Toronto Rock Win 2005 Edge NLL Championship Game
Published on May 14, 2005 under National Lacrosse League (NLL) News Release
In front of an NLL record crowd of 19,432 fans at the Air Canada Centre and a national television audience on NBC in the United States and The Score in Canada, the Toronto Rock captured their fifth NLL Champion's Cup after defeating the Arizona Sting, 19-13. Colin Doyle was named Vonage Most Valuable Player, lead the Rock offense with five goals and three assists.
Blaine Manning (3g, 5a), Josh Sanderson (3g, 4a), and Aaron Wilson (3g, 3a) also recorded hat-tricks for Toronto. Jim Veltman (2g, 4a), Matt Shearer (2g, 1a) and Sandy Chapman (1g, 2a) rounded out the scoring. Bob Watson recorded 32 saves, as he improves to an amazing 5-1 career record in the Champion's Cup Final.
The game was very closely contested in the first half, as Arizona drew first blood and grabbed an early 2-0 lead on goals by Craig Conn and Chris Seller. However, the Sting got into penalty trouble and the Rock took advantage, scoring four of the next five goals to take a 4-3 lead after the first quarter.
Arizona started off the second quarter with two straight goals to take a 5-4 lead, but Josh Sanderson responded with a pair of his own, scoring back-to-back to leapfrog the Rock in front. Conn then completed his first half hat-trick, scoring what would be his last goal of the game to tie the score at 6-6.
Toronto blew the game open in the last 5:15 of the first half, building a tremendous halftime lead. Doyle captured his own team's rebound and buried the ball past Miron to grab a 7-6 lead, and Aaron Wilson followed it up with back-to-back goals, giving the Rock a 9-6 lead. Colin Doyle capped the run with Toronto's fourth consecutive goal, which gave Toronto a 10-6 lead at the half.
The Sting mounted a run in the third quarter to get back into the game, as Jonas Derks came out of the locker room on fire. Derks scored Arizona's first three goals of the second half (all power-play), cutting the lead to 11-9. Josh Sanderson scored for Toronto, but Cory Bomberry and Chris Seller scored to get the Sting as close as 12-11.
However, Toronto again went on a run, as Doyle scored with 5:15 remaining in the third, and the Rock scored the first four goals of the fourth quarter to build a 17-11 lead.
Two late Arizona goals by Pat Maddalena cut the score to 17-13, but Jim Veltman scored two straight empty-net goals to secure the win for Toronto and clinch Toronto's fifth Champion's Cup.
Toronto previously won the Championship in 1999, 2000, 2002 and 2003 under Les Bartley. The 2005 Championship is the first for Terry Sanderson, who took over the franchise last season.
Arizona was led by Craig Conn (3g, 2a) and Jonas Derks (3g), while Pat Maddalena (2g, 2a) and Dan Dawson also chipped in. Chris Seller (2g), Cory Bomberry (1g, 4a) and Lindsay Plunkett (4a) also were impressive on the Sting offense. Mike Miron recorded 43 saves in goal.
National Lacrosse League Stories from May 14, 2005
- Rock Shuts Down Sting 19-13 to Win NLL Crown - Toronto Rock
- Rock Finalize Fifth - Toronto Rock
- Toronto Rock Win 2005 Edge NLL Championship Game - NLL
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