Caden Balint – Albany Correspondent, Stream Punk Sports / All Lacrosse All The Time
We play for Tucker! Last night, the Albany FireWolves (1-4) hosted the Las Vegas Desert Dogs (1-4) in the first annual Tucker Out Lymphoma Cup, a game filled with emotion and determination. Both teams played in honor of Tucker Williams, son of NLL Hall of Famer and Las Vegas Desert Dogs head coach Shawn Williams, and brother of Dyson Williams, the 2023 NLL first overall draft pick of the Albany FireWolves. The game was more than just a contest—it was a celebration of resilience, community, and the fight against cancer. A heartfelt pre-game ceremony, featuring the Williams family, paid tribute to Tucker’s life and set the tone for the night.
A Battle from Start to Finish
The FireWolves came out strong, as they have in most games this season, setting a fast pace and taking an early lead. Ethan Walker once again shone for Albany, contributing five points on the night. Albany maintained leads at the end of each quarter—except the fourth—thanks to a balanced offensive effort by the Desert Dogs.
Las Vegas, however, showed resilience and composure throughout the game. Rookie Jackson Webster, making his NLL debut, delivered an electrifying performance with six points, including his first career hat trick. His efforts helped the Desert Dogs stay within striking distance and ultimately force overtime.
The game was a testament to the Desert Dogs’ ability to adapt, as they executed their offensive game plan effectively and delivered crucial defensive stops when needed. Goaltender Landon Kells played a pivotal role, making key saves to limit Albany to 59 shots.
A Family Affair
All eyes were on Dyson Williams in this emotional matchup against his father, Sean Williams. Dyson delivered a memorable performance with five points, including his first career hat trick. In a moment of competitive tension, Sean challenged Dyson’s first goal late in the first quarter, but the call on the field stood. After the game, Dyson reflected, saying, “We are a super competitive family, so I’m not surprised he threw it, but there are no hard feelings. We’re both trying to win.”
Key Performers
Albany FireWolves:
Despite another tough loss the young guns continue to shine. Alex Simmons led the way for Albany as he was able to post seven points (2g, 7a). Dyson Williams netted his first ever NLL hat trick and ended with five points (3g, 2a). Along with Williams, Ethan Walker (2g, 3a) and Tye Kurtz (1g, 4a) ended the night with five points each. Callum Crawford and Mike Byrne both added goals of their own. While Sam Firth (2a), Patrick Kaschalk (2a) and Eric Fannell (1a) all added helpers of their own in defeat.
Las Vegas Desert Dogs:
Las Vegas celebrated the victory with several standout preformances. Starting with debute Jackson Webster, he was able to post six points and his first NLL hat trick (3g, 3a) in his very first game. Next to Webster, Jack Hannah continued his strong start to the season as he added five points of his own (1g, 4a), and the same goes for Jonathan Donville as he added five points of his own (3g, 2a). 2023 second overall selection Adam Poitras was able to add three goals of his own including the game winner. Kyle Killen also was able to add three points of his own (1g, 2a), while Casey Jackson and Dylan Hutchison added 2 assists of their own. Rounding out the scoring for Las Vegas was Connor Kirst (1g), Jonathan Gagliardi (1a), Nick Preston (1a), and James Barclay (1a) all added points of their own.
Looking Ahead:
Next week Dougie Jamieson, Alex Simmons, Dyson Williams and the Albany FireWolves will look to bounce back into the win column as they will travel to Ball Arena to take on Connor Kelly, Will Malcom, Dillon Ward and the surging Colorado Mammoth (3-2). As for the Desert Dogs, they will hope to continue their winning ways in 2025 as they will travel to the SaskTel Centre to take on Saskatchewan Rush, who are riding a wave of momentum, and they hope to keep it going strong into 2025.