Mammoth Surges Past Rock In Exhibition, 12-9

December 13, 2015

The Colorado Mammoth scored the final seven goals of the game in Saturday night’s preseason action against the defending East Division champion Toronto Rock to overcome a four-goal deficit and win, 12-9, at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre in Oakville, Ontario.

Trailing 7-5 at halftime, the Mammoth gave up the first two goals of the second half. Then, Colorado’s offense came alive and the defense stiffened. Forward Callum Crawford scored the Mammoth’s sixth goal of the game to jumpstart the seven-goal burst. He also scored the final goal of the game, and assisted on two others during the scoring stretch.

Dillon Ward and Alex Buque split time between the pipes, with Ward playing the first 30 minutes of the game.

Saturday’s win – the first time the majority of the Mammoth roster appeared in a game together – was Colorado’s first of the preseason. The burgundy, silver and black dropped two exhibitions last weekend in British Columbia in split-squad action.

Colorado must name its 20-man Active Roster by Friday morning. The Mammoth hosts its final training camp session in Denver next weekend.

The loss drops the Rock’s exhibition record to 1-1, with one preseason game remaining.

After scoring five goals in the Rock’s opening pre-season game, Brett Hickey continued his torrid scoring pace in preparation for the season by scoring three times in the opening 15 minutes. The Rock held a 5-3 lead after one quarter.

The second quarter was a back and forth affair, with the two teams trading goals. Hickey added his fourth of the game while Jesse Gamble scored the other Rock goal as the Rock maintained a two-goal edge, 7-5 at the half.

The Rock scored the opening two goals of the third quarter as Stephan Leblanc and Colin Doyle each found the mark from long range. Callum Crawford had the lone Mammoth goal as the Rock stretched their lead to 9-6 at the end of three quarters.

Rock goal scorers were Hickey (4), Lintner (1), Leblanc (1), Aquin (1), Gamble (1), Doyle (1).

The Rock will play one more pre-season game against the Georgia Swarm on Saturday, December 19th at 7 p.m. also at the TRAC.