2024-25 Albany FireWolves Season Tickets are available now! Click here for more info

×
Scores / Schedule
Game PreviewNewsPress Releases

GAME 5 MATCHUP PREVIEW – FIREWOLVES VS THUNDERBIRDS

Coming off consecutive wins, the FireWolves return home to take on another Eastern Division foe, the undefeated Halifax Thunderbirds.  Albany handed the Philadelphia Wings their first home loss of the season as the FireWolves defense remained stout for the second game in a row while the team moved to 2-2 on the young season.  The game this Saturday will be at 8 p.m. and broadcast live on My4 WNYT and ESPN Plus and can be heard on 104.5 The Team ESPN Radio.

Halifax comes to the Capital Region sitting at the top the Eastern Division with a 3-0 record.  The Thunderbirds have been in a couple nailbiters already this season, winning two of their three games in overtime.  Their most recent victory was an overtime thriller in Toronto where the Thunderbirds were able to tie the game late in regulation and close it out in the extra period.  Halifax has a balanced attack, having three players with double-digit points through just three games on the season.

FireWolves Players to Watch: 

Joe Resetarits is coming off his best offensive game of the season, logging six points on three goals and three assists in the FireWolves’ road victory over the Wings two weeks ago.  His last goal to complete the hat trick extended the FireWolves lead to two late in the fourth quarter.  The Wings were able to score one after Resetarits but could not come up with a second to force overtime.  The veteran forward has been a staple in the FireWolves offense this season, as expected, and he sits second on the team in total points (14) and goals (8) and is third in assists (6).  Albany will need the former UAlbany Great Dane to remain hot as the FireWolves look to continue their win streak while handing Halifax their first loss of the season.

Andrew Kew has followed up his rookie campaign with a hot start to the 2021-22 season.  The lefty leads the FireWolves with 17 total points and nine goals and his eight assists are good for second most on the team.  Like Resetarits, Kew is also coming off a six-point performance, by way of two goals and four assists.  Kew will continue to get opportunities on net, and it seems like he could erupt with an onslaught of goals in any game.  The sophomore forward has had multiple points scored in every game so far this season and will need to continue that trend against the team’s toughest opponent to date.

Adam Bomberry has been a game-changing addition to the FireWolves defensive unit.  Missing the first two games of the season due to injury, the defenseman has made his presence known in the last two games, both of which the FireWolves were victorious and allowed single-digit goals.  Does it help that Albany has the best goaltender in the game?  Sure, but Bomberry’s return to the lineup has provided a massive uplift to the defense as a whole.  Bomberry has caused seven turnovers total over the course of the last two games, already leading Albany in that department.  Arguably the two best goals scorers for both Saskatchewan and Philadelphia were held to just one goal in each contest against Albany and Bomberry’s return is no coincidence.  Look for the veteran defender to continue to be a pest to opposing offenses and turn Halifax over to create transition opportunities for Albany.  

Opposing Players to Watch:  

Clark Petterson has been absolutely on fire for the Thunderbirds through the team’s first three games of the season.  The forward has already racked up 18 points on eight goals and 10 assists and leads the team in all three stat categories.  The second year forward has scored at least five points in each game already and is coming off a six-assist performance in the Thunderbirds’ most recent win over Toronto.  Petterson has accounted for nearly half of the team’s total points and will look to continue his stellar play against a pesky FireWolves defense. 

Chris Boushy, like Petterson, is a guy who has racked up a ton of points early on the season for Halifax.  Coming off back-to-back hat trick performances, Boushy finds himself second on the team with seven goals and 11 total points.  Boushy had an efficient game scoring against Toronto, finding the back of the net three times on just five shots on goal.  Aside from his three goals in their last game, Boushy assisted on the Thunderbirds’ game-winning goal in overtime as they defeated the Rock to move to 3-0 on the season.  Scoring nine total points in his last two games, Boushy is yet another dangerous name in the offensive arsenal for the Thunderbirds.

Goaltender Warren Hill has played like one of the best goaltenders in the game so far through the Thunderbirds’ first three contests.  Hill finds himself near the top of the league with his 9.43 GAA and .814 save percentage, lifting Halifax to three wins already.  The fifth-year veteran has been battle-tested this season, having two of his three games in net head to overtime.  In Halifax’s most recent victory of Toronto, Hill may have allowed 13 goals, but he saved an absurd 52 shots as well.  Between Hill and Albany’s Doug Jamieson, this game will feature two of the best goaltenders in the league in what might be a high-scoring affair if not for them between the pipes. 

This will be the first of two meetings between the FireWolves and the Thunderbirds this season.  Albany will travel to Halifax for a Friday game on March 11.

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 FacebookTwitterLinkedInPinterest, and Instagram.

Albany FireWolves