Halifax Thunderbirds: 2024-25 Season Preview
11/29/2024 01:30 PM
Halifax Thunderbirds: 2024-25 Season Preview
The Halifax Thunderbirds want to fly into the 2024-2025 NLL season with increased hype from the last season. The Thunderbirds finished off the 2023-2024 season as one of the toughest team’s in the league with a well-rounded attack and a relentless defense. While they fell short of advancing deep into the postseason, their quarterfinal rematch this season against the Albany FireWolves on December 28 will be a chance to prove their mental early in the season. The Thunderbirds need to set the tone in the regular season for what could be a breakthrough year for the team.
Of all of the moves that the Thunderbirds made this off-season, the most promising had to be the signing of transition player Thomas Hoggarth, who brings a lot of defense and some much-needed spark to offense. He is complemented by fellow newcomers Jason Knox and Mike Robinson to add depth to the roster in Halifax. All these changes have been an attempt to fill in some of the gaps from last year’s season where the team came up short in their expectations. Despite those gains, key contributors Ryan Benesch, Eric Fannell, and Austin Shanks did indeed say goodbye to the Thunderbirds. Their departures create a mix of challenges and opportunities for the team to evolve with a refreshed lineup.
It’s been an extremely busy Halifax Thunderbirds training camp, but that’s exactly the impression that has been built upon-just how urgent and competitive it’s going to be around this Thunderbirds team, as noted by Mike Robinson. This renewed sense of purpose is so key as the Thunderbirds approach marquee matchups, like the home opener against the Calgary Roughnecks on December 7. Another must-watch fight is the March 7 takedown against the Toronto Rock, a team against whom Halifax wants revenge after last year’s disappointments.
Fans and analysts are salivating to see how the Thunderbirds react when the pressure is high as this team is too good to not contend for a title. Offensively, Halifax remains above par with expectations that players such as Clarke Petterson and Cody Jamieson will continue their game-changing performances. That spotlight will also shift with all new additions, especially Hoggarth, expected to easily transition into Halifax’s high-energy style of play. On the other side of the field, the Thunderbirds’ defense—bolstered by a handful of transition stars—is set on firming up their unit in hopes of combating the most explosive offenses in the league. As the Thunderbirds take on rival opponents like the Buffalo Bandits on April 12, it would be their defensive capability that would most likely dictate their hopes in the postseason.
The chemistry and execution lie in the way of a success story for Halifax this season. With an aggressive rebuilding of the roster and a challenging schedule, how quickly they manage to adapt to it will indeed be very critical. Naturally, the fans are excited to see how these Thunderbirds capitalize on an opportunity to regain their earlier status as an elite contender. The Thunderbirds strive not only to earn a berth in the playoffs but to move deeper in their quest for the championship.
The Thunderbirds’ journey this season is one filled with promise. With new talent complementing their core and a real focus on rectifying those areas where they fell short in the past, Halifax stands ready to rise to the occasion. In games, the Thunderbirds will be given the chance to stake their claim among the NLL’s most dynamic teams. Halifax Thunderbirds fans have plenty of reasons to believe that this may finally be the year.
