January 4, 2023 – National Lacrosse League (NLL) – Albany FireWolves News Release
The Albany HearthWolves (1-1) return house this Saturday, January 7, at 7:00 p.m. towards the Halifax Thunderbirds (2-1). The HearthWolves are coming off consecutive bye weeks whereas the Thunderbirds enter the sport after struggling their first loss final weekend. Albany had Halifax’s quantity a season in the past, defeating the Thunderbirds in each matchups. This weekend’s sport may be watched on My4 Albany or ESPN Plus.
HearthWolves Players to Watch:
Hiana Thompson confirmed Albany followers why the crew acquired him this offseason with a strong offensive efficiency within the crew’s final sport. He completed with a hat trick and now leads the HearthWolves with 4 targets within the two video games performed. His 5 whole factors on the season rank him fifth amongst the Wolves and he has already confirmed to be a key cog within the offense. The Thunderbirds have lit up the scoreboard via their first three video games, posting a powerful 51 targets on the younger season. The HearthWolves will want loads of firepower to maintain up with the Thunderbirds on this one, so the crew will depend on Thompson to seek out the again of the web a number of instances as soon as once more.
John LaFontaine is probably not a reputation that lights up the stat sheet, however he is a vital element of Albany’s transition sport. In their final outing a pair weekends in the past, LaFontaine contributed two factors on a objective and an help. His objective got here in transition after a protection stand. The Thunderbirds have confirmed that they will rating with the very best of them, so LaFontaine and the transition sport have to be on level on this one to capitalize on strong protection resulting in runout scoring alternatives. Doug Jamieson was on his A-sport the final time the HearthWolves took the turf, regardless of dropping by a objective to the Rochester Knighthawks. Jamieson has begun the 2022-23 season already displaying why he’s considered among the best goalies within the sport. The netminder adopted up a forty five-save effort to open the season with a 60-save outing two weeks in the past. Jamieson has allowed simply 24 targets within the HearthWolves’ two video games, and the crew will definitely depend on him to proceed to be the spine of a stout protection as they discover methods to restrict the excessive-scoring Thunderbirds this weekend.
Opposing Players to Watch:
Ryan Benesch must be a well-recognized identify to HearthWolves followers. Albany acquired him early within the crew’s debut season and he dominated for the membership, ending the season with 81 whole factors. This season is not any completely different although he’s carrying a brand new jersey, as Benesch presently ranks fourth within the league with 9 targets via three video games. Benesch has been within the league since 2007 and Albany is aware of higher than anybody how harmful the lefty may be. The HearthWolves should discover a technique to bottle him up this weekend to return away with a victory.
Randy Staats has had a scorching begin to the season for the Thunderbirds. The ahead presently sits third within the league in each whole factors and assists with 23 and 15, respectively. Despite the crew’s loss per week in the past, Staats had himself an evening towards the Buffalo Bandits. He completed with eight whole factors on three targets and 5 assists. The HearthWolves will definitely have their fingers full attempting to include this scorching Thunderbirds offense and should discover a technique to decelerate Staats on this one in the event that they need to prolong their win streak towards the membership to a few video games. Staats didn’t play final season, so this would be the first time he’ll face the HearthWolves.
Goaltender Warren Hill had two strong outings towards the HearthWolves a season in the past, regardless of taking the loss in every sport. He restricted the HearthWolves to only 16 targets – eight in every sport. Hill performed in two of the Thunderbirds’ three video games to this point this season and has allowed simply 20 targets and recorded 54 saves. The goalie is coming off a tough efficiency within the crew’s loss per week in the past, permitting 12 of the Bandits’ 18 targets within the contest. Albany might want to keep its effectively-balanced offensive assault, get forward early, and preserve their foot on the fuel whereas trying to hand Halifax their second loss in as many video games.
This would be the first of two common season matchups between Albany and Halifax. The HearthWolves will go to the Thunderbirds subsequent weekend on Friday, January 13 at 6:30 p.m. EST.
Fans can safe their tickets now for this weekend’s sport towards the Thunderbirds! For extra data relating to tickets, go to www.AlbanyHearthWolves.com or name/textual content the HearthWolves entrance workplace at 518-362-4900.
About Albany HearthWolves The Albany HearthWolves is the Capital Region’s very personal Professional Box Lacrosse crew, enjoying within the National Lacrosse League out of the MVP Arena in downtown Albany, NY. For extra data, contact the Albany HearthWolves Front Office at (518) 362-4900 or go to AlbanyHearthWolves.com. Follow the crew on Facebook at fb.com/AlbFireWolves, Twitter @AlbFireWolves, and Instagram @AlbFireWolves.
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