National Lacrosse League game in Laval | “We hope we can do that again”

It has been a long time since professional lacrosse brought excitement to Greater Montreal. Rock from Toronto and Riptide from New York tried to rekindle the flame on Friday evening at Place Bell.

The Rock, seeded and crowd favorite, won 16-10 in a National Lacrosse League (NLL) game. A meeting that the fans present seemed to appreciate, given the numerous cheers as the goals were scored and, in particular, the tough battle between two players before half-time.

“It was quite a match for the fans to watch,” commented Mark Matthews ahead of The Press. The striker scored four goals in this match, the highest haul for either team.

“There were a lot of goals, a battle, a lot of action,” Matthews continued. We hope to be able to do that again. »

L’Express in the lead

Was Laval nostalgic for L’Express on Friday evening? L’Express is this Montreal NLL team which only existed for one season, in 2002. But which left its mark on the history of sport, in our opinion, especially thanks to its magnificent logo.

What was our happiness, then, to come across a supporter proudly wearing the Express sweater with the said logo. It’s 6:30 p.m., the players are warming up on the synthetic surface, and we’re talking with David Nadeau, a former lacrosse player. How long has it been since you pulled out that sweater, David?

“It’s been over 10 years since I last touched it!” he said. It’s been a really long time. Toronto came to play an exhibition match [en 2012]. I think this is the last time. »

Which did not prevent him from following the activities of the NLL in the meantime. “I record all the matches,” says the man who started playing lacrosse at age 7, in Pointe-aux-Trembles.

David Nadeau tells us that he even tried his luck at the Express training camp at the time. “I was getting too old. I didn’t have the physical condition to play in a league like that. I had already stopped for two, three years. Several of us went to the training camp for fun. »

But he assures that he “did not miss a single game » of the Express at the Bell Centre, although the enclosure was “too big”, according to him, to accommodate such a team. So what does he think of the level of the two teams who are about to battle it out in Laval?

“The players have reached an incredible level of excellence. As in all sports, they are training machines. I expect Toronto, the team of the hour, to win the game. But we’ll probably have a good show. »

Many and beautiful goals

It started badly for Toronto. Quickly, the Riptide took a three-goal lead. Was Rock distracted by the continuous music, which was playing even during the action? Or was it just us that it bothered?

We quickly realize that yes, many goals will be scored in this meeting. We spare a thought for colleague Richard Labbé, who is still nostalgic for the Manic and its high-scoring indoor soccer matches at the Molson Center.

In addition to the music playing through the speakers even while the players are knitting around the net, we also notice the presence of a 30-second shot clock per possession. Which constitutes a second point in common with basketball. The last one we will note.

If he scores a lot of goals, he also scores some very nice ones. Like the first of the match, that of Connor Kearnan, from New York: a very nice backhand maneuver, over his shoulder, in the axis. The Rock goalkeeper was captivated.

A goalkeeper who, like his Riptide counterpart, wears particularly bulky equipment, like an inflated Super Nintendo Mario, without the 2D floating. It must be said that opposing players often arrive at full speed, and that all these beautiful people find themselves piled up. At least, with their stick that the teenager who will be cleaning your pool this summer would not deny, the jailers can raise the ball above the fray.

After a difficult first quarter, the Rock pulled itself together, closed the gap, and would not look back after creating a tie at the end of the first half. No doubt to the great pleasure of Peter Marinakos and Chris Gardner, Toronto supporters met at the start of the match.

Chris is wearing a Rock-colored cape that we noticed from afar. We’ll let him tell you his story.

“It was made in Afghanistan! exclaims the now retired soldier. I had the guys there do it because I liked the team. I don’t remember the year, but all the players, and even the cheerleaders, signed it. »

Peter now lives in Ottawa. He didn’t hesitate for a second when the match in Laval was announced.

“Montreal should have a team again! he says straight away. With their love of hockey…”

He’s not the only one who wants it.

“The fans were great,” said Matthews. It was an exciting match for them. […] If this is the crowd we would have every night here, then we hope that a team will come back. »