The Halifax Thunderbirds proved Saturday that they can win with grit, determination and defence and not just overpower opponents with sheer offensive shock and awe.
It also helps having Warren Hill as a backstop.
The fourth-year goalie turned aside 57 shots in the Thunderbirds’ 8-5 comeback victory over a stubborn San Diego Seals squad in front of 7,219 fans at Scotiabank Centre. In their first season in Halifax, the Thunderbirds have started 5-0, tops in the National Lacrosse League.
“Warren’s a young goalie but he stood on his head tonight,” said Halifax forward Stephen Keogh, who netted a natural hat trick in the fourth quarter. “He gave us a chance to come back and get the win. He’s been awesome for us this year and seems to get better each game.
“It was a good team win for us,” Hill added. “We knew eventually we would be in a game like this. We have a target on our backs and we’re going to get everyone’s best game. Kudos to San Diego, they pushed us to our limit. But to be honest, I didn’t mind all the shots. It doesn’t give you a lot of time to overthink the game. It was a lot of fun out there.”
After averaging over 13 goals per game through their first four games, the Thunderbirds encountered an opponent which had just one victory in five games. But the Seals, in their second year of existence, gave their hosts all they could handle with a physical, tenacious game.
The teams were tied 3-3 at halftime but the Thunderbirds could have entered the break facing a deficit of two or three goals if not for the goaltending of Hill. San Diego outshot Halifax 35-26 in the first half.
“I thought we played sloppy in the first half and Warren and our defence held us in the game,” Keogh said.
“They are a desperate team for a win and we had a few brain farts out there. We were sloppy offensively and just bunched up. Towards the end we spread out and it got us opened a little more.”
San Diego took a 4-3 lead early into the third quarter and went ahead 5-4 47 seconds into the fourth. Hill made a brilliant stop on a San Diego breakaway but Zack Greer corralled the rebound and beat the Halifax goalie for his third goal of the game.
The lead held until Kyle Jackson, who opened the scoring 3:20 into the first when he dove across the Seals’ crease and beat netminder Frank Scigliano on a splendid individual effort, notched his second of the game midway through the fourth quarter.
Then Keogh took over with a flourish. The 32-year-old forward put Halifax ahead 6-5 at 9:29 and then scored two goals 27 seconds apart in the final minute of the game to seal the victory.
“We just kept chipping away,” Keogh said.
“It felt good to contribute towards the end. I started to shoot more and the ball started to fall in for me.
But it was an offence by committee with everybody moving their feet, moving the ball. Kyle (Jackson) opening it up and Jammer (Cody Jamieson) is one of the better passers in the game and he was finding me out there. It was good to get the ball in the back of the net.”
Tempers flared in the final seconds. Scott Campbell – who delivered a thunderous hit along the boards in the third quarter which resulted in a tussle between Nonkon Thompson and Jeremy Noble – got into a spirited fight with San Diego captain Brodie Merrill. A second fight nearly ensued before the referees intervened.
Further proof of how, Keogh said, “everyone’s playing for each other” on the Thunderbirds.
"We're all sticking up for each other. It's a great feeling to have that in the locker room.”
“The team chemistry is the biggest thing for us," said Hill, who added that a new hometown has revitalized the former Rochester Knighthawks players. “We’ve been rejuvenated by the move (to Halifax). It’s a breath of fresh air.”
Mike Burke also scored a pair of goals and Ryan Benesch added his team-leading ninth goal of the season. Jamieson had four assists.
The Thunderbirds hit the road for their next two games. They visit the defending NLL champion Calgary Roughnecks next Saturday and the Toronto Rock on Jan. 31. Their next home game is Feb. 15 when they entertain the Saskatchewan Rush.
