Inside Training Camp: Halifax Makes Thunderous Strides

HALIFAX, NS – Since introducing the National Lacrosse League to the Canadian Maritimes back in 2019, the Halifax Thunderbirds have been a mainstay in the league’s playoff picture. Heading into the 2024-25 season, the Thunderbirds want to rock The Nest again and aim for their most successful year since moving to Halifax.

The team began 2024 NLL Training Camp presented by Warrior on November 2, and 40 players were invited to earn their spot on the team. Despite losing some names fans have come to know and love over the last number of years, there’s no shortage of excitement surrounding this year’s squad.

Clarke Petterson enters his fifth NLL campaign after posting his first 100-point campaign, while setting career highs in both goals (40) and assists (64). Thomas Hoggarth is a new addition to the Thunderbirds. He carries momentum from a successful summer, in which he led both the Peterborough Lakers (Major Series Lacrosse) and the Haudenosaunee Nationals (2024 World Box Championships) in goals.

Dawson Theede is coming off a career-best 30-goal, 58-point season, and had a strong summer with the Brooklin Lacrosse Club in Major Series Lacrosse (MSL). Additionally, star righty forward Randy Staats signed a three-year extension to return to Halifax. He averaged over five points a game last season.

Halifax also added to their offensive depth in the 2024 Dispersal Draft, adding promising lefty forward Jason Knox. Knox, who was selected fifth overall by Panther City in the 2022 NLL Draft, had a very exciting rookie campaign in Fort Worth, scoring 23 goals and finishing the year with 50 points.

Head Coach Mike Accursi was excited about the steps the group has taken to this point in camp.

“Camp has been very competitive and fast paced,” Accursi said. “Players new and old are battling for the right to wear the Halifax colors this year. We expect to compete at the top of the league and are excited about how our roster is taking shape”

Halifax’s prospects from their previous two draft classes are bringing an infusion of youth to the team, and are making their impact at camp. Forward Mike Robinson has specifically stood out.

The Peterborough, Ontario product was a player that the Thunderbirds’ staff was extremely happy to see fall to them with the 28th overall selection in the 2023 NLL Draft. The lefty forward is the all-time goals leader in University of Delaware program history, and has honed his skills indoors with both the Junior A and Senior A Peterborough Lakers.

“Training camp has been great so far,” Robinson described. “It’s been an incredibly competitive atmosphere, and you can definitely feel a sense of urgency with the way this group is preparing for this upcoming season”

In the team’s inter-squad scrimmage to open camp, Robinson was paired with Petterson and Hoggarth, and he posted a hat trick and six points. He also added two goals in the team’s opening pre-season contest against Albany this past weekend.

One of the other standouts from the previous weekend was Cole Kirst. The American is headed into his second season with the Thunderbirds, after the team selected him in the third round of the 2022 NLL Draft. His teammates love him for his attitude on and off the floor and his endless effort and passion for the game. Kirst subsquently earned Halifax’s Teammate of the Year award in 2024. The Bernardsville, New Jersey native has a bright future ahead in the box.

That’s the First…for Kirst!

Welcome to the NLL, Cole 👏 pic.twitter.com/o3EC4OmV0J

— NLL (@NLL) December 2, 2023

Other 2024 draftees will provide much needed depth. The Thunderbirds have placed transition ace Ryan Terefenko and defender Nonkon Thompson on the PUP list heading into the season. With those two out of the lineup for the moment, it will be next man up for the Birds. Jordan Trottier, Carter McKenzie, Andrew Vradenburg, Curtis Romanchych, Xavier Taylor and Will Cecile will consequently be battling for reps as camp heads into its third week.

Halifax will have two more weekends to get their final looks at players who are vying for roster spots this season. The team will play the Georgia Swarm on November 16^th at 7:00 p.m. (ET) before finishing the pre-season with a showdown against the Ottawa Black Bears on November 23rd. Both games will be played at Iroquois Lacrosse Arena in Six Nations of the Grand River.

The Thunderbirds make their return to The Nest on December 7, where they will welcome the Calgary Roughnecks to the Scotiabank Centre for the team’s season opener.

With a blend of returning talent and new faces on the roster, the Thunderbirds will have their sights firmly set on reaching new heights in 2025.