Las Vegas Desert Dogs' Luke Pilcher on March 21, 2025 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY. Las Vegas Desert Dogs @ Buffalo Bandits. (Caroline Sherman/NLL)

It was a week of firsts for the 2025 NLL rookie class, who made a significant impact across the seven NLL games. 

None more so than Dyson Williams, who had another hat-trick and scored the game winner in overtime on a highlight-reel behind the back shot. The Firewolves are still in playoff contention in large part because of the late season push from Williams. He has 8 goals in his last four games and 5 goals in his last two. Now up to 54 points, he has a 9-point lead on second place. 

It was his first overtime winner in his young NLL career.

It was also a night to remember in Buffalo, where Luke Pilcher and Lukas Nielsen both made their NLL debuts in front of another sold-out crowd in Banditland. 

Nielsen wasted no time getting on the board, capitalizing on an errant pass made by the Vegas defender. The reaction from Nielsen and his teammates tell you all you need to know. 

One of the youngest players in the league, Nielsen is a 2004 birthday and had to wait longer than most high draft picks (he was selected 7th overall last fall). But the New Westminster native made the most of his opportunity and was back in the lineup for the Bandits on Saturday as well. 

Lacrosse Culture Daily podcast Back of the Bird discussed Nielsen’s youth recently, with Paul Dawson realizing he was old enough to be the rookie’s uncle. 

Pilcher also found the back of the net for the Desert Dogs, taking a feed on his wrong side and diving across the crease. The 2023 2nd round pick was a multi-time national champion at RIT and drew into the Desert Dogs lineup in the absence of fellow rookie Adam Poitras. 

Pilcher provided a great moment for his brother as well, Colorado’s defensive coordinator Dan MacRae. 

Speaking of firsts, Calgary’s Jack Follows scored his first of his young career on a nice breakaway finish during the Roughnecks loss to the Seals. The Cornell product has played in every game but one so far this season and has 10 caused turnovers and 4 blocks to go along with his goal and 4 assists. 

Also in Calgary, Austin Ducommon made his NLL debut for the Roughnecks, registering 2 shots on goal. The 2024 fourth round pick is listed at 6’5, 220 lbs, and provides another strong frame for the Riggers. 

And lastly in the firsts column, Nathan Whittom made his first career start for the Colorado Mammoth in the absence of Dillon Ward (Ward and his wife were home expecting their second child). 

Whittom has played 3:21 this year before the start, and allowed 14 goals on 53 shots in the loss to Ottawa. A 2005 birthday, Whittom still has multiple years of junior eligibility, and is one of the youngest players to appear this season. 

Bouncing around the rest of the league, Halifax’s Mike Robinson and Philadelphia’s Michael Sowers had 3 points each on a goal and 2 assists. Albany’s Jonathan Peshko scored twice and added an assist for the Firewolves, who got almost half their production from rookies. 

A week after scoring his first career goal, Jake Stevens added another one for the Black Bears and added an assist in their weekend series, while Jackson Webster and Toron Eccleston each added a goal and assist as well. 

Alec Stathakis added 17 loose balls to his stat line for the year, while Reed Kurtz picked up 14 in two games and Will Johansen added another 10 for Albany. 

For the full list of rookie stats, check out the spreadsheet below!

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