After a hiatus last week, the rookie report is back for another edition this week. It’s the dog days of the NLL calendar, and scoring has slowed down for the rookie class.
Since the last edition of the article, Dyson Williams passed his former Duke teammate Brennan O’Neill to take the lead in rookie scoring. Williams is up to 40 points in 11 games, and had a goal and 3 assists in last week’s victory for the Firewolves over O’Neill and the Wings.
The #1 picks are putting on a show! 🎬
— NLL (@NLL) February 23, 2025
Brennan O’Neill and Dyson Williams go back-to-back in just 1:24! 🥍⚡ pic.twitter.com/Gea4fmHvIg
Also new since the last edition was four debuts. Taylor Dooley made his NLL debut for the Buffalo Bandits in the second half of their double header last weekend, contributing a goal and a caused turnover. He was the 15th overall selection in the 2024 NLL draft by the Bandits, and comes to the league after a career at Mercer.
In Georgia, Jacob Hickey made his NLL debut in Toronto against the Rock, and picked up his first career assist as well, to go along with 4 loose balls and a caused turnover. Hickey was the 8th overall selection back in 2023 so had to wait longer than most to make his debut, but helped his swarm to a massive overtime victory.
Speaking of waiting a while, Austin Blumbergs was drafted back in 2022 by the Bandits, and finally made his debut for the Halifax Thunderbirds against Philadelphia last weekend. The Penn Yan, New York native played collegiately for Canadian legend Randy Mearns at St. Bonaventure, so had some exposure to the box game. He had 4 loose balls in his debut.
And lastly, Tommy Burke made his debut at the faceoff stripe for the Vegas Desert Dogs, though he was subsequently released from the roster following their back to back last weekend. He won 36.5 percent of his draws in two games.
Elsewhere around the league, Brock Haley had 2 goals and 2 assists for the Saskatchewan Rush in their victory over the Vancouver Warriors on the weekend, while Adam Poitras had his second career hat-trick for the Vegas Desert Dogs in addition to 8 loose balls against the Colorado Mammoth. Haley and Poitras won the 2022 Minto Cup together and have looked more than comfortable this year.
Vegas rookie Jackson Webster chipped in for the Dogs as well with 2 goals.
Brayden Mayea continued his strong play in Calgary as well, with a goal and 3 assists for the Roughnecks in their loss to the Rochester Knighthawks. Mayea is fourth among rookies in points per game, but hasn’t played as much in a stacked Roughnecks offence.
The full stats can be found below. Check back next Tuesday for more from Dyson Williams and the rest of the rookie class!