Withers wins NLL's Transition Player of the Year Award

May 15, 2024

(HALIFAX, NS) May 16, 2024 – The National Lacrosse League today announced that Halifax Thunderbirds defender Jake Withers has taken home the 2024 Transition Player of the Year Award.

“This year our team went as well as Jake went. He is so dynamic all over the floor and is truly redefining the face-off position. This award is certainly well-deserved,” Thunderbirds Assistant Coach Andrew Suitor said. 

This is the first time that Withers has taken home the award as well as the first time he was nominated for the honour. The Thunderbirds’ assistant captain is coming off a career year across the board while helping his team to a third consecutive playoff appearance. 

Withers set a new career high in goals (7) while tying his career-high in points (16). He was also his usual dominant self when it came to recovering the ball, leading the league in face-off wins (360), face-off win percentage (74%), and loose balls (282). 

Withers set the single-season NLL record for loose balls this year, surpassing the previous high held by Jay Thorimbert (246) while also finishing nearly 100 loose balls ahead of the second-best player league-wide.