Halifax Thunderbirds

Last updated
Halifax Thunderbirds
Halifax Thunderbirds logo.png
Sport Box lacrosse
Founded2019
League National Lacrosse League
ConferenceEastern
Team history Rochester Knighthawks (1995–2019)
Location Halifax, Nova Scotia
Arena Scotiabank Centre
ColoursPurple, Orange, White, Black
    
OwnerCurt Styres
Head coachMike Accursi
Division titles1 (2020)
Playoff berths3 (2022, 2023, 2024)
Website halifaxthunderbirds.com

The Halifax Thunderbirds (known colloquially as the T-Birds) are a professional box lacrosse team based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, playing in the National Lacrosse League (NLL) as a member of the Eastern Conference. The team plays their home games at Scotiabank Centre which they share with the Halifax Mooseheads of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League.

Contents

History

On September 13, 2018, the NLL approved a franchise relocation to the city of Halifax. [1] Curt Styres, the previous owner of the NLL's Rochester Knighthawks, moved the Knighthawks' franchise to Halifax, Nova Scotia. The Knighthawks intellectual property (name and logo) was sold to Pegula Sports and Entertainment, owners of the Buffalo Bandits, which founded a new expansion franchise that started play in the 2019–2020 season under the Knighthawks moniker. [2] [3] While located in Rochester the franchise won 5 championships.

The Halifax Thunderbirds made their league debut on December 7, 2019, defeating the New York Riptide 12–4 in front of a crowd of 6,847 at the Scotiabank Centre. [4]

The Thunderbirds made their first playoffs in the 2022 season but were defeated in the first round in overtime 14–13 by their rival, the Toronto Rock.

According to the Toronto Star, Curt Styres got the idea for the team's name when he saw a lacrosse stick made from the wood of tree that had been struck by lightning and wanted to reflect the "one in one thousand odds" that was the lacrosse stick's embodiement. [5]

Previous location

The franchise was founded in 1995 during the Major Indoor Lacrosse League era and first played their home games at Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, New York. The team made the playoffs their first 13 seasons in a row and won 5 championships between 1997 and 2014. In 2018 after losing to the Saskatchewan Rush in the NLL finals, it was announced the franchise would move to Halifax. Franchise owner, Curt Styres sold the team's original name and logo to Terry and Kim Pegula (Owners of Pegula Sports and Entertainment) and relocated the franchise to Halifax. PSE founded a new expansion franchise with the same name but different logo that started play the following season. The new franchise based in Rochester is not a continuation of original franchise as all of the original team's championships and records were transferred to Halifax as part of the relocation.

Current roster

Halifax Thunderbirds roster
Active (21-man) rosterInactive rosterCoaches
Goaltenders
  • 37 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Drew Hutchinson
  • 30 Flag of the Iroquois Confederacy.svg Warren Hill
Defensemen
  • 4 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Graeme Hossack
  • 9 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Max Wilson
  • 15 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Johnny Pearson
  • 18 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Jake Withers
  • 22 Flag of the Iroquois Confederacy.svg Brayden Hill
  • 45 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Luc Magnan
  • 68 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Trevor Smyth
  • 94 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Tyson Bell
  • 96 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Keaton Thomson
Forwards
Transition
  • 34 Flag of the United States.svg Ryan Terefenko
  • 44 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Colton Armstrong
Practice Squad
  • 16 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Kevin Owen Hill
  • 19 Flag of the Iroquois Confederacy.svg Nonkon Thompson
  • 51 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Dawson Theede
  • 84 Flag of the Iroquois Confederacy.svg Oakley Thomas
Injured Reserve
  • 13 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg David Brock
Head Coach

{{{Head Coach}}}

Legend
  • * Suspended list
  • (C) Captain
  • (A) Alternate captain

Roster updated 2023-01-14
NLL Transactions

Awards and honors

YearPlayerAward
2020 Graeme Hossack Defensive Player of the Year
John Catalano Executive of the Year
2022 Pat Gregoire Tom Borrelli Award

All-time record

SeasonDivision/Conference [lower-alpha 1] W–LFinishPCTHomeRoadGFGAAvg AttendanceCoachPlayoffs
2020 North8–41st.6676–12–31391267,642Mike AccursiNo playoffs held
2021EasternSeason cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2022 Eastern11–73rd.6117–24–51981955,439Mike AccursiLost Conference Semi-Final
2023 Eastern10–83rd.5565–45–42382108,512Mike AccursiLost Conference Semi-Final
2024 Unified10-86th.5566-34-52232009,164Mike AccursiLost Quarterfinals
Total4 Seasons29–19.60424–1015–177987317,702
Playoff Totals3 Appearances0-3.0000-00-32738No Home Games0 Championships

Playoff results

SeasonGameVisitingHome
2022Eastern Conference Semi-FinalsHalifax 13Toronto 14
2023Eastern Conference Semi-FinalsHalifax 11Toronto 15
2024QuarterfinalsHalifax 3Albany 9

Draft history

NLL entry draft

First-round selections

Notes

  1. ↑ Conference play began in the 2022 season

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References

  1. ↑ "National Lacrosse League Awards Halifax Franchise" . Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  2. ↑ Pegulas confirm they will take over the Knighthawks wivb.com
  3. ↑ "National Lacrosse League relocates Rochester Knighthawks to Halifax" . Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  4. ↑ "NLL: Halifax Thunderbirds Kick Off New Era With Win in Front of 6,847 Home Fans" . Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  5. ↑ "League names new pro lacrosse team Halifax Thunderbirds". thestar.com. 2019-02-16. Retrieved 2023-01-29.
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