Woods having storybook start to NLL career

Feb 27, 2024

Austin Owens I Halifax Thunderbirds

By his own accord, Halifax Thunderbirds forward Aaron Woods credits his career journey for shaping him into the person and player he is today. 

The 28-year-old National Lacrosse League rookie has taken the league by storm over the last two weeks. But his path to this stage started back with the Clarington Shamrox of the Ontario Junior C Lacrosse League. 

Woods played most of his time with the Shamrox, while also playing as a call-up for Junior A and B at points. But once his Junior career came to a close, Woods looked to continue playing, and he found a home in the Arena Lacrosse League with the Peterborough Timbermen. 

He also played collegiately with Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario. 

“Just going through those different experiences in my lacrosse career and getting to play in the ALL, which plays a similar style to the NLL with the rules, really helped me get used to things,” Woods said. “I think with both (ALL and Carleton), I just continued to grow and learn as a player, and those times reaffirmed my love for the game.”

Woods had looked to make the jump following his first few years with Peterborough, but the opportunity never arose. But in 2022, he took a massive step in his development. 

He took home the league’s Most Valuable Player award with 36 goals and 61 points in just 11 outings. 

“It was a great accolade and something that I tried to promote myself when I was reaching out to NLL teams after the season,” Woods said. “I never really felt like I was doing anything differently or new. But just to be able to stick to my game and have those results really helped me with that confidence that I was at the top of my game and ready to take that next step.”

Coming off that breakout year, he jumped to play for the MSL’s Cobourg Kodiaks, and after tallying 15 points in nine games in the summer of 2022, he had 21 goals and 44 points in 21 games this past summer, helping the Kodiaks to a playoff berth. 

He looked for his shot at an NLL camp again this fall, and he would get one when he received a call from Curt Styres.

Woods arrived at Thunderbirds camp back in November on a mission to earn his way onto the final roster. 

“I think when I got (to camp), rather than looking at who I was going up against, I was just trying to go out there and represent myself the best that I could,” Woods said. “That was my mindset throughout camp, at every practice, and every game: Just go out and just try to play my game and show the coaching staff and management what I’m all about. 

“...I just wanted to do the best I could and work hard and just be happy with the product and game I put out there. I didn’t want to push expectations too high or low for myself.”

That mindset carried him to success during the preseason, as he notched a pair of multi-goal outings during the team’s scrimmages with Las Vegas and Panther City. 

He added that he did have nerves going in, but they started to go away once he set foot on the floor at Iroquois Lacrosse Arena to get to work. 

“As soon as you get out there and get your first touch of the ball and get hit, you kind of get snapped back into that comfort zone of playing lacrosse just like you have growing up,” Woods said. “Once I got adjusted to the speed of these games, a lot of the guys out there are guys I’ve played with or against. So, I just tried to remind myself of that and not let the moment get too big.”

Woods’ standout play earned him a spot on the team’s practice roster to open the season. He was activated before the team’s home opener and made the trip out with the team to The Nest. 

He got to experience the city, the arena, his first NLL game day, and also got a rookie lap in with the other new faces to Halifax. 

“My biggest takeaway was just how well the organization treated us, as well as the professionalism of the veterans like Cody Jamieson and Ryan Benesch. I got to watch how they prepare for games and what the atmosphere is like leading into those games,” Woods said. “During and after the game, it was really cool to see the unbelievable fanbase that Halifax has. It was amazing to see the fans come on the floor after the game, and I got the chance to talk to them.

“The love for the game that the fans have and the sense of community in Halifax I think is second to none.”

Woods bounced between the Active and Practice Rosters for the first few weeks of the season until Feb. 2, when the Thunderbirds travelled to Philadelphia to take on the Wings. 

On the Monday before the game, Woods got a call letting him know that he’d make his NLL debut on the road. He was able to let some family and friends know ahead of time, and they made the trip down to watch his first taste of NLL action. 

“I was trying hard not to psych myself up too much, and then we landed in Philly and got that morning shootaround done, it all became real to me,” Woods said. “Once we went back to the hotel, I tried to go and get a pre-game nap in and just ended up staring at the ceiling for a few hours. That time between shootaround and the game was the longest hours of my life.

“I think just the camaraderie that we have within our team helped to ease the nerves a bit. Everyone is pulling for each other. And it was the same mindset as in camp. I’ve played lacrosse tons of times in my life, and I just needed to go out and do what I know I can and do my best.”

Woods got the nerves out of the way in a hurry, as he came over the top of a screen and ripped a bouncer past Zach Higgins in the first quarter. He continued his strong play with another pivotal goal in the second half of that game, scooping up a loose ball on top of the crease and going airborne for the putback. 

Adding four assists on the night, the rookie finished his debut with a six-point outing in a crucial overtime victory on the road. 

After the game, Woods also got to share the moment with the family and friends that made the trip.

“It was unbelievable, (on the first goal) I just came over the top, and it’s a shot I’ve taken hundreds of times in practices, warm-ups, and other games. But just to see the ball go in was a big relief for me,” Woods said. “I felt like after that, the pressure was off, and I could go out there and play a little more freely. Everyone was so happy for me when I got back to the bench, you couldn’t wipe the smile off my face.

“...That moment after the game was special because some of those people were the ones who have been supporting me my whole career. And it hasn’t been a traditional route to get here. Just for all they did to help me achieve my goals, for them to be there, it was just truly amazing. As happy as they were for me, I was happier for them to be able to be there and to see my dreams come true.”

Woods continued that strong play into last weekend’s game against Las Vegas, where he once again netted a pair of goals and finished with six points as the Thunderbirds took home their third straight game in front of the home faithful. 

His 20 points through five games helped the Thunderbirds immensely in the wake of star righty forward Randy Staats being moved to Injured Reserve last month. But with Staats now back in the lineup, Woods, along with fellow righties Clarke Petterson and Austin Shanks, are firing on all cylinders over this run, and they’re gaining more confidence and chemistry with every possession they play together. 

“We’ve just been working together in practice, and after each offensive set, we’re coming off the floor and discussing what kind of things we want to see and what we like,” Woods said. “The level of success that Clarkey and Shanksy have had in the league, that’s something I want to achieve. So, just being able to learn from them has helped us mesh as a group. 

“We’re also always out after practices doing different shooting games and things like that, so I think all of those things just help us become closer as a group. With Randy, I’ve been able to learn from him. He’s a future Hall of Famer, so having him here is awesome as well.”

Woods’ NLL journey has just begun, but if he continues to play with the same energy and ability as his first two games, he’ll be a constant in the Thunderbirds’ lineup for years to come. Over the last 10 years, he’s gone all the way from Junior C to the highest level in the sport, and he has a promising future ahead of him in Halifax.

“It really makes me think back to all of the players and coaches that really just kept the game fun and helped me learn along the way,” Woods said. “It has been a long journey, but just looking back and reflecting on everything, it really has made me into the player I am today. But I can’t help but be appreciative of the people who supported me along the way. The players, coaches, parents, friends, family…So being able to reflect on how far I’ve come has been great.”