Though it is far from the start to the season that the FireWolves wanted, Albany made the national spotlight following their 16-7 loss in the team’s home opener. Backup goaltender, Ethan Woods, took a fight with his Rochester counterpart and ignited a flame in the FireWolves locker room as the team is poised to come back from an extended holiday break in game action. The FireWolves return home for a matchup versus the Saskatchewan Rush at 7 p.m. in the MVP Arena on Saturday, January 8. The game will be broadcast live on My4 WNYT and ESPN Plus and can be heard on 104.5 The Team ESPN Radio.
The Rush enter the game with a 1-2 record with the team’s two losses being heartbreakers by a combined two goals. The Rush have been strong defensively all year, but also have three players currently with double digit points on the season. Look for the Rush to continue their stout defensive play as the FireWolves look to find their offensive rhythm and pick up their first win in the team’s inaugural season.
FireWolves Players to Watch:
Tony Malcom has been a man of firsts in the FireWolves’ early games this season. He netted the first FireWolves goal of the team’s existence in an away matchup at Toronto to kick off the season and scored the team’s first goal in their second game to give Albany an early lead. Though the transition man only has three total points to his name (two goals and an assist), Malcom has showed up on both sides of the floor for the FireWolves. He finds himself second on the team in loose balls and has been turning defensive stops into offensive opportunities in the early goings of Albany’s opening season.
Though the FireWolves offense was stagnant in the team’s last game, Joe Resetarits mustered up a hat trick late in the 16-7 loss to Rochester. This was Resetarits’ first game played in the Capital Region since he was a standout player for the UAlbany Great Danes at the collegiate level. Currently, Resetarits finds himself tied for second on the team in total points with five (three goals and two assists). Look for the veteran to not only pile on shots on goal, but also get others involved as this FireWolves offense looks to hit its stride in the team’s third game of the season.
Though it was the backup goaltender who stole the show last game, Doug Jamieson remains the backbone of the FireWolves defense unit. Despite the FireWolves dropping its first two games of the season, the reigning Goaltender of the Year has a whopping 79 saves already. Though the 26 goals allowed is obviously more than he would like so far, Jamieson still has a .752 save percentage and will keep the FireWolves in contention regardless of the team’s 0-2 start.
Opposing Players to Watch:
Mark Matthews has not only been off to a fast start early in the 2021-22 campaign, but he is also currently one of the hottest players in the league coming into this matchup. He began the season with back-to-back six-point performances and followed that up with a hat trick in the Rush’s most recent game, a 10-9 victory over Vancouver. Matthews currently leads the Rush in total points (15) and is tied for the team lead in both goals (5) and assists (10).
Ryan Keenan has been the definition of ‘consistent’ through the Rush’s first three games of the season. He has logged exactly four points in each game to this point and has done so by setting up teammates with scoring opportunities. He currently finds himself third on the team in total points (12) and tied with Matthews with 10 assists, a team best. Keenan is coming off a one goal, three assist performance against the Vancouver Warriors and will look to keep his consistent play going against the FireWolves.
Despite the Rush starting the season with a 1-2 record, Adam Shute has had a solid first three games between the pipes for Saskatchewan. In the two losses, Shute only allowed 12 and 11 goals, respectively. That is certainly a low enough number to keep your team in any game, proven by the fact that the Rush only lost each of those games by one goal. On the season, Shute has made 101 total saves thus far and boasts a .759 save percentage. The goalie is coming off Saskatchewan’s first victory of the season in which he allowed a mere nine goals and stopped 34 shots.
This will be the first and only meeting between the FireWolves and the Rush this season.
Fans can secure their tickets for any of the 2021-22 FireWolves games today! For more information regarding tickets, visit www.AlbanyFireWolves.com or call/text the FireWolves front office at 518-362-4900.
The Albany FireWolves 2021-22 Inaugural Season is presented by CDPHP.
About Albany FireWolves
The Albany FireWolves is the Capital Region’s very own Professional Box Lacrosse team, playing in the National Lacrosse League out of the MVP Arena in downtown Albany, NY. For more information, contact the Albany FireWolves Front Office at (518) 362-4900 or visit AlbanyFireWolves.com. Follow the team on Facebook at facebook.com/AlbFireWolves, Twitter @AlbFireWolves, and Instagram @AlbFireWolves.
About the National Lacrosse League
The National Lacrosse League (NLL) is North America’s premier professional lacrosse league. Founded in 1986, the NLL ranks third in average attendance for pro indoor sports worldwide, behind only the NHL and NBA. The League is comprised of 15 franchises across the United States and Canada: Albany FireWolves, Buffalo Bandits, Calgary Roughnecks, Colorado Mammoth, Georgia Swarm, Halifax Thunderbirds, Las Vegas NLL, New York Riptide, Panther City Lacrosse Club (TX), Philadelphia Wings, Rochester Knighthawks, San Diego Seals, Saskatchewan Rush, Toronto Rock, and Vancouver Warriors.
For more information, visit NLL.com and find @NLL on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. For more information visit NLL.com.
About ASM Global
ASM Global is the world’s leading venue management and services company. The company was formed by the combination of AEG Facilities and SMG, global leaders in venue and event strategy and management. The company’s elite venue network spans five continents, with a portfolio of more than 325 of the world’s most prestigious arenas, stadiums, convention, and exhibition centers, and performing arts venues. From Aberdeen to Anchorage, and Sydney to Stockholm, its venues connect people through the unique power of live experiences. ASM Global’s diverse portfolio of clients benefit from the company’s depth of resources and unparalleled experience, expertise and creative problem solving. Each day, the company’s 61,000 passionate employees around the world deliver locally tailored solutions and cutting-edge technologies to deliver maximum results for venue owners and amazing experiences for guests. By consistently looking for new ways to envision, innovate and empower the spaces and places that bring people together, ASM Global elevates the human spirit while delivering the highest value for all stakeholders. For more information, please visit www.asmglobal.com.
About MVP Arena
MVP Arena is a full-service entertainment and sports facility featuring a wide variety of family shows, sporting events, trade shows and concerts. Owned by Albany County and managed by ASM Global, MVP Arena opened in 1990 and is home to the Albany FireWolves of the National Lacrosse League, the Albany Empire of the National Arena League and the Division I Men’s College Basketball Siena Saints. For more information, please visit https://www.mvparena.com/.
About CDPHP®
Established in 1984, CDPHP is a physician-founded, member-focused and community-based not-for-profit health plan that offers high-quality affordable health insurance plans to members in 26 counties throughout New York. CDPHP is also on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Instagram.
