Playing for Tucker: Dyson Williams Honors His Brother’s Legacy

It doesn’t ever get easier for Dyson Williams.

Ten years on, the loss of Dyson’ younger brother Tucker is as fresh as the day he succumbed to Burkitt’s Lymphoma at just eight years old. Dyson was 14 at the time of Tucker’s tragic death.

Now 24, he’s in his rookie season for the Albany FireWolves, where he has four goals and seven assists in four games, and is living the dream he and his brother shared as kids.

“Going into the dressing room and seeing 51 on my name tag and 51 Williams on my jersey is a subtle reminder of why I play the game and why I want to honor Tucker every time I’m on the floor,” Dyson said. “I have him on my mind every day and I wish that he was here right now. Be able to watch him play as he gets into D1, an amazing school somewhere, and then hopefully play with him later. But obviously, that can’t happen. So, I just think about him and remind myself that I play for him and those who can’t. It helps me take a deep breath and enjoy the game I love.”

Dyson, Tucker and Dylana Williams in 2008

This Saturday, Tucker will be on everybody’s mind, as the FireWolves host their first Tucker Out Lymphoma game against the Las Vegas Desert Dogs.

Tucker Out Lymphoma is an initiative spearheaded by Scott Loffler, Senior Director of Lacrosse Operations with the Buffalo Bandits, created to support the Williams family during Tucker’s illness. Dyson and Tucker’s dad Shawn, a recent NLL Hall of Fame inductee, was a member of the Bandits when Tucker was fighting the disease.

The Bandits have held a game every year since, and when Shawn Williams became head coach and general manager in Las Vegas, the Desert Dogs picked up the tradition.

Now Albany has joined the fray, and they will compete in the Tucker Out Lymphoma Cup with Buffalo and Las Vegas, a five-game series between the three teams that will honor Tucker’s legacy.

The initiative’s expansion throughout the NLL makes Dyson happy.

“The more eyes and the more players getting to experience a Tucker Lymphoma night, the more people understand how special the night truly is. I’ve talked to many guys that have been part of a Tucker Out Lymphoma game, and they all say how special it is. It’d be cool to see more and more teams join in on it because at the end of the day, for our family, it’s getting Tucker’s name out there and raising awareness for lymphoma and for the Braver Than Brave fund and for, above all, children that can’t play lacrosse, that love playing lacrosse or any sport. It’s exactly why raising money for childhood cancer is so important to our family.”

Dyson Williams, with his family and Tucker’s best friend Zack Toll, participate in the ceremonial Faceoff of the 2018 Tucker Out Lymphoma game in Buffalo.

Before this season, Dyson’s biggest role in the evening was designing the jerseys for the game, that were later auctioned off, with the proceeds supporting the Braver Than Brave fund at Sick Kids Hospital, where Tucker was treated. He designed the jerseys once again this season, creating three different color variants to fit each team.

“It’s a fun little way to add some spice to the uniforms that honor Tucker,” Dyson said. “And whether it’s the little detail on the side of the shorts, quotes from Tucker, the lymphoma ribbons and adding Braver Than Brave logos, we find a way to make it visually appealing for the fans as well.”

The jerseys will also feature a different Braver Than Brave logo for each team. Originally designed by Dyson’s cousin Jacob, the superhero-like figure in the logo donned a Bandits’ top hat when it went on their jerseys. This year, Vegas’ jersey will have an Elvis wig on the figure, and the FireWolves figure will have a wolf head, adding to each jersey’s uniqueness.

“It’s the first time I get to design and then actually wear the jersey myself while playing, so I’m looking forward to that,” Dyson said. “Since the season started, I’ve been just focusing on each game as they happen and taking it slow. The fact that the next game I’ll be playing in is against my dad and is a Tucker Out Lymphoma game, is really special and it means a lot to me. It’s a dream come true to represent Tucker on the floor with his name on the jersey and the Lymphoma ribbon. I’m excited to play the game I love, and have it mean a little more for a night.”

We are honored to wear special Tucker Out Lymphoma jerseys this Saturday to honor the life and legacy of Tucker Williams and all those battling cancer 💚

Both Albany and Las Vegas jerseys will be auctioned off on @Win_with_DASH beginning Jan 2nd at 5pm EST.#BraverThanBrave💚 pic.twitter.com/F4nsws3mTA

— Albany FireWolves Lacrosse Club (@AlbFireWolves) January 1, 2025

Dyson attended most of the Tucker Out Lymphoma games in Buffalo, so seeing one – and participating in the game – in Albany will be a much different experience.

“For Albany fans to experience it and obviously to do it against Vegas is very special,” he said. “Each game (in the series) will be special for different reasons.”

The Albany at Buffalo game on February 1 is on Tucker’s birthday.

“Eleven years ago, he was in the hospital and Banditland sang Happy Birthday to Tucker on FaceTime on the Jumbotron,” Dyson remembered. “As much as the FireWolves and the Bandits are New York rivals, the support that Scott Loffler and the whole organization showed my family as my dad finished his career as a Bandit and all the support that they’ve shown over the last 10 years, is phenomenal. And I know the fans do love the night there too. It’ll be cool to be there in Buffalo and play there for the first time in my career, wearing a Tucker jersey and being a part of another Tucker Out Lymphoma.”

But the first game, on Saturday night, will be special because it will feature not only Dyson but Shawn as well, who will be coaching the opposition. They’ve played together before but have never been on opposite teams. 

BURLINGTON, ON – SEPTEMBER 15: The Williams family poses at the National Lacrosse League Hall of Fame induction ceremony, Friday, September 15th, 2023 at the Burlington Conference Centre in Burlington, Ontario. (Photo: Christian Bender)

 “It’s going to be weird,” Dyson admitted. “We have a cool relationship that way where we just love chopping it up about lacrosse but this week I think there’ll be a little less of that. I’m looking forward to battling against him. We’re very competitive. We love playing cards, board games, darts, ping pong, anything. It could get heated on Saturday night.”

Mom Tamara and younger sister Dylana, (a senior with the University at Albany women’s lacrosse team) will be in attendance, along with Dyson’s grandparents, cousins and many friends.

“It’ll be nice to see a lot of people in the stands and play for Tucker and have my people there. It’ll be awesome,” Dyson smiled, although he said he wasn’t sure who his family would be cheering for. “I think they’ll probably just be cheering for a good lacrosse game.”

As much as Dyson will love having his family in attendance, it will be a bittersweet moment without his brother.

“We were ball boys together for our dad. We loved being on the floor before the game and whenever the team was off the floor in their dressing room, getting their gear on, we’d stay on the floor and we’d just shoot around on the net in front of a bunch of fans in the crowd,” Dyson said. “He was an amazing player. In his last season playing lacrosse, watching him with what he was going through, and still seeing him show up on the floor to play the game he loved and have a smile on his face while doing it, was truly special.

“Lacrosse, a game that I’ve been playing my whole life, is truly more than just sport. It’s something that has connected my family and has brought us together. It’s something that has helped us get through some very tough times and allowed us to honor Tucker’s legacy through Tucker Out Lymphoma games.”

Though he was only eight, Dyson thinks that Tucker would be happy with the legacy he left behind and how his family has honored him.

“Although he was young, he kept a smile on his face the whole time and no matter how tough his day was, he was there to talk to people and make people laugh, all with a smile on his face. He was a truly humble human being and just a brave, tough guy. And it’s truly something that we get to share that message with people and show people why we honor him, why he was so amazing and why his name deserves to live on. And it’s amazing to see that Tucker is in people’s minds and their hearts and in their conversations.”

Dyson is grateful to the FireWolves for embracing him and being so considerate of his family history.

“To see this as a rookie coming into the Albany organization, them wanting to show support to my family and putting on a Tucker game is incredible. I can’t thank them enough for doing that and for honoring his legacy and making it a night that’s very special.”