June 19, 2025
By Sam Weiger
Games are listed in chronological order.
Toronto Rush at New York Empire | Friday Night Frisbee (Free on YouTube)
Friday, June 20 - 7:00 PM/ET - Watch link
This year's East Division has been nothing short of epic, with virtually every game feeling like a must-win nail-biter. I'm incredibly excited for the Week 9 East Division battles, especially the Friday Night Frisbee showdown, a massive game for both Toronto and New York.
The Empire desperately needed a turning point this season, and their unbelievable triumph last week might’ve been it. But they’re not out of the woods yet; Their final three games are all must-wins in a tight, five-team race for the playoffs, a battle that includes Toronto.
For the Rush, there’s no sugarcoating the importance of this weekend: this weekend is make-or-break, so they need a win on Friday. Failing to win both games this weekend would nearly extinguish their postseason chances. This means the Rush will need to secure a road win, something they haven't achieved all season.
Can they win at Joseph F. Fosina Field, where the Empire have lost just twice in the last seven years?
To get a clearer picture of this matchup, we need to consider absent players. The Rush face a significant list of absences, while the Empire are closer to full strength. Toronto will be without Marty Gallant, Oscar Stonehouse, and Dax Miller, as they're competing at the 2025 World Under-24 Ultimate Championships in Spain.
Additionally, the team expects to be without Mark Lloyd and Mike McKenzie, two important veterans.
Four of these five players (everyone except Gallant) primarily play on the D-line, a unit that's a significant concern heading into this game. The Rush have converted just 22.64 percent of their break chances (sixth-worst in the UFA).
Toronto has fielded all four of these players in only two games this season, and interestingly, those were the only two games they’ve won all year. In the more recent of these two wins, Toronto's D-line performed exceptionally, converting 15 of 30 break chances and contributing to a season-high 28 goals.
Without this defensive production, Toronto's O-line will likely bear the brunt of the scoring once again. Arvīds Kārkliņš has been posting phenomenal numbers for the Rush O-line and is coming off the best performance of his UFA career (+9 plus/minus, 699 total yards, nine total scores). If a shorthanded Toronto team manages to keep pace with New York, it's virtually guaranteed that Kārkliņš, Tom Blasman, and James Lewis will be central to their scoring efforts.
While we have a good sense of Toronto's ceiling, New York's remains a mystery. Last week's performance hinted at their potential as title contenders, but the question is, can they sustain it?
This game should be telling. We're in uncharted waters, watching this version of the Empire—featuring Jack Williams, Ben Jagt, John Randolph, and Antoine Davis—scramble for a playoff spot with only three games left. Typically, by now, they'd be fine-tuning their play and celebrating a guaranteed berth. On Friday, expect to see this group of guys play with an unprecedented level of desperation and at their absolute best.
I'm especially excited to watch Williams, as he's known for strong late-season surges. He appears to be entering his usual unstoppable playoff form after his best, healthiest game of the season last week.
I’m also interested to see how many deep shots New York takes. Toronto has struggled all season defending hucks, so I wouldn't be surprised if New York attempts double-digit hucks for a third consecutive game. I'll be watching Calvin Brown, their primary deep thrower, closely; he could unleash several hucks, including a potential game-changer late in the game if it's close. Late-game chunk yardage has been a game-changer in all three of New York's East Division wins this season.
Lastly, I will keep an eye on Jagt, who could rebound this week. After consistently performing for New York all season, he had arguably his worst career performance last week, recording his lowest single-game plus/minus in 11 years. Facing Toronto’s weak huck defense, the 6’6” Jagt has the perfect opportunity to feast.
One Big Number:
9 - The Empire are undefeated (3-0) this season when completing nine or more hucks in a game.
74.39 - This season, Toronto’s defense is allowing opponents to complete 74.39 percent of their deep throws (highest rate allowed in the UFA).
Toronto Rush at Boston Glory | Game of the Week
Saturday, June 21 - 5:00 PM/ET - Watch link
Boston is the only East Division team that can comfortably afford a loss right now, but they made it clear last week they're not taking any game lightly. So, Toronto certainly faces a steep climb this weekend.
When the Glory faced Toronto last week, their game plan was simple: get the disc to Orion Cable whenever he’s in the end zone.
Cable finished with an impressive nine goals, despite the Rush focusing on containing him in the second half. While another nine-goal, 500-yard receiving performance from Cable seems unlikely this Saturday—Toronto will surely prioritize shutting him down all game long—I still consider the matchup between the Rush’s D-line and Cable a key one to watch. Toronto's defensive adjustments will be ineffective if Cable's imposing 6'5" stature continues to overwhelm them.
Equally impactful will be the absence of Tobe Decreane. Decreane has been central to Boston's offense all season, leading the team last week against Toronto with 55 completions, 898 total yards, and five hockey assists. His absence, as he competes in Spain, will undoubtedly reshape the Glory's offensive approach.
With Decreane ruled out and Jeff Babbitt potentially sidelined—currently listed as dressed—due to a shoulder injury, the Rush may be able to lean heavily on their offense. This approach is nothing new; in fact, it’s been Toronto’s identity all season: win shootouts by overwhelming opponents with offensive firepower, while scraping together just enough defensive stops to tip the scales.
They had their way with Boston last week, so this strategy seems viable against even the top-tier Glory defense.
Toronto’s O-line ranks among the league’s most efficient, powered by the dynamic trio of Kārkliņš, Blasman, and Lewis—all of whom made light work of Boston’s defense last week. How they fare on the road, and on the second leg of a back-to-back, will be something to watch.
If Babbitt is absent on Saturday, Toronto’s offense gets a significant boost. He was a major disruptive factor last week, picking off passes with impressive foresight and repeatedly winning sky battles.
Still, all is not lost for Boston. The return of defensive stalwart Tannor Johnson-Go brings a timely lift to the Glory’s D-line. Johnson-Go’s presence alone is enough to make life difficult for the Rush.
Toronto’s level of play in this game could also be heavily influenced by their Friday Night Frisbee showdown. A grueling, extended game in New York could leave the Rush depleted for Saturday's matchup.
Toronto struggled in their only other doubleheader this season, but they have shown significant improvement since then, securing wins when the stakes were highest.
Since this is a do-or-die situation for Toronto, I raise the question: will we see that same urgency from them again? I'm particularly focused on their defensive intensity. Last week against Boston, they suffered countless blown coverages, and their defensive pressure was inconsistent.
One Big Number:
58.64 - The Rush convert 58.64 percent of their O-line possessions into scores, ranking fourth in the league.
898 - Decreane accounted for 898 of Boston’s season-high 4,314 total yards against Toronto last week (over 20 percent of the team’s yardage).
