Thunderbirds eliminated from Playoffs by FireWolves

Apr 28, 2024

(ALBANY, NY) April 28, 2024 — The Halifax Thunderbirds lost to the Albany FireWolves 9-3 Sunday afternoon, eliminating them from the 2024 NLL Playoffs.

The game was a low-scoring affair throughout, with the Thunderbirds and FireWolves, with each squad only mustering a single goal in the opening 15 minutes. Travis Longboat opened the scoring at the five-minute mark, and Clarke Petterson answered three minutes later.

But the hosts took control of the game to end the half, going on a three-goal run. Alex Simmonds and Tye Kurtz went back-to-back, and a transition marker by Jackson Nishimura made it 4-1. 

Coming out of the half, Austin Shanks got a much-needed marker for the Thunderbirds, cutting the deficit to two. 

However, Longboat and Ethan Walker got the bounce-back markers for Albany, and despite a Petterson goal with 17 seconds left in the third, Halifax went into the final frame down 6-3. 

Doug Jamieson was able to stand tall to deny the Thunderbirds’ offensive push in the fourth. Albany wasn’t able to widen their lead until the final minutes when Halifax pulled Warren Hill for the extra attacker. 

Colton Watkinson got an empty netter, and John Wagner added a pair in the last 1:04 to seal the win for the FireWolves.