opening 80 seconds, and then Tracey Kelusky cut it to 7-6 when he found a brilliant new way of scoring a goal (see note below).

Toronto battled back with two quick goals of their own, a step-in perimetre bomb from Stroup and a Ken Millin goal set up almost entirely by Steve Toll's speed.

Tracey Kelusky then found a brilliant new way of scoring a goal (see note below).

The rest of the quarter was all Rock. Dan Stroup scored on a sensational leaping, spinning catch-and-cash at the top of the Montreal crease. Kim Squire's one-bouncer and a rebound job from Jim Veltman powered the Rock to a 12-7 lead after three.

The teams traded a pair of goals each early in the fourth. Colin Doyle ended the sequence spectacularly, zipping home a snarky over-the-shoulder bag job with his back to the net. Stroup put Toronto up 15-9 firing off-balance through a screen at 7:40. Tracey Kelusky then found a brilliant new way of scoring a goal (see note below).

Consistent offensive pressure from Montreal narrowed the gap to 16-12, but Stroup put it away with a wide-open 20-footer from right in front of Palidwor.

NOTES:

TRACEY KELUSKY: Okay, maybe goals like these have been scored before. But this kid's creativity under pressure is awe-inspiring. He's threatening to become one of those Gretzky-like performers who can't be defended because he has so many different ways to create goals that no one's ever seen before. Here's today's sample platter:

1. At 3:20 of the third quarter, Kelusky's left arm was hopelessly snarled by the shaft of Darryl Gibson's stick. His only free arm was awkwardly placed, and his stick was stuck up over his head somewhere. Not only did he catch a pass in that position, he was able to flick the ball netward hard enough to baffle the best goalie in the NLL. "How are you going to describe that one in words?" Joe Fee -- former ref, netcast analyst, and Outsider's Guide correspondent -- screamed at me from down press row. "You're going to need to insert a video clip in your story!"

2. At 7:49 of the third, Kelusky conjured a sidearm whip shot out of nowhere, using his own body for a screen! The shot went wide, but he stayed with it, snagging the rebound, circling the net and shaking his defender so badly that he actually had time to deke Watson twice when he came back out front!

3. So subtle, so simple, so hard to do! At 8:29 of the fourth, Kelusky set a lovely little pick to spring Aime Caines coming off the backboards. He then wheeled netward, caught Caines' pump pass and instantly redirected it home. Looked like nothing -- except that players don't often score on their own picks!

I submit to you that a star is officially born. If Gavin Prout truly wants to be the best player of his generation, he officially has some catching up to do.

DUSTIN SANDERSON: Almost $50,000 was raised this afternoon for this courageous Orangeville teenager, paralyzed in a midget lacrosse game last August. Dustin made a huge step forward in his recovery over Christmas, when he started feeding himself, and taking a few steps with a walker. I am delighted to report that today he was actually able to stand, take a step, and drop the ball for the official opening faceoff.

It was a very inspiring moment.

A good day to love lacrosse.

Game Report reprinted with permission from The Outsider's Guide to the NLL. (Original text is here.)