21U REL: Team Silver tops Team Carolina 10-8 to take the 2022-23 Cup

Team Silver are the 2022-23 Rock Elite League Cup champions after beating Team Carolina 10-8 in the 21U division’s final game of the season.

Team Silver, coached by Zach Manns (Toronto Rock) and Josh Dawick (Toronto Rock), were led offensively by Cohen Jennings (Orangeville Northmen/Tampa), who finished the Final with a hat-trick. The Cup winners also got two goals each from Liam Matthews (Orangeville Northmen/Penn State), Marcello Carreiro (Orangeville Northmen/Rock Stars) and Dylan Cordingley (Orangeville Northmen/Rock Stars). Elijah Edwards (Orangeville Northmen/Robert Morris), who stood out in both a defensive & transition role, also scored one and added three assists in the win.

Matthews’s short-handed goal with under five minutes left in the final period was the game winner. During this year’s regular season, Matthews scored 71 goals and added 38 assists, easily leading the league in points. Earlier this year, Matthews also set new REL single-game records for both goals (9) and points (15) in a game. The previous record holder was Jake Fox, who currently suits up for the Albany FireWolves in the National Lacrosse League.

Almost a decade after two single-game REL records were set, Liam Matthews redid ‘em last night. #BeElite pic.twitter.com/NzZl0y1xjO

— TRAC Athletics (@TRACAthletics) November 8, 2022

As they have all season, goalies Andrew Wilson & Lucas Johnston split time in Team Silver’s crease, the pair combining for 28 stops on 36 Team Carolina shots.

Likely the youngest of the league’s six sides this season, Team Carolina received a pair of goals from Jameson Steele (Oakville Buzz/Rock Stars), while Thomas Bagnall (Oakville Buzz/Rock Stars), similar to Edwards, was seemingly always on the floor playing significant offensive & defensive minutes. Bagnall finished the game with a goal and four assists, his five points leading both teams in the Cup Final.

Team Carolina’s bench was led by Adam Jay (Toronto Rock) and Riley Hutchcraft (Rochester Knighthawks).

This year, the 21U REL expanded to six teams for the first time since the league was founded a decade ago. The March 8th Final was streamed live from the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre, league commissioner Nick Rose (Toronto Rock) providing colour commentary on the JVI Sports Network produced broadcast.

In coming weeks, 21U REL award winners will be announced, including the Jim Veltman Award, which recognizes the season’s MVP. Last year, Will Sheehan (Oakville Buzz/Yale)was voted the league’s first-ever Veltman Award winner. A post-season MVP (Dan Stroup Award) will also be named as part of the year-end recognition. Last year, Will MacLeod (Burlington Blaze/Robert Morris) was selected the 2021-22 playoff’s top-performing player.

For players interested in playing in the league’s 2023-24 season, registration will be officially open sometime in July. The fall/winter league regularly features some of the top players from the Ontario Junior Lacrosse League. Dozens of former REL players now compete collegiately for top NCAA schools, as well as the NLL.

The REL also includes U7 (Pebbles), U9, U11, U13, U15 and U17 divisions, who’s 2022-23 season also recently concluded. Registration for these additional age groups will be announced in July as well.

TRAC Athletics is proud to present this year’s 21U Rock Elite League Jim Veltman Award (MVP) finalists.

This season’s 20 finalists, last year’s winners, plus the Toronto Rock legends all ten REL year-end awards are named in honour of: https://t.co/qqn1nmVRL5 pic.twitter.com/WB5iDkZt6I

— TRAC Athletics (@TRACAthletics) February 17, 2023