(Photo courtesy of Ryan McCullough NLL)
The Halifax Thunderbirds (11-7) visited the Toronto Rock (5-12) to finish their 2024-2025 regular season at the Paramount Fine Foods Centre Friday evening.
The Thunderbirds have been playing strong in the second half of the season earning them a berth in this year’s NLL playoffs. Randy Staats (30g, 65a) and Clarke Petterson (30g, 63a) both have the chance to break the 100-point mark this season. Thomas Hoggarth (28g, 29a), Dawson Theede (28g, 11a), and Cody Jamieson (20g,21a) have also had good years.
The Rock have been hit by the injury bug all season. Josh Dawick (38G, 28A) leads Toronto in goals as he continues his breakout season. Chris Boushy (32g, 27a) and Corey Small (24g, 21a) sit second and third, respectively, in goals on the Rock this year. A number of positives have come in this injury riddled season however. The acquisition of Nathan Grenon has been all positive, as well as the play of Elijah Gash, and Jake Darlison.
The goaltending match-up had Drew Hutchison in net for Halifax facing Troy Holowchuk in net for the Rock.
The Thunderbirds took advantage of opportunities early, getting out to a 4-0 first quarter lead. Toronto got themselves back in the game with Chris Boushy scoring three times in the second quarter. At the half the Thunderbirds led 8-5.
The Rock made it interesting in the third quarter scoring three goals to tie the game 8-8. Of note, Josh Dawick’s two goals put him at 40 for the season.
Halifax scored just seconds after the Rock tied the game late in the third, then erupted in the fourth. Three from Dawson Theede, and two from Mike Robinson led the seven goal Thunderbirds explosion in the fourth to sink the Rock’s hopes for victory. Halifax wins 16-9.
To The Game:
On a delayed penalty the Halifax Thunderbirds opened the scoring when Wake:Riat Bowhunter beat Troy Holowchuk to the far side off a Cody Jamieson pass at 3:18, followed by a power-play marker from Randy Staats off a Clarke Petterson pass at 9:35.
The Thunderbirds increased their lead when Thomas Hoggarth scored from in close off a Clarke Petterson pass at 11:04, followed by Cody Jamieson with a bounced shot from in close off a Dawson Theede pass at 13:26.
The Rock finally got on the board with an extra attacker on the floor. Corey Small beat Drew Hutchison with a low to low blast off a Challen Rogers pass with just 0:00.5 seconds left in the quarter.
After one quarter, Halifax 4 Toronto 1.
Second Quarter:
Josh Dawick opened the second quarter scoring with a howitzer from the side of the net off a Corey Small pass at 1:54.
A laser to the far corner from Thomas Hoggarth at 5:21, followed by a Dawson Theede goal from Clarke Petterson at 5:21 restored the Halifax four goal lead.
Chris Boushy then found the back of the net twice. His first was a high to low shot off a Robert Hudson pass at 6:16, followed by a great individual effort four on four at 9:16.
The Thunderbirds roared back with Mike Robinson tip toeing around the crease off a Ryan Terefenko pass at 11:06, followed by a howitzer from Cody Jamieson off a Clarke Petterson pass 0:24 seconds later.
Chris Boushy scored his third of the game with a sidearm snipe off a Josh Dawick pass at 14:10.
At the half, Halifax 8 Toronto 5.
Third Quarter:
Josh Dawick opened the second half scoring with his 40th of the season off a Challen Rogers pass at 1:46, followed by Chris Boushy’s fourth of the game off a flip pass from Rogers at 7:42 to bring Toronto within one goal.
The Rock tied the game in transition when Justin Martin converted a Brad Kri long lead pass shorthanded at 13:36. Halifax came back still on the power-play with Cody Jamieson finishing a Randy Staats pass 0:25 seconds later.
After three quarters, Halifax 9 Toronto 8.
Fourth Quarter:
Dawson Theede increased the Thunderbirds lead with a pair of goals. The first was a blast off a Clarke Petterson pass, followed by a shot from in close at 2:44 to increase the Halifax lead to three.
Mike Robinson continued the Thunderbirds run with a high to low shot that snuck into the shortside at 4:11, followed by a Theede goal on the power-play off a Clarke Petterson pass at 6:05.
The Rock still had some fight left in them when Chris Boushy scored his fifth of the game off a Challen Rogers pass at 6:53, but Halifax stormed back with Thomas Hoggarth converting a behind the back pass from Randy Staats 0:23 seconds later.
Randy Staats added to the Thunderbirds lead with sidearm snipe off a Dawson Theede pass at 10:31, followed by Mike Robinson with a shot through the five-hole off a Thomas Hoggarth pass at 11:00.
The Rock replaced Troy Holowchuk with Gowah Abrams in net.
Final score, Halifax 16 Toronto 9.
The Three Stars:
1. Dawson Theede
2. Chris Boushy
3. Mike Robinson
Game Stats:
- Shots on goal favored Halifax 68-41.
- The faceoff battle was dominated by the Thunderbirds 25-3.
- The loose ball battle was also dominated by Halifax 100-52.
- Halifax went 3 for 8 on the power-play.
- Toronto went 0 for 2 on the power-play, also scoring a shorthanded goal.
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