Jake Withers signs Five-Year Deal with Thunderbirds
Jul 28, 2021
HALIFAX, Nova Scotia (July 28, 2021) - The Halifax Thunderbirds today announced they have signed defenceman Jake Withers to a five-year contract, with the fourth and fifth years of the contract designating Withers as the team’s franchised player.
The five-year deal ensures one of the top face-off players and defencemen in the NLL stays with the team through the 2025-26 NLL season.
“It goes to his commitment to our franchise and our organization,” Head Coach Mike Accursi said about Withers’ signing his new contract. “To sign a five-year deal, they’re a little bit of an anomaly. They don’t happen very often, and they only happen when you have a special player that one, has an attachment to your franchise and wants to be there that long, and two, an organization that is committed to success.
“Wiz is a good young leader that’s going to continue to evolve into a very big leadership role with our team. To have his five-year commitment to our organization lets everybody know we’re in it for the long haul. We want to win multiple championships here in Halifax, and he’s going to be a big part of that.”
Withers, 27, was drafted by the franchise with the second overall pick in the 2017 NLL Entry Draft. A graduate of Ohio State University, Withers immediately made his presence known in the NLL, establishing a then-rookie record for most face-off wins and most face-off wins in a season with 279. His efforts contributed to an NLL Finals appearance and earned him the 2018 NLL Rookie of the Year and a spot on the 2018 NLL All-Rookie Team.
In the 2017-18 NLL Finals, Withers set the mark for most loose balls in a single championship game with 20 against the Saskatchewan Rush on June 9, 2018. The Peterborough, Ontario native is currently third in franchise history for most face-off wins.
Withers has seen action in 44 regular season games through his three-year NLL career. In that time, he’s recorded 34 points (15G, 19A), 461 loose balls, 33 caused turnovers, and a .728 FOW% (796-for-1094). His statistics in five postseason contests have been just as impressive, as he boasts three assists, 56 loose balls, a caused turnover, and a .672 FOW% (88-for-131).
As excited as fans might be for the signing, Withers too is excited to call Halifax his home for the next five years.
“I can’t begin to express how I excited I am to be resigned with Halifax for five more years. It was an easy decision thanks to Curt and the entire Thunderbirds organization. I am looking forward to playing for Mikey and continuing to build as a team and win championships for the city of Halifax and the best fans in the world!”
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The Thunderbirds return to Scotiabank Centre for #UnfinishedBusiness on Dec. 4, 2021 to take on the Saskatchewan Rush. Season tickets to watch championship-caliber professional lacrosse in Nova Scotia are on sale at HalifaxThunderbirds.com or by calling or texting 902-334-2333.