Arron Woods has swiftly risen to prominence in the National Lacrosse League (NLL) since joining the Halifax Thunderbirds mid-season.
The Courtice native has put up several multi-point games since joining the team in February, resulting in four wins in five games. He even finished with three points in the only game the Thunderbirds lost.
Woods knows firsthand that persistence is the key to success. Even after going undrafted, he kept working to earn his spot on the NLL team.
“If you’re still enjoying it and then, you know, still feel you have room to grow, just keep pushing and keep trying to get better,” he said.
Woods’ lacrosse career began with local teams such as the Clarington Gaels, Oshawa Blue Knights, and Whitby Warriors, where his love for the game was fostered.
Before his NLL debut, Woods showcased his skills in the Arena Lacrosse League (ALL) with the Peterborough Timbermen. There, he honed his skills, preparing for the professional stage. The ALL was partly designed to be a development league for the NLL, and has worked to fill the gap between junior lacrosse and pro-level play.
Reflecting on his transition to the NLL, Woods noted the intensity of practices and games. He emphasized his ability to focus amidst the chaos of competition.
“I always find as soon as you get that first pass or get the ball in your stick or take a hit, you kind of start to block it all out and you don’t really hear any of the crowd noise or any of the music or anything like that,” Woods said.
Joe Sullivan, Woods’ former coach in the ALL, said aspiring players face challenges in pursuing a professional career. He praised Woods’ growth over the years, attributing it to both the player’s dedication and the opportunities provided by the league.
“Really, I can only provide the platform for them to play. They’ve got to decide whether they really want to take it seriously. And players like Aaron have done that,” he said. “Over the last four or five seasons, he’s obviously progressed to a whole new level. But that’s him. This league has given him the platform to do it, but that’s him.”
Paul St. John, ALL commissioner, emphasized the league’s role in player development and its aspirations for growth.
“It’s exciting. I mean, when we started this, our mandate was to be a development league for players that had pro aspirations,” he said. “We’ve had coaches go from our coaching staff to the NLL.”
However, he said the ALL needs to eventually find sponsors and investors to take it to the next level.
For now, Woods is taking advantage of both leagues by travelling between Durham and Halifax, playing for the Timbermen when he can, but working to solidify his career in the NLL with the Thunderbirds remains his priority.