Withers, Lakers looking forward to NLL playoff runs
Playoffs begin this weekend in the National Lacrosse League - a sure sign that summer is coming! Only 8 of the 15 NLL teams made the playoffs. The first round is a single-elimination quarterfinal. One game to move on. A best of three semifinal, and then a best of three final, will follow. The league did away with their conferences this season in favour of a united standings. So, here's who made it, and their Laker connections (past or present!):
- Toronto Rock - Mark Matthews, Corey Small, Tyler Hendrycks, Cam Milligan
- San Diego Seals - Curtis Dickson, Mike Poulin
- Albany FireWolves - Ethan Walker
- Buffalo Bandits - Kyle Buchanan, Matt Vinc, Nick Weiss
- Georgia Swarm - Jordan MacIntosh, Angus Goodleaf
- Halifax Thunderbirds - Colton Armstrong, Jake Withers, Drew Hutchison, Jake Fox, Head coach Mike Accursi, Assistant coach Andrew Suitor
- Panther City Lacrosse Club - Head coach Tracey Kelusky, Jason Knox
- Rochester Knighthawks - Head coach Mike Hasen, Turner Evans, Matt Gilray, Mitch Ogilvie, Thomas Whitty, Doug Buchan, Austin Hasen
That means for the rest of our boys, it's time to rest and rehabilitate before returning to the Lakeshow for another Mann Cup run!
But for Jake Withers, it's time to focus on the NLL championship. The Halifax Thunderbirds' star defender has had a phenomenal season, and is in consideration for the league's MVP award. Halifax was a front runner all season, and that's partly due to the inspired play of Withers.
Once known mostly as a face-off specialist, Withers, who will return to the Lakers this summer, has elevated his game to become an elite, complete defender. He’s reached several milestones this season.
Withers had a perfect game at the face-off dot against Buffalo on Feb. 16, winning 30 of 30 draws. He became the ninth player in league history to reach 1,500 face-off wins, and then quickly hit 1,600.
Recently, he reached 1,800 wins – only the fifth player in league history to do so. He also reached 1,000 career loose balls and passed Jay Thorimbert’s single-season record for most loose balls, set at 246 in 2015.
“It’s the dad strength, that helps a little bit. We can thank Charlie and Claire for giving me that benefit,” Withers chuckled.
“Becoming a guy with a full-time job outside lacrosse for the first time in my life, and being a father, has put things in perspective for me and made me reconsider some of the things that would make me over passionate about certain aspects of the game. I’m thankful to be able to compete and play the game I love at the highest level, on the biggest stage and get paid for it.”
Withers’ daughter Charlie turned one in March, and he and his partner Claire have another one on the way, due in June, although they’re waiting to find out if it’s a boy or girl.
Dad strength or not, Withers knows that, “the experience I’ve gained over the last six years has helped me understand the game a little better, my preparation a little better, the X’s and O’s, and things that I can do on and off the floor that can help me perform at my best level.”
After starting the season 6-3, the Thunderbirds finished the season at 10-8. They'll face the third-place Albany FireWolves (11-7), who started the season strong but fell off at the halfway point. The Thunderbirds will be a difficult foe for the young FireWolves team, and Withers believes they will win.
“We have a great team from top to bottom, from Warren Hill out to our defence, transition and offence,” Withers said. “When all facets of our game come together, we’re the best team in the league. The issue we’ve been having with that is putting that all together for a full 60 minutes. We’re all very skilled, we’re best buddies and we love each other and we have a tremendous coaching staff that believes in us.”
