Thunderbirds falter against Rock
Apr 17, 2022
HAMILTON, Ontario (April 16, 2022) – The Halifax Thunderbirds (9-7) lost their first game at FirstOntario Centre, falling 15-7 to the Toronto Rock (12-5) on Saturday night.
The Thunderbirds kept things close in the first half with a strong run to cap the second quarter, but between goalie Warren Hill being chased in the second quarter and the offense only finding the back of the net once in the second half, they were unable to slow down the Rock.
While the NLL’s leading goal scorer Tom Schreiber opened up the contest with a goal off a rebound off the glass, Austin Shanks evened things up on the doorstep. Dan Craig netted back-to-back goals for the Rock. Clarke Petterson scored from the point on the power play, followed a little over a minute later by Cody Jamieson to once again even the score. Challen Rogers had the final say in the quarter, however, and the Rock were up after the first 15 minutes, 4-3.
The Rock continued to roll in the second frame with a four-goal run, ballooning their goal total to eight. After a frustrating 13:31 min. without scoring, the Thunderbirds capped their foe’s run thanks to a hammer off the bench from Dawson Theede. Petterson and Chris Boushy capped the quarter, and the Thunderbirds went to the locker room down 8-6.
Whatever momentum was built up at the end of the second quarter evaporated in the third for the Thunderbirds, as the Rock proceeded to score four goals in a 4:14 min. stretch of time. The two teams entered the fourth quarter with the Rock up 12-6.
While the Rock added three more goals in the final 15 minutes, Eric Fannell was able to break the Thunderbirds’ scoring drought with a slick shot using his defender as a screen, beating Rock goalie Nick Rose farside. But it was much too little too late, and the Rock emerged with a 15-7 victory.
Petterson (2G, 1A), Shanks (1G, 2A), and Jamieson (1G, 2A) led the Thunderbirds in scoring with three points apiece. Hill made 13 saves in his 21:00 min. between the pipes, finishing with a .619 Sv%. Aaron Bold fared better in the final 39:00 min., making 18 saves for a .720 Sv%.
Schreiber and Craig both finished with nine points (4G, 5A) the same way. Rose earned the win after making 46 saves in 57:08 min., a 7.35 GAA and .868 Sv%.
The Thunderbirds continue their road trip with a visit to Nassau Live Center, taking on the New York Riptide (6-10) on Saturday, April 23. Face-off is set for 8:00 p.m. AT. Fans can catch the game on TSN Direct.