Clarke Petterson celebrated by mimicking bird wings after scoring the final goal that propelled the Halifax Thunderbirds into the National Lacrosse League finals. The Thunderbirds face the Toronto Rock in the best-of-three championship series, with Petterson hoping to repeat his unique celebration twice more.
Petterson shared that the idea for the bird-themed celebration came about during a conversation with teammate Casey Wilson before the pivotal third game of their semifinal series against the Georgia Storm on May 10. The Thunderbirds are determined to bring the NLL Cup to Nova Scotia for the first time since relocating from Rochester, N.Y., in 2019.
Having started the season slowly with just three wins in their first ten games, the Thunderbirds secured the final playoff spot with a crucial victory in their last regular-season match, finishing 8-10. They then surprised by defeating the top-seeded Vancouver Warriors in the quarterfinals and the fourth-ranked Georgia Swarm in the semifinals.
Head coach Mike Accursi noted that the team faced challenges early in the season due to injuries but regained momentum to prepare for the playoffs. Petterson, a standout performer with nine points in the series-clinching victory over Georgia, emphasized that the Thunderbirds never saw themselves as underdogs and were always playing with a playoff mindset.
The Thunderbirds will kick off the championship series in Toronto before returning to Halifax for Game 2 at Scotiabank Centre. Game 3, if needed, is scheduled for May 23 in Toronto. The Rock, seeded sixth, upset the No. 3 Saskatchewan Rush and the No. 7 San Diego Seals to reach the finals.
Accursi highlighted the team’s resilience and unity, emphasizing their determination not to give up as they face Toronto in the finals. The Thunderbirds are striving to bring the National Lacrosse League title to Halifax, building on the progress they have made since their move to Nova Scotia.
The excitement is high as the Thunderbirds aim for a historic victory in the finals, with fans eagerly anticipating the outcome of the championship series.