Albany, NY – MVP Arena will be rocking this Saturday, March 16 at 7 pm as the Albany FireWolves (10-3) welcome the Rochester Knighthawks (5-6) for a rematch after playing each other last weekend. They will faceoff for a St. Patrick’s Party with tickets starting at just $20 and $3 Bud Lights available all game. The game will be available to watch on ESPN+, TSN+, and locally on MY4. Â
Rochester got the best of the FireWolves last Saturday 18-12 on the back end of Albany’s double header as they had to go up against a fresh Knighthawks team. With both teams rested, this will be an exciting back and forth game as the FireWolves continue their March To May with the National Lacrosse League (NLL) playoffs in sight. Â
Familiar FoesÂ
Albany and Rochester have faced each other five times since the FireWolves moved to the Capital Region in 2021 and the Knighthawks hold the edge in the series with four wins. These two teams faced off in a memorable first ever home game for the FireWolves at MVP Arena and since then this I-90 rivalry has always been a high scoring and physical affair. The Knighthawks executed a great game plan in their win last Saturday as Albany was playing their second game in two days and the high-powered Rochester offense was lights out. With a weekend to watch film and regroup, the FireWolves will be coming out for revenge in front of their home crowd and will be looking to prove that they are the top dogs in New York State. Â
Run And Gun Â
The FireWolves success this season has been fueled by their young offense with great support from the defense and goalie Doug Jamieson. When playing a team like Rochester, the FireWolves will need to be playing run and gun lacrosse to gain an edge. Alex Simmons continues his Rookie of the Year campaign as his 72 pts (28g, 44a) leads all rookies with the next closest being fellow FireWolves rookie Tye Kurtz (56 pts – 24g, 32a) who has been on a tear in their recent games. Their offense is full of creative players like Marshall Powless and Travis Longboat who will be able to push the pace. The transition scoring of defenders Nick Chaykowksy, Jackson Nishimura, and transition player Colton Watkinson will be crucial to gaining momentum. The recent acquisition of defenseman John Wagner from Las Vegas will also give their transition scoring a boost as Wagner is deadly on breakaways. Â
Scouting The KnighthawksÂ
Despite Rochester’s record, they have one of the most talented offenses in the league that is led by the sensational lefty Connor Fields who has been racking up points in their recent games including 11 (6g, 5a) against Albany last weekend. Fields is complemented by big righties Ryan Smith and Kyle Waters while rookie Thomas McConvey is starting to unleash his potential. Their defense is led by Matt Gilray and Ryland Rees who are also great in transition. Their goalie has changed throughout the season, but Riley Hutchcraft has been solid in his first year as a starter. Â
FireWolves Players To Watch Â
John Wagner was acquired in a trade with Las Vegas this past week and will make an immediate impact on the FireWolves defense with his tenacious style of play and experience defending other teams’ best players. Â
Sam Firth has been an incredibly accurate shooter and a menace off ball for Albany all season and he tends to step up in important games. Â
Marshall Powless is approaching 100 points scored in his career as he has been turning into a quarterback type forward with his deceptive passing and lacrosse IQ. Â
Opposing Players To Watch Â
Connor Fields is no stranger to the Capital Region from his time setting records for UAlbany and he is now the focal point of the Rochester offense as he can break down the defense with his shifty dodging, great passing, or his pinpoint shooting. Getting in his face and not giving him space will be a big key for the FireWolves defense. Â
Curtis Knight is a veteran forward who can explode for a big game on any given night. Keeping his output limited will force other Knighthawks forwards with less experience to have to try and step up. Â
Matt Gilray is the Knighthawks’ best player in transition as he is a loose ball vacuum and has six goals on the season as a defender. Â
Join the Albany FireWolves at MVP Arena on Saturday, March 16 for a St. Patrick’s Party weekend and $3 Bud Lights! For more information regarding tickets, visit www.albanyfirewolves.com or call/text the FireWolves ticket hotline 518-612-4196.  Â
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 Desert Dogs, 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.
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 Firebirds of the Arena Football League and the Division I Men’s College Basketball Siena Saints. For more information, please visit https://www.mvparena.com/
