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OSHAWA – After a century of history between the city and the sport, Oshawa finally got a taste of big-time lacrosse on Friday. And it was a success.
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Ethan Walker scored his second goal of the game on a mid-range shot with 52 seconds remaining to give the Oshawa FireWolves an 8-7 win over the Toronto Rock in the National Lacrosse League opener for both teams.
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“That’s an NLL game, close until the end.” FireWolves head coach Glenn Clark said of the Oshawa introduction. “We were always going to get lacrosse fans. The key is to get new fans.”
“When we expose that type of product, they go away wanting to come back to the next game.”
It did take time for the 5,100 at Tribute Communities Centre to experience some scoring. C. J. Kirst, the first overall pick in the 2025 draft, opened the scoring nearly 13 minutes into the contest. Nick Chaykowski tied the game for his team’s new fanbase in the final minute of the opening quarter.
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Scoring opened up in the second despite two of the NLL’s best, Oshawa’s Doug Jamieson and Toronto’s Nick Rose both operating at a high level. Taggert Clark, Alex Simmons and Dyson Williams all scored in the second. The latter goal was special for Williams, who is from the Oshawa area.
Chris Boushy got the benefit of a bounce off the boards to get his first for the Rock. Late in the period, Challen Rogers scored on Toronto’s first power-play opportunity.
The Rock scored twice in the third to take a 5-4 lead. Kirst scored his second after some impressive moves close to the net. Then Rogers added his second a few minutes later off a Kirst rebound.
Walker scored his first goal to open the fourth quarter. Owen Hiltz replied for Toronto with his first career NLL goal. After Simmons and Tye Kurtz gave Oshawa the lead back, Hiltz, also drafted high by Toronto in the recent draft, scored his second to set up Walker’s heroics.
The FireWolves travel to Halifax next Friday to face the Thunderbirds. The Rock will host its home opener at TD Coliseum on Dec. 13 against the Calgary Roughnecks. Toronto fans are anticipating getting a look at Kirst, who is getting used to the indoor game again.
“My teammates and coaches have been great helping with the transition,” Kirst said. “I’m just trying to get as many reps as possible and get my feet underneath me.”
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