Toronto Rock does it again

Page 22

There are portions of the National Lacrosse League season that brothers Kim and Rodd Squire would rather forget.

But not the ending.

For the second consecutive year, the Squires, who hail from Six Nations, Ont., were members of the Toronto Rock, that captured the NLL title.

Toronto edged the visiting Rochester Knighthawks 14-13 in this year's championship match staged May 6 at famed Maple Leaf Gardens.

Kaleb Toth of the Rock scored the winning goal with just one second remaining in the contest.

Toronto had also downed the Knighthawks 13-10 in the 1999 NLL final, also held in Toronto.

While the end of the season was picture perfect for the Squires, the rest of the year was anything but.

For starters, the brothers were involved in an early-season car accident, an incident during which Kim suffered an eye injury and left Rodd with a case of whiplash.

Kim Squire's fortune took another bad turn a week later when he broke an ankle, an injury some thought would be a season-ending one. But he mended quickly and managed to return to play in the Rock's final three regular season contests, as well as both of its playoff matches.

In the NLL final, which more than 14,000 spectators, Kim Squire, who at age 20 is the youngest Rock player, was one of the offensive stars, scoring three goals and picking up one assist. Rodd Squire, 27, had one assist in the match.

Kim Squire said it felt rather good to be able to celebrate at season's end once again.

"It was sweet last year too but I wasn't supposed to be back this year," he said. "To come back with a few games left was amazing."

So too was the finish of the final. The Rock appeared headed for certain victory when Kim Squire scored his third goal of the game to give Toronto a 13-11 lead with two minutes and 30 seconds left in the game.

But the Knighthawks then scored a pair of quick goals to deadlock the score at 13-13. Then, after the Rock won the ensuing faceoff, it called a timeout with 16 seconds remaining to plan its final offensive attack.

The Rock's plan was for the ball to end up in the hands of Dan Stroup, who had scored five goals in the game. But when Stroup was covered, Colin Doyle, who was setting up the play, found Toth who released a bullet-like shot into the back of the Knighthawks' net.

"It was a broken play," Kim Squire said. "It wasn't supposed to happen but I'm glad it did."

As for Rodd Squire, he was glad he didn't follow his original intentions. He was planning to bypass the 2000 NLL season because of some heavy work commitments; he's an iron worker.

"I ended up being talked into coming back," he said. "And it feels good now."

The elder Squire admitted he didn't think the Rock's final rush would pay off. He thought the match would be decided in OT.

"I was already thinking overtime," he said. "I was getting ready for overtime."

Like his brother, Rodd Squire said he didn't envision himself playing in the NLL final.

"Not after that accident," he said. "I had pretty bad whiplash there and I had to take the time off. When I was ready I just came in to play."

He appeared in the Rock's final eight regular season and both playoff games.

Meanwhile, the Knighthawks' roster in the championship featured three Native players, Duane Jacobs, Cory Bomberry and Regy Thorpe. Like the Squires, both Jacobs and Bomberry live in Six Nations. Thorpe lives in Elbridge, N.Y.

"It just came down to one shot," said Jacobs, who had a five-point (two goals, three assists) performance. "We battled hard. We seemed to have them down but the crowd just seemed to give them that extra boost. They were tired but the crowd was relentless and kept giving them that adrenaline."

The Knighthawks twice had a two-goal lead in the match. Rochester was also leading 9-8 early in the fourth quarter following a shorthanded marker.

Bomberry had one goal and two assists in the match while Thorpe was pointless.

Jacobs was pleased to see a strong Native contingent in the final.

"We'vegot a good bunch of guys from back home," he said. "It was good to see that we were well represented in the championship."

Jacobs added it was nice to see the Squires, who had gone through some trying moments this season, in the final.

"I wish them all the best," he said. "They earned the victory."