Thunderbirds Improve to 8-1 with Emotional Win Against Warriors

Mar 5, 2022

 

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia (March 5, 2022) – It was an emotional night for the Halifax Thunderbirds (8-1) at Scotiabank Centre as they bested the Vancouver Warriors (5-5) by a score of 14-12. Netminder Aaron Bold got the start after Warren Hill was placed on the COVID Protocol list, his first start since the Warriors released him midway through the 2019-20 NLL season and since his wife, Michelle, passed away to cancer.

 

Bold faced 30 shots in the first half, letting 10 of them past him in his first NLL action in over two years. He settled down through the second half, and he and the Thunderbirds defence prevented the visiting team from finding the back of the net in the third quarter and just twice in the fourth. He also passed Matt Disher for 9th all-time in NLL goalie saves after his twelfth save in the first quarter.

 

The Thunderbirds were on the penalty kill early and often. Chris Boushy scored a shorthanded diver to open the scoring in the campaign, but the Warriors rattled off three consecutive power play goals to take the lead. A trickler from Kyle Jackson late in the quarter stopped the bleeding momentarily, as Riley Loewen and Brandon Goodwin tacked on two more. Eric Fannell capped the quarter’s scoring, with the Thunderbirds down 5-3.

 

The furious offensive onslaught continued into the second quarter, as Clarke Petterson’s first of the night got the Thunderbirds within one in 25 seconds. Loewen answered roughly 30 seconds later, kicking off a short back-and-forth between the two teams. After a Scott Campbell transition goal, Thunderbirds captain Cody Jamieson evened the score at seven with a backdoor cut and quick stick.

 

It would be the last Thunderbirds goal of the half, however. Loewen netted two in a row, his third and fourth goals of the half, and Kyle Killen’s hat trick goal stung Bold’s shoulder for the top corner. Halftime came with the Warriors up 10-7.

 

Penalty woes continued into the third quarter for the home team, but it proved to be to their benefit, as Austin Shanks netted the second shorthanded goal of the game. After killing the penalty, Stephan Leblanc scored with a quick stick, and Jackson used a Warriors defenceman as a screen to tie things up at 10.

 

In the fourth quarter, Loewen’s fifth goal of the game gave the Warriors their final lead of the game. The lead was short-lived, as two minutes later, Shanks came streaking off the bench to tie things up once again. Then Boushy scooped the loose ball and scored on the doorstep, followed five seconds later by a Petterson goal off the face-off win. Twenty seconds later, Shanks stung the corner shortside and chased Warriors netminder Alex Buque from net. 

 

Killen’s fourth goal of the game, a power play marker, would be the final tally of the contest, and the Thunderbirds held on for the 14-12 win, helping Bold get his first NLL win in his return.

 

He finished the night with 38 saves, good for a .760 Sv%. Jamieson led the Thunderbirds in scoring with seven points (1G, 6A), recording his 500th career assist on Jackson’s first goal of the game. He was followed in points by Leblanc (1G, 5A) and Boushy and Petterson with five (2G, 3A) the same way.

 

Loewen’s five goals were complemented by an assist. Four other Warriors players had five points – Killen (4G, 1A), Logan Schuss (1G, 4A), Keegan Bal (1G, 4A), and Adam Charalambides (5A). Buque finished the night having spent 51:40 min. between the pipes. His 37 saves gave him a .725 Sv% and 16.26 GAA. His replacement, Steve Fryer, made six saves in 8:20 min.

 

The Thunderbirds victory won’t be enjoyed for long, as they turn their attention to a busy doubleheader weekend. They welcome the Albany FireWolves (5-6) back to Scotiabank Centre for a rematch on Friday, March 11. Face-off is set for 7:00 p.m. AT.

 

Due to provincial restrictions, there are a limited number of tickets available to Friday’s game. Fans can secure their tickets by visiting https://ticketatlantic.co/thunderbirds or by calling or texting 902-334-2333.

 

The Thunderbirds turn around the next day and travel down to Gas South Arena to take on the Georgia Swarm (5-6) for the second time this season. Face-off is set for 8:00 p.m. AT on Saturday, March 12. Fans can catch the game live on TSN and ESPN+.

 

Thunderbirds Improve to 8-1 with Emotional Win Against Warriors

 

 

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia (March 5, 2022) – It was an emotional night for the Halifax Thunderbirds (8-1) at Scotiabank Centre as they bested the Vancouver Warriors (5-5) by a score of 14-12. Netminder Aaron Bold got the start after Warren Hill was placed on the COVID Protocol list, his first start since the Warriors released him midway through the 2019-20 NLL season and since his wife, Michelle, passed away to cancer.

 

Bold faced 30 shots in the first half, letting 10 of them past him in his first NLL action in over two years. He settled down through the second half, and he and the Thunderbirds defence prevented the visiting team from finding the back of the net in the third quarter and just twice in the fourth. He also passed Matt Disher for 9th all-time in NLL goalie saves after his twelfth save in the first quarter.

 

The Thunderbirds were on the penalty kill early and often. Chris Boushy scored a shorthanded diver to open the scoring in the campaign, but the Warriors rattled off three consecutive power play goals to take the lead. A trickler from Kyle Jackson late in the quarter stopped the bleeding momentarily, as Riley Loewen and Brandon Goodwin tacked on two more. Eric Fannell capped the quarter’s scoring, with the Thunderbirds down 5-3.

 

The furious offensive onslaught continued into the second quarter, as Clarke Petterson’s first of the night got the Thunderbirds within one in 25 seconds. Loewen answered roughly 30 seconds later, kicking off a short back-and-forth between the two teams. After a Scott Campbell transition goal, Thunderbirds captain Cody Jamieson evened the score at seven with a backdoor cut and quick stick.

 

It would be the last Thunderbirds goal of the half, however. Loewen netted two in a row, his third and fourth goals of the half, and Kyle Killen’s hat trick goal stung Bold’s shoulder for the top corner. Halftime came with the Warriors up 10-7.

 

Penalty woes continued into the third quarter for the home team, but it proved to be to their benefit, as Austin Shanks netted the second shorthanded goal of the game. After killing the penalty, Stephan Leblanc scored with a quick stick, and Jackson used a Warriors defenceman as a screen to tie things up at 10.

 

In the fourth quarter, Loewen’s fifth goal of the game gave the Warriors their final lead of the game. The lead was short-lived, as two minutes later, Shanks came streaking off the bench to tie things up once again. Then Boushy scooped the loose ball and scored on the doorstep, followed five seconds later by a Petterson goal off the face-off win. Twenty seconds later, Shanks stung the corner shortside and chased Warriors netminder Alex Buque from net. 

 

Killen’s fourth goal of the game, a power play marker, would be the final tally of the contest, and the Thunderbirds held on for the 14-12 win, helping Bold get his first NLL win in his return.

 

He finished the night with 38 saves, good for a .760 Sv%. Jamieson led the Thunderbirds in scoring with seven points (1G, 6A), recording his 500th career assist on Jackson’s first goal of the game. He was followed in points by Leblanc (1G, 5A) and Boushy and Petterson with five (2G, 3A) the same way.

 

Loewen’s five goals were complemented by an assist. Four other Warriors players had five points – Killen (4G, 1A), Logan Schuss (1G, 4A), Keegan Bal (1G, 4A), and Adam Charalambides (5A). Buque finished the night having spent 51:40 min. between the pipes. His 37 saves gave him a .725 Sv% and 16.26 GAA. His replacement, Steve Fryer, made six saves in 8:20 min.

 

The Thunderbirds victory won’t be enjoyed for long, as they turn their attention to a busy doubleheader weekend. They welcome the Albany FireWolves (5-6) back to Scotiabank Centre for a rematch on Friday, March 11. Face-off is set for 7:00 p.m. AT.

 

Due to provincial restrictions, there are a limited number of tickets available to Friday’s game. Fans can secure their tickets by visiting https://ticketatlantic.co/thunderbirds or by calling or texting 902-334-2333.

 

The Thunderbirds turn around the next day and travel down to Gas South Arena to take on the Georgia Swarm (5-6) for the second time this season. Face-off is set for 8:00 p.m. AT on Saturday, March 12. Fans can catch the game live on TSN and ESPN+.