The Oshawa FireWolves traveled to the Maritimes for a battle with a Halifax Thunderbirds club that is hoping to build on last season’s semifinal appearance and become a legitimate championship contender. If game one is any type of harbinger of what’s to come, the rabid fans of Nova Scotia are in for quite a ride after an 11-2 defeat of the FireWolves. More than 10,000 fans watched goaltender Warren Hill become only the third man in league history to allow a mere pair of goals. Hill joins Matt Vinc (2015 original Knighthawks) and Bob Watson (1999 Rock) to achieve such a feat. Oshawa took an early 2-1 lead, but that would be it for the high-powered FireWolves, who did not locate the back of the net during the game’s final 46 minutes. All told, Hill knocked down 49 of 51 blasts his direction. The Six Nations product was nothing short of spectacular in this one.
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While Mr. Hill stole the show for the Thunderbirds, the offense operated in an incredibly balanced manner. Eight players lit the Scotiabank Centre lamp: Randy Staats, Cody Jamieson and Dawson Theede each scored on two occasions, with Clarke Petterson contributing one goal and five assists. After the visitors corralled their second score, the hometown guys rattled off 10 consecutive goals, putting an exclamation point on a season opener for the ages.
Halifax looks to keep the good times rolling on Saturday night at KeyBank Center when they take on the Bandits at 7:00PM ET, while the FireWolves take their 1-1 record to the American South for a Saturday evening matchup with the Georgia Swarm.
Watch both matchups on ESPN+, NLL+, and TSN+.
The Saskatchewan Rush host the Calgary Roughnecks at SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, December 06, 2025
SaskTel Centre was the setting for the defending runner-up Saskatchewan Rush’s season premiere versus the new-look Calgary Roughnecks. Taking the field for the first time since their three-game final round battle with Bandits, the Rush hit the prairies winners of a 16-13 game that looked to be a laugher but turned interesting come the fourth stanza. Saskatchewan jumped out to a 10-5 halftime lead, but the prideful Roughnecks never even considered giving up, instead tying the skirmish 13-13. From that point forward, Zach Manns took matters into his own hands, connecting on a go-ahead goal and an empty-netter insurance goal. Mike Messenger delivered the 16th and final scoreboard changer, solidifying the three-goal triumph.
The Rush return 19 of the 20 players from their finals roster, along with the entirety of the coaching staff. The squad played like a group that is very familiar with one another, as franchise stalwart Robert Church amassed four goals (including a first-half hat trick) as he took the lead in games played for the franchise. Austin Shanks and the aforementioned Manns each accomplished a hat trick, alongside a combined six helpers. Frank Scigliano made 38 saves.
Roughnecks Tyler Pace and Haiden Dickson opened their respective seasons with dueling seven-point showings. Rookie Kyle Pepper notched his first goal, blasting by a defender on transition and shooting opposite side as he leapt toward the crease.
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This week, the Rush travel to the Canadian capital for an NLL Friday Night on TSN matchup with the Black Bears. Watch at 7:30PM ET.
The Roughnecks hit the road on Saturday as the team travels to Toronto to take on the Rock. Watch at 7:00PM ET on ESPN+, NLL+ and TSN+.
