Penalties would prove costly for the Sudbury U22 Rockhounds as opponents capitalized on key power play opportunities to hand the locals their only two losses at a season opening Hogtown U22 Lacrosse Tournament at Kew Gardens in Toronto.

Deadlocked in a 2-2 tie with the Gloucester Griffins in their initial encounter, the Rockhounds surrendered a power play goal with just over three minutes to play, dropping a one goal affair despite markers from Malik Jakubo and Alex Hachez.

Sudbury rolled in their next two matches, grounding the Centre Wellington Riverhawks 6-1 and pummeling the Peterborough Lakers 9-1.

The first Rockhounds win was paced by a two goal effort from veteran Ben Harris, with Jakubo, Hachez, Isaiah Peltier and Jacob Barney all joining him on the scoresheet while goaltender Mason Robertson came within 3:30 of recording the shutout.

Even more offense in game three as Alex Hachez netted a hat trick, with Malik Jakubo, Jacob Barney, Joe Gouchie, Mitchell Vendette, Cody Wahl and Blake Ramalho all chipping in with one goal each.

Facing the Toronto Stars in the Sunday morning semi-final, the northern crew trailed 2-1 midway through the second when the Stars extended their advantage to a pair of goals thanks to a tally on the power play.

Ironically, it was Sudbury's inability to convert on five straight power play opportunities of their own in the second period that likely hurt the three-time defending OLA champs just as much as Toronto walked off with a 4-1 win.

Xavier Esquimaux-Osawamick scored for the Rockhounds, late in the first, narrowing the Toronto lead to 2-1 at the time. The U22 crew along with the remaining GSLA teams will now get ready to play host to the Nickel City Shootout from June 20th to the 22nd at Carmichael, Coniston and Garson arenas.