The Pack is Back! Off their best season in the National Lacrosse League (NLL) which saw them make a finals berth, players and coaches becoming award winners, and secure an arena extension, the Albany FireWolves have made their return to the court. November saw the return of the FireWolves for training camp and two preseason games under their belt, with one more to go before the start of the regular season. On Saturday, November 9th, the FireWolves took on the Halifax Thunderbirds, where they took the victory 20-9. The very next day, Sunday, November 10th, the FireWolves took on the Rochester Knighthawks in a close, but losing effort, dropping game two 14-10.
In game one of the two preseason games, the FireWolves showcased the fast-paced play and quick shooting that propelled them to the NLL finals last season. Not only did they outpace the Thunderbirds, they completely outplayed them. Everything seemed to click for the FireWolves—from the offense and defense picking up right where they left off last season, to Dougie Jamieson looking to claim NLL Goalie of the Year honors this season. With 20 goals scored in the first scrimmage, the FireWolves had a very balanced offensive contribution. Travis Longboatled the charge with five goals, while Dyson Williams, in his NLL preseason debut, added four goals. Alex Simmons also had a strong start to his second season, netting three goals. Other goal scorers included Tye Kurtz, Nicholas Volkov, Marshall Powless, John Piatelli, Jackson Raposo, and Jake Cates, each contributing one goal. Newcomer Eric Fannell also made a mark, scoring twice in his FireWolves debut.The second preseason game was a much closer contest, as the FireWolves and Knighthawks battled it out. Albany jumped out to an early lead and held that advantage through the first half. However, the offensively potent Knighthawks mounted a strong push in the second half, ultimately securing the win. Despite the loss, there were bright spots for Albany, particularly from Dyson Williams, who scored twice, bringing his two-game total to six goals. Nick Chaykowsky and John Piatelli each added two goals as well. Other goal scorers for Albany included Alex Simmons, Jackson Nishimura, Marshall Powless, and Jackson Raposo, who each netted one goal.
With the FireWolves splitting their 2 preseason contests, the team has a mix of positives to build upon and a few minor areas to refine before the start of the regular season on November 30th. The final preseason game, set for November 17th against the Philadelphia Wings, will provideone last opportunity to iron out any kinks before the home opener against the Saskatchewan Rush in two weeks. With the majority of the roster returning from last season, the FireWolves’ confidence and team chemistry will only improve as they push for another shot at the championship that narrowly eluded them last season
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