In a rivalry matchup with real playoff implications, the Toronto RUSH delivered their most dominant performance of the season—dispatching a surging Montreal Royal 28–18 at Varsity Stadium. It was the kind of win that could shift the tone of the entire year.
The Royal came into this one riding a three-game win streak, with impressive victories over NY (24–23), DC (22–17), and Philly (29–20). But playing Philly at home the day before clearly took its toll—travel, back-to-backs, and a red-hot RUSH team proved too much. Doubleheaders are part of the AUDL grind, and Toronto took full advantage.
Toronto were without Arvids (Latvia), Marty Gallant (flu), Connor (away), and still haven’t seen Simone suit up in 2025. There was good news too: Luc Comire made his return after a shoulder injury against DC, bringing balance back to the O-line.
A Defensive Statement
This game belonged to the D-line. The RUSH generated 23 break opportunities and converted 15 of them—a monster stat. They racked up 12 blocks and kept their turnovers to 17, while forcing 27 from Montreal. Add that to an O-line that remains among the league’s best in red zone conversion, and it was a complete team performance.
Player of the Match: Mark Lloyd – Vintage stuff from the RUSH legend: 3 assists, 2 goals, 1 block, and 2 hockey assists. He even capped it off with some Taylor Swift in the postgame interview.
Unsung Hero: Toms Abeltins – Quietly everywhere: 4 assists, 2 blocks, and 2 hockey assists. Just the kind of two-way performance fans are getting used to.
More to Come: Dax Miller – The university student showed he belongs: 3 assists, 2 goals, 1 hockey assist, and a calm presence under pressure. This won’t be the last time you hear his name, both this season and in years to come.
What’s Next?
We’ll see Montreal two more times—both on the road, both to close out the regular season. For now, the win lifts RUSH to 2–4. Still bottom of the East, but only two wins out of second place, with a game in hand. In a division where both Montreal and Philly are overperforming, it’s suddenly a tight race for that second playoff spot.
Up next: Boston Glory. The league leaders visit Toronto this Sunday. It’s the first of two matchups against Boston down the stretch. With just six games left, every result matters.
Let’s make it count.
