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1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q OT F
Minnesota Swarm Minnesota Swarm
(0-2)		 2 4 3 31 12
Toronto Rock Toronto Rock
(1-0)		 3 7 6 1 17

Not as Many Kinks Got Worked Out as Hoped

Exhibition Game
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Oshawa, Ontario
Attendance: 1,800

The Minnesota Swarm's one and only pre-season game before paying fans ended in horrific defeat by the score of 17-12 to the Toronto Rock. The Swarm were outscored 7-4 in the second quarter and could get no closer than 10-8 midway in the third before Toronto pulled away for good.

The Rock's Ryan Benesch, the 2007 NLL Rookie of the Year, outscored the Swarm 3-2 in the first quarter alone on the way to a six goal night. The Swarm's Andy Secore, who was acquired in the dispersal draft from the Arizona Sting on November 5th, scored both of the Swarm's goals.

The Swarm tied the game 3-3 in the second quarter on a goal from rookie Craig Point but after that the Rock took the lead and never gave it up. The Rock scored seven goals in that quarter all by seven different players. Point and Secore kept on scoring for the Swarm but at halftime, the Rock were up 10-6 after scoring an empty net goal as time expired.

The Swarm started strong in the third quarter on goals from Secore and Sean Pollock, the Swarm's second leading scorer last year. However, Benesch struck twice in a row on power plays to put the Rock up 12-8 and the Swarm never got any closer. After Benesch's goals, the Rock put three more up, including two from rookie Mark Scherman to increase the Rock lead to 15-8. Point got his third goal of the night to cut the lead to 15-9 but the Rock struck again at the buzzer for the second consecutive quarter as Scherman got his hat trick.

The Swarm got the jump to begin the fourth quarter as Pollock and Eric Pacey got goals to cut the lead to 16-11. By this time, it appears that tensions between the two teams was about to blow like Mount Vesuvius. And blow they did with 7:02 left in the game. Swarm rookie Chris Courtney and former Swarm Scott Campbell had a disagreement and fisticuffs ensued. Both players are kind of stocky but solid and Campbell hasn't turned down too many fights in his career. This was the warmup to the battle royale with 3:38 left as Swarm captain and 2007 NLL Defensive Player of the Year, Ryan Cousins and Pacey, both big boys, got entangled with Matt Carroll and veteran 6-6 245lb. behemoth, Dan Ladouceur. It must have been quite a sight because not many threaten Ladouceur and are ever heard from again. So that meant three players from each team got sent to the box for fighting for five and got ten minute fighting misconducts just in the fourth quarter. Those fights only accounted for 90 of the 175 penalty minutes handed out. Finally, Point added his fourth goal of the game to bring this horror show to an end.

Point and Secore both led the Swarm with four goals and two assists. Pollock got two and both Pacey and Mike Hominuck got one goal each. Benesch led the Rock with six goals and two assists. Nick Patterson played the whole game in net for the Swarm making 47 saves on 63 shots. Bob Watson and Mike Poulin split the game in net for the Rock, both giving up six goals each. Colin Achenbach from Burnsville, in his first preseason action for the Swarm, did not score but did scoop up four loose balls.

The Swarm scratches for tonight were:

  • Dean Hill, Swarm's leader in goals last year with 32
  • Ryan Sharp
  • Rory McDade
  • Noah Talbot
  • Kyle Ross
The Rock scratches for tonight were:
  • Josh Sanderson
  • Jim Veltman
  • Jamie Taylor
  • Ian Rubel
  • Nathan Sanderson
It looks like it may take a while for all the new players to mesh for the Swarm. Point looks like the real deal on the right side and Courtney looks willing to do the dirty work on defense. It is good to see that Mark Miyashita is back playing after having last season cut short due to a knee injury. In the regular season, the Swarm will have D. Hill, Sharp and Talbot in the line up for each game and that will make quite a difference.

The problem for the Swarm is they open the regular season against the same Rock in a home and home series beginning January 11th in Toronto and finishing January 12th in St. Paul at the Xcel Energy Center. I can guarantee that the Swarm will be facing Josh Sanderson those two nights. Sanderson is the best playmaker in the league and holds the league assist record in a year with 71 in 2005. Also, Veltman, who is the king of loose balls with 2,625 in both the regular season and playoffs in his career will also suit up next month.

The regular season is less than a month away and the Swarm have to tighten up the ship a bit before the season starts. Whatever happens, I have a feeling the season won't lack for excitement.

Game Statistics

Pointstreak

Team Stats SVS STS PIM PPG PPT SH SOG LB FOW FOT
Minnesota 47 64 97 5 9 1 53 61 15 33
Toronto 41 53 78 6 11 1 64 69 18 33

# Minnesota G A Pts PIM PPG SHG SOG LB FOW FOT  
3Chris Courtney0 0 022 0 00 2 0 0  
9Craig Point4 2 60 1 113 4 0 0  
12Eric Pacey1 1 215 0 01 5 0 0  
17Sean Pollock2 2 40 1 010 4 0 0  
19Chad Culp 0 33 4 00 6 0 0 0  
21Andy Secore4 2 62 2 010 5 0 0  
23Jon Sullivan0 0 06 0 00 3 0 0  
24Justin Norbraten0 0 02 0 01 4 0 1  
27Colin Achenbach0 0 00 0 01 4 0 0  
28Darren Halls0 0 015 0 00 4 6 10  
34Nick Inch 0 00 0 00 0 3 0 0  
39Mark Miyashita0 0 05 0 01 5 7 19  
43Kevin Croswell0 0 00 0 00 0 0 0  
44Ryan Ward 0 44 0 00 5 3 0 0  
47Travis Hill0 0 07 0 00 3 2 3  
50Ryan Cousins0 0 019 0 00 5 0 0  
90Mike Hominuck1 1 20 1 05 7 0 0  
93Nick Patterson0 0 00 0 00 0 0 0  
 
# Minnesota GS MIN GA 1st
SV		 2nd
SV		 3rd
SV		 4th
SV		 OT
SV		 Saves Shots W/L Rec
93Nick Patterson 1 59:32 16 13 10 14 10 47 63 L 0-1
43Kevin Croswell 0 0:00 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
 Empty Net 0:28 1 0 0 0 0 0 1
 
# Toronto G A Pts PIM PPG SHG SOG LB FOW FOT  
6Dan Ladouceur 0 00 27 00 0 1 0 0  
7Derek Suddons 0 11 0 00 0 6 0 0  
9Jon Harasym 1 12 0 01 3 2 0 0  
10Aaron Wilson 1 56 6 00 12 7 0 0  
14Rob Marshall 1 12 0 00 2 7 0 0  
15Mark Scherman 3 03 2 10 7 2 0 0  
16Blaine Manning1 4 50 0 010 3 8 16  
20Jay Winder 0 00 0 00 0 7 0 0  
21Ryan Benesch 6 28 0 30 10 2 0 0  
22Cam Woods 0 00 2 00 1 7 0 0  
23Matt Carroll 0 00 20 00 0 0 0 0  
27Peter Lough 0 22 0 00 1 3 10 17  
29Bob Watson 0 22 0 00 0 0 0 0  
30Mike Poulin 0 00 0 00 0 0 0 0  
33Kasey Beirnes 2 24 2 10 9 5 0 0  
37Scott Campbell0 2 217 0 01 4 0 0  
93Chris Driscoll1 1 20 0 03 7 0 0  
94Matt Taylor 1 01 0 10 5 6 0 0  
 
# Toronto GS MIN GA 1st
SV		 2nd
SV		 3rd
SV		 4th
SV		 OT
SV		 Saves Shots W/L Rec
29Bob Watson 1 30:00 6 15 13 0 0 28 34
30 Mike Poulin 0 30:00 6 0 0 5 8 13 19 W 1-0

Scoring
Time MN COL Team Goal 1st Assist 2nd Assist Notes
1st Quarter
0;25 0 1 Toronto Ryan Benesch Blaine Manning    
5:33 0 2 Toronto Ryan Benesch Chris Driscoll Peter Lough  
8:07 1 2 Minnesota Andy Secore Sean Pollock   PP
11:54 1 3 Toronto Ryan Benesch Kasey Beirnes   PP
14:39 2 3 Minnesota Andy Secore      
2nd Quarter
1:01 3 3 Minnesota Craig Point Chad Culp Ryan Ward  
2:13 3 4 Toronto Blaine Manning Ryan Benesch    
5:53 3 5 Toronto Matt Taylor Blaine Manning Aaron Wilson  
6:35 3 6 Toronto Aaron Wilson Peter Lough Bob Watson  
9:48 4 6 Minnesota Andy Secore Ryan Ward Craig Point PP
10:03 4 7 Toronto Rob Marshall Blaine Manning Scott Campbell  
11:06 5 7 Minnesota Mike Hominuck Craig Point Ryan Ward PP
12:26 5 8 Toronto Jon Harasym Derek Suddons Bob Watson SH
12:52 6 8 Minnesota Craig Point Andy Secore Chad Culp PP
13:37 6 9 Toronto Kasey Beirnes Aaron Wilson Scott Campbell  
14:59 6 10 Toronto Chris Driscoll     EN
3rd Quarter
1:28 7 10 Minnesota Andy Secore Sean Pollock Mike Hominuck  
2:04 8 10 Minnesota Sean Pollock Ryan Ward Andy Secore PP
5:59 8 11 Toronto Ryan Benesch Kasey Beirnes Jon Harasym PP
11:02 8 12 Toronto Ryan Benesch Rob Marshall   PP
11:57 8 13 Toronto Mark Scherman     PS GWG
12:47 8 14 Toronto Kasey Beirnes Ryan Benesch   PP
13:12 8 15 Toronto Mark Scherman Blaine Manning Aaron Wilson PP
14:27 9 15 Minnesota Craig Point Eric Pacey   SH
14:59 9 16 Toronto Mark Scherman Aaron Wilson    
4th Quarter
1:39 10 16 Minnesota Sean Pollock      
4:26 11 16 Minnesota Eric Pacey      
10:03 11 17 Toronto Ryan Benesch Aaron Wilson    
11:05 12 17 Minnesota Craig Point Chad Culp  

Penalties
Time Team Player Penalty Bench Duration
1st Quarter
2:03 Toronto Dan Ladouceur Roughing   2:00
4:31 Minnesota Justin Norbraten Illegal Cross Checking   2:00
5:33 Toronto Kasey Beirnes Illegal Stick   2:00
7:02 Toronto Dan Ladouceur Checking from Behind   2:00
7:02 Toronto Dan Ladouceur Unsportsmanlike Conduct   2:00
10:24 Minnesota Chris Courtney Illegal Stick   2:00
10:56 Minnesota Jon Sullivan Slashing   2:00
2nd Quarter
5:30 Minnesota Jon Sullivan Illegal Stick   2:00
9:15 Toronto Mark Scherman Too Many Men X 2:00
10:45 Toronto Matt Carroll Illegal Cross Checking   5:00
3rd Quarter
1:49 Toronto Scott Campbell Illegal Cross Checking   2:00
4:37 Toronto Aaron Wilson Roughing   2:00
4:37 Minnesota Jon Sullivan Interference   2:00
4:37 Minnesota Chad Culp Roughing   2:00
6:53 Minnesota Chad Culp Illegal Stick   2:00
7:46 Toronto Aaron Wilson Holding   2:00
9:41 Minnesota Chris Courtney High Sticking   5:00
10:22 Minnesota Darren Halls High Sticking   5:00
10:22 Minnesota Darren Halls High Sticking   10:00
10:41 Toronto Aaron Wilson Roughing   2:00
10:41 Minnesota Ryan Cousins Roughing   2:00
10:41 Minnesota Nick Patterson Tripping PS 0:00
11:57 Minnesota Travis Hill High Sticking   5:00
11:57 Minnesota Nick Patterson Tripping PS 0:00
4th Quarter
1:02 Toronto Cam Woods Tripping   2:00
5:27 Toronto Dan Ladouceur Holding   2:00
8:53 Toronto Dan Ladouceur Roughing   2:00
8:53 Toronto Mark Scherman Checking from Behind   2:00
8:53 Minnesota Travis Hill Roughing   2:00
8:53 Minnesota Andy Secore Goal Interference   2:00
8:58 Toronto Scott Campbell Fighting   5:00
8:58 Toronto Scott Campbell Fighting   10:00
8:58 Minnesota Chris Courtney Fighting   5:00
8:58 Minnesota Chris Courtney Fighting   10:00
11:22 Toronto Dan Ladouceur Fighting   5:00
11:22 Toronto Matt Carroll Fighting   5:00
11:22 Toronto Dan Ladouceur Fighting   10:00
11:22 Toronto Matt Carroll Fighting   10:00
11:22 Toronto Dan Ladouceur Slashing   2:00
11:22 Minnesota Eric Pacey Fighting   5:00
11:22 Minnesota Ryan Cousins Fighting   5:00
11:22 Minnesota Eric Pacey Fighting   10:00
11:22 Minnesota Ryan Cousins Unsportsmanlike Conduct   2:00
11:22 Minnesota Ryan Cousins Fighting   10:00
14:03 Minnesota Mark Miyashita High Sticking   5:00