Tonight, a new rivalry takes centre stage, with the new Oshawa FireWolves hosting the Toronto Rock at Tribute Communities Centre in downtown Oshawa, Ontario. This opening game of the 2025-26 NLL season will set the tone for the whole season.
You thought Rock vs. Bandits was heated? Saskatchewan vs. Calgary? Just wait.
Sports fans in Ontario love when their teams clash. It’s for provincial pride: whether it’s the Leafs vs. Senators (NHL) or Ti-Cats vs. Argos vs. RedBlacks (CFL), it’s an experience shared between friends and competitors.
The Rock first gained a provincial rival last season, when the Ottawa Black Bears arrived. Now the Battle of Ontario expands further with the addition of the FireWolves. Just an hour and 20 minutes separates the FireWolves’ new rink from TD Coliseum in Hamilton, where the Rock play, making them close geographic rivals.
Glad to have lacrosse back in Oshawa 😊#LacrosseLivesHere🔥 pic.twitter.com/cwCY5TNlRn
— Oshawa FireWolves (@FireWolvesNLL) November 16, 2025
Tribute Communities Centre (TCC) was built in 2006 when the OHL’s Oshawa Generals needed a new home. Now 20 years old and managed by Oak View Group, the arena is set for a $50 million renovation to upgrade the facilities. Beginning in 2027, the modernization of the TCC facility will include a main entrance expansion, fan experience upgrades, interior renovations, seating for a minimum of 7,000 and an updated concession area, not to mention a new separate Oshawa Sports Hall of Fame.
The arena helped revitalize the city’s downtown, with Ontario Tech University setting up a satellite campus next door. There’s a library, parks, government and the Canadian Automotive Museum, along with the requisite shopping and dining, plus several new condo buildings. It’s an area that’s always reinventing itself.
The home opener is sold out, with friends and family and knowledgeable lacrosse fans snapping up tickets quickly. Lacrosse is pervasive in Durham Region. It’s the home of storied franchises like the Clarington Gaels, Whitby Warriors or Brooklin Lacrosse Club. Oshawa currently hosts three Arena Lacrosse League teams during the winter at Children’s Arena, five minutes away from the TCC. The FireWolves have already practiced there.
This is the first chance for players from Durham Region to play professionally in their hometown. The FireWolves’ Dyson Williams and Zach Young are from Oshawa, as well as Mark Matthews from the Rock. Kyle Rubisch and Jake Darlison call Whitby home. Even Ethan Walker, from Peterborough (45 minutes northeast), will have numerous supporters in the crowd. It will be a night to remember. But who’s going to come out on top?
Alex Simmons (WM Photography)
The FireWolves made the NLL Finals in 2024 but struggled last season with a 7-11 record and finished in 11th place. The Rock finished 13th at 6-12 after years of consistently good results. Neither team was satisfied with their performance last season. Kicking off 2025-26 on the right note means just as much to both teams.
Oshawa has only one rookie on the active roster, defender Jaxon Fridge, compared to three on the Rock’s roster. CJ Kirst was the first overall pick, Owen Hiltz the third and Sam English was the second overall pick in the 2024 Draft. Kirst and Hiltz had an excellent preseason: In three games, Kirst scored four goals and six assists, and Hiltz scored nine goals and eight assists. Expectations are high for the pair.
Led by the last two Rookies of the Year, the FireWolves’ offence is young and dynamic. Alex Simmons and Tye Kurtz play together like they’ve been doing it their whole lives. With a year under his belt, expect Dyson Williams to break out. It’s a resilient group led by Glenn Clark, eager to make an impression on their new fans. Their defence is also young, but lean and athletic and ready to run. Captain Colton Watkinson lends a steadying presence on the back end.
The Rock isn’t rebuilding, they’re just retooling a little bit, and getting younger. Gone is Corey Small, and the long-term status of Tom Schreiber is unknown. That’s why Kirst and Hiltz will make such a difference to the Rock’s offence as they play alongside veteran Mark Matthews and last year’s leading scorer Josh Dawick, who is only entering his fourth pro season. Their defence is a mix of young and experienced, with veteran Latrell Harris and third-year NLLer Elijah Gash recently signing five-year deals.
Doug Jamieson and Nick Rose are the starters; they’re familiar foes, having matched up many times in their careers. They were first (Rose) and second in save percentage last year at .820 and .796, although Rose’s GAA of 10.47 overshadowed Jamieson’s 11.16. It’s Rose’s first game back in a Rock uniform after he was traded to Calgary for the second half of the season. He resigned with the Rock as a free agent in the offseason.
Based on last year’s results, either team could take this one. Whoever does, though, will have the edge going forward. It’s a game that will always be remembered by Oshawa fans.
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