Caden Balint – Albany Correspondent, Stream Punk Sports / All Lacrosse All The Time
The Halifax Thunderbirds punched their ticket to the National Lacrosse League (NLL) semifinals Saturday night with a convincing 16–12 win over the Calgary Roughnecks at a raucous Scotiabank Centre. Backed by a high-octane offense and timely goaltending, Halifax controlled the tempo early and weathered a late push from the visitors to seal the franchise’s first playoff win since relocating to Nova Scotia.
First-Half Firepower Sets the Tone
Halifax’s offense wasted no time asserting itself, jumping out to a 3–0 lead by the end of the first quarter. The Thunderbirds moved the ball crisply and capitalized on Calgary’s defensive miscues, while their own defense effectively shut down the Roughnecks’ early efforts. Nonkon Thompson and Clarke Petterson combined for two quick goals, and Thomas Hoggarth added his first of three with five minutes remaining in the opening frame. This high-octane offensive unit continued to apply pressure into the second quarter.
By halftime, Halifax had built a commanding 8–3 advantage. Their offensive spacing and off-ball movement consistently created quality looks, while Calgary struggled to generate sustained pressure in transition or on settled sets—resulting in just three goals over the first two quarters.
Balanced Scoring and Big-Time Stops
The Thunderbirds’ scoring was remarkably balanced, with five different players registering at least two goals. Thomas Hoggarth was the standout, finishing with a hat trick and three assists, while Dawson Theede, Cody Jamieson, Randy Staats, and Trevor Smyth each delivered multi-point performances of their own. Their ability to share the ball and find the open man overwhelmed a Roughnecks defense that couldn’t keep up with the pace.
Goaltender Drew Hutchinson delivered a strong performance between the pipes for Halifax. While the scoreboard shows 12 goals allowed, Hutchinson came up with several critical saves in high-pressure situations—especially in the third quarter, when Calgary threatened to shift the momentum.
Roughnecks’ Rally Falls Short
To their credit, the Roughnecks refused to go quietly. Tyler Pace scored four goals in the second half alone to keep Calgary within striking distance. Without his production, the deficit would have been far worse. Timely third-quarter goals from Jesse King and Curtis Dickson helped inject life into the Calgary bench. A brief scuffle midway through the quarter even seemed to galvanize the Roughnecks, who began playing with more urgency across the board.
But every time Calgary made a run, Halifax had an answer. A beautifully executed passing sequence that found captain Cody Jamieson midway through the fourth, followed by a late insurance marker from Smyth, ultimately sealed the deal.
Key Performers
Halifax Thunderbirds:
- Thomas Hoggarth – 3 goals, 5 assists
- Dawson Theede – 3 goals, 2 assists
- Randy Staats – 2 goals, 5 assists
- Cody Jamieson – 3 goals, 1 assist
- Trevor Smyth – 2 goals
- Mike Robinson – 1 goal, 5 assists
- Clarke Petterson – 1 goal, 5 assists
- Drew Hutchison – 39 saves on 51 shots
Calgary Roughnecks:
- Curtis Dickson – 3 goals, 5 assists
- Tyler Pace – 4 goals, 1 assist
- Jesse King – 2 goals, 3 assists
- Dane Dobbie – 1 goal, 5 assists
- Nick Rose – 42 saves on 58 shots
Looking Ahead
With the win, Halifax advances to face the Saskatchewan Rush in the NLL semifinals, depending on the outcomes of the remaining first-round matchups. It’s a landmark moment for a Thunderbirds team that has been building toward playoff success since arriving in Halifax in 2020.
For Calgary, it’s a disappointing end to a season that showed flashes of brilliance but ultimately came up short in crunch time. The Roughnecks will look to regroup in the off-season with a core still capable of contending in this highly competitive league.
