fbpx

Breaking: League Adopts Unified Standings Format & Updated Playoff Structure for 2023-24 Season

×
WK
1
Fri, Dec 1
19:00:00
Saskatchewan
Halifax
Fri, Dec 1
22:00:00
Albany
Las Vegas
Fri, Dec 1
22:00:00
Panther City
Vancouver
Sat, Dec 2
19:00:00
Calgary
Rochester
Sat, Dec 2
19:30:00
Philadelphia
New York
WK
2
Sat, Dec 9
19:00:00
Philadelphia
Toronto
Sat, Dec 9
19:00:00
Buffalo
Albany
Sat, Dec 9
19:30:00
Colorado
Georgia
Sat, Dec 9
20:00:00
Rochester
Saskatchewan
Sat, Dec 9
22:00:00
Calgary
San Diego
Sun, Dec 10
16:00:00
Las Vegas
Panther City
WK
3
Fri, Dec 15
22:00:00
Saskatchewan
Las Vegas
Sat, Dec 16
13:00:00
Albany
Philadelphia
Sat, Dec 16
19:30:00
Halifax
New York
Sat, Dec 16
19:30:00
San Diego
Buffalo
Sat, Dec 16
22:00:00
Georgia
Vancouver
WK
4
Fri, Dec 22
20:00:00
Toronto
Panther City
Fri, Dec 22
21:00:00
Georgia
Colorado
Sat, Dec 23
19:00:00
Vancouver
Rochester
WK
5
Fri, Dec 29
18:30:00
Philadelphia
Halifax
Fri, Dec 29
19:30:00
Georgia
Buffalo
Fri, Dec 29
22:00:00
Rochester
San Diego
Sat, Dec 30
16:00:00
New York
Toronto
Sat, Dec 30
21:00:00
Las Vegas
Calgary
Sat, Dec 30
21:00:00
Vancouver
Colorado
Sun, Dec 31
20:00:00
Albany
Saskatchewan
WK
6
Sat, Jan 6
19:00:00
Halifax
Albany
Sat, Jan 6
19:30:00
Panther City
Georgia
Sat, Jan 6
19:30:00
Colorado
Buffalo
Sun, Jan 7
15:00:00
New York
Philadelphia
WK
7
Fri, Jan 12
18:30:00
Toronto
Halifax
Fri, Jan 12
22:00:00
San Diego
Las Vegas
Sat, Jan 13
19:00:00
Buffalo
Rochester
Sat, Jan 13
19:00:00
Saskatchewan
Philadelphia
Sat, Jan 13
19:30:00
Panther City
New York
Sat, Jan 13
19:30:00
Albany
Georgia
Sat, Jan 13
21:00:00
San Diego
Colorado
Sat, Jan 13
22:00:00
Calgary
Vancouver
WK
8
Fri, Jan 19
19:30:00
New York
Buffalo
Sat, Jan 20
19:00:00
Georgia
Toronto
Sat, Jan 20
19:00:00
San Diego
Albany
Sat, Jan 20
20:00:00
Vancouver
Saskatchewan
Sat, Jan 20
21:00:00
Calgary
Colorado
WK
9
Fri, Jan 26
22:00:00
Colorado
Vancouver
Sat, Jan 27
18:00:00
Rochester
Halifax
Sat, Jan 27
19:00:00
Buffalo
Toronto
Sat, Jan 27
19:30:00
Georgia
New York
Sat, Jan 27
19:30:00
San Diego
Philadelphia
Sat, Jan 27
22:00:00
Panther City
Las Vegas
WK
10
Fri, Feb 2
19:00:00
Halifax
Philadelphia
Fri, Feb 2
19:30:00
Vancouver
Georgia
Fri, Feb 2
21:00:00
New York
Calgary
Sat, Feb 3
19:00:00
Las Vegas
Albany
Sat, Feb 3
19:30:00
Rochester
Buffalo
Sat, Feb 3
20:00:00
Panther City
Saskatchewan
Sat, Feb 3
21:00:00
Toronto
Calgary
Sun, Feb 4
18:00:00
Colorado
San Diego
WK
11
Fri, Feb 9
18:30:00
Las Vegas
Halifax
Fri, Feb 9
20:00:00
Colorado
Panther City
Sat, Feb 10
19:00:00
Georgia
Rochester
Sat, Feb 10
19:00:00
Calgary
Toronto
Sat, Feb 10
19:30:00
San Diego
New York
Sat, Feb 10
22:00:00
Saskatchewan
Vancouver
WK
12
Fri, Feb 16
18:30:00
Buffalo
Halifax
Fri, Feb 16
22:00:00
Philadelphia
Las Vegas
Sat, Feb 17
19:00:00
Colorado
Albany
Sun, Feb 18
19:00:00
Halifax
Calgary
WK
13
Fri, Feb 23
21:00:00
New York
Colorado
Fri, Feb 23
22:00:00
Georgia
San Diego
Sat, Feb 24
19:00:00
Las Vegas
Rochester
Sat, Feb 24
19:00:00
Vancouver
Toronto
Sat, Feb 24
19:30:00
Albany
Buffalo
Sat, Feb 24
20:00:00
Halifax
Saskatchewan
Sat, Feb 24
21:00:00
Philadelphia
Calgary
Sun, Feb 25
16:00:00
Georgia
Panther City
WK
14
Fri, Mar 1
19:00:00
Georgia
Halifax
Fri, Mar 1
20:00:00
San Diego
Panther City
Fri, Mar 1
22:00:00
Toronto
Las Vegas
Fri, Mar 1
22:00:00
Buffalo
Vancouver
Sat, Mar 2
13:00:00
Calgary
Philadelphia
Sat, Mar 2
19:00:00
New York
Albany
Sat, Mar 2
21:00:00
Saskatchewan
Colorado
Sat, Mar 2
22:00:00
Toronto
San Diego
Sun, Mar 3
16:00:00
Rochester
Panther City
WK
15
Fri, Mar 8
19:00:00
Vancouver
Albany
Fri, Mar 8
19:30:00
Calgary
Georgia
Fri, Mar 8
19:30:00
Saskatchewan
Buffalo
Sat, Mar 9
17:00:00
Colorado
Toronto
Sat, Mar 9
19:00:00
Albany
Rochester
Sat, Mar 9
19:30:00
Las Vegas
New York
Sat, Mar 9
22:00:00
Halifax
San Diego
Sun, Mar 10
15:00:00
Panther City
Philadelphia
WK
16
Fri, Mar 15
18:30:00
Panther City
Halifax
Fri, Mar 15
21:00:00
San Diego
Calgary
Fri, Mar 15
22:00:00
Las Vegas
Vancouver
Sat, Mar 16
19:00:00
Rochester
Albany
Sat, Mar 16
19:00:00
Toronto
Buffalo
Sat, Mar 16
19:30:00
Philadelphia
Georgia
Sat, Mar 16
20:30:00
New York
Saskatchewan
WK
17
Fri, Mar 22
20:00:00
Buffalo
Panther City
Fri, Mar 22
21:00:00
Albany
Calgary
Sat, Mar 23
19:00:00
Halifax
Toronto
Sat, Mar 23
19:00:00
Vancouver
Philadelphia
Sat, Mar 23
19:30:00
Saskatchewan
New York
Sat, Mar 23
21:00:00
Rochester
Colorado
Sat, Mar 23
22:00:00
Las Vegas
San Diego
Sun, Mar 24
17:30:00
Saskatchewan
Georgia
WK
18
Sat, Mar 30
13:00:00
Buffalo
Philadelphia
Sat, Mar 30
19:00:00
Halifax
Rochester
Sat, Mar 30
19:30:00
Toronto
New York
Sat, Mar 30
22:00:00
Vancouver
Las Vegas
WK
19
Fri, Apr 5
21:00:00
Saskatchewan
Calgary
Fri, Apr 5
21:00:00
Buffalo
Colorado
Fri, Apr 5
22:00:00
Panther City
San Diego
Fri, Apr 5
22:00:00
Halifax
Vancouver
Sat, Apr 6
19:00:00
New York
Rochester
Sat, Apr 6
19:00:00
Toronto
Albany
Sat, Apr 6
19:30:00
Las Vegas
Georgia
Sat, Apr 6
20:00:00
Calgary
Saskatchewan
Sun, Apr 7
16:00:00
Philadelphia
Panther City
WK
20
Fri, Apr 12
21:00:00
Philadelphia
Colorado
Sat, Apr 13
19:00:00
Rochester
Toronto
Sat, Apr 13
19:30:00
Calgary
Buffalo
Sat, Apr 13
20:00:00
San Diego
Saskatchewan
Sat, Apr 13
22:00:00
Colorado
Las Vegas
Sat, Apr 13
22:00:00
New York
Vancouver
Sun, Apr 14
16:00:00
Albany
Panther City
WK
21
Fri, Apr 19
19:30:00
Rochester
Georgia
Fri, Apr 19
22:00:00
Vancouver
San Diego
Sat, Apr 20
18:00:00
Colorado
Halifax
Sat, Apr 20
19:30:00
Albany
New York
Sat, Apr 20
20:00:00
Toronto
Saskatchewan
Sat, Apr 20
21:00:00
Panther City
Calgary
Sat, Apr 20
22:00:00
Buffalo
Las Vegas
Sun, Apr 21
15:00:00
Philadelphia
Rochester
Powered By
MGM Logo
Scores / Schedule
Draft

League’s Virtual Draft Selection Show Provides Familiar Excitement and Intrigue

A historic night brought the NLL into the future with its first virtual Draft Selection Show leading into the league’s 35th season

It didn’t look the same, it didn’t sound the same, draft day negotiations were held in an atypical fashion, but the 2020 NLL Entry Draft provided the familiar sense of excitement, surprise, and intrigue that we are have grown accustomed to over the years.

Following the expected 1st overall selection of Jeff Teat going to the New York Riptide, the draft was filled with storylines including significant trades, players dropping below expectations, teams leaving undeniable footprints of their strategy, and Americans becoming ever-more present box prospects.

With one of the earliest draft day trades in league history, the Vancouver Warriors wasted no time asserting themselves by trading their 3rd pick to the Rochester Knighthawks to grab the 2nd pick. This was done to capture Reid Bowering, a multi-talented, imposing defenseman, who will likely bolster the team’s back-end for years to come. It appeared, unsurprisingly, that many teams were eager to get their hands on an impeccable specimen like Bowering, which pushed the Warriors to make their move.

“We are excited to draft Reid today,” Warriors GM Dan Richardson said. “Reid is a generational-talent on defense and is one of those hybrid players that can excel at both ends of the floor.  We cannot wait for Reid to join our franchise and have an immediate impact on our team and the NLL.”

Interestingly, Bowering is also one of many draftees heading back to university for the final year of NCAA-eligibility after the COVID-19 virus canceled the 2020 collegiate season. In fact, all of the Top-5 draft picks (and most of the 1st round) will be headed back to campus this coming spring semester if the season is not canceled again. That means highly touted future NLL stars such as Teat, Ryan Smith, Tre Leclair, Tanner Cook, and Jeff Henrick won’t be trading in their school colors for NLL uniforms in the 2021-2022 season.

In the case of players like Henrick, he fell further than many of the draft experts expected. Hernick’s drop as well as many of the night’s pick were likely influenced by the Bowering trade. The upcoming college season can be used to prove to teams that they made a grave mistake. Other noticeable drop-offs include Jordan Stouros, who fell to the middle of the 2nd round – he was projected by many to be picked in the late 1st round –  and the athletic, 6’6” mountain of a man, Ty Thompson, who also fell to the middle of the 2nd round despite being considered by many to be a first-round selection.

But no player fell as far as Penn State University’s Grant Ament. Ament was eventually grabbed by the New England Black Wolves with the 65th pick of the draft, but not before his college teammates Mac O’Keefe and Dylan Foulds were chosen by the San Diego Seals and Philadelphia Wings, respectively, much earlier in the night. Ament was widely believed to go in the 2nd round of the draft. To see him fall to late in the 4th round raised a few eyebrows. However, if Ament is fully committed to a full-time career in the NLL after he has finished his time at PSU, he has the skillset to become an elite talent, making him one of the biggest steals in this draft.

“We were focusing on offense in this draft,” Black Wolves Head Coach and GM said. We think Ament and Michael Sowers have a very high skill set that can translate to the NLL game.”

Other moves that turned some heads were initiated by Rochester Knighthawks. This was due to sheer boldness. The Knighthawks finished the night having made five trades.  The swapping involved everything from 2020 draft picks, players, and future picks. Sitting at 2-10 when the league came to an abrupt halt, GM Dan Carey understood the team needed a makeover. One of the most notable trades they made was the acquisition of the Buffalo Bandits Matt Gilray in exchange for the 19th overall selection, a 2021 1st round pick and a 2023 2nd round pick. Stealing away a former divisional foe will hopefully help to turn the tide in the Knighthawks favor.

“We had some needs we wanted to address,” Knighthawks GM Dan Carey said. “We felt the players we were fortunate enough to acquire were a great fit for us and what we wanted to accomplish coming out of the draft.”

While the Knighthawks were looking to shake things up, teams like the Seals and Halifax Thunderbirds set about fulfilling their teams’ needs. In the 1st round, the Seals didn’t mess around, quickly grabbing dynamic, athletic offensive playmakers and scorers like The Ohio State University-product Tre Leclair and Penn State’s Mac O’Keefe. Even though both will be returning to school, they will be an instant headache for defenses when they finally break into the NLL.

As for the Thunderbirds, they shored their back-end up by drafting the intimidating and scrappy Ethan Riggs, trading for veteran Roughnecks defenceman Tyson Bell and taking one of the fastest players in this year’s draft, transition player Ethan Ticehurst.

We were trying to shore up our defense with young talented defenders,” Thunderbirds Head Coach Mike Accursi said. “We did that tonight. Riggs, Bell, Ryan Terefenko, and Owen Friesen are all fantastic young, big defenders that will solidify our defense’s strength for years to come.”

One of the biggest takeaways from the night became clearer as fewer men were left to be chosen: Americans are quickly becoming a larger segment of the NLL community. A game that has long been marshaled by the Iroquois and Canadians; US players are no longer an outlier. In this year’s draft, high-profile Americans included O’Keefe, Michael Sowers, Charlie Kitchen, and Byran Costabile, and had a handful of other capable talents from coast to coast. USBOXLA continues to spread the game across America while Canadian players do their part by showing off box skills when they come to the states to play the field game. The ever-growing U.S. box participation is direct proof that the game is rapidly growing in untraditional markets.

There are many storylines to be taken from this memorable night. Every team spent weeks preparing for draft day and sweated through each pick to better each of their teams. This draft will be remembered for numerous reasons, from the virtual production to the surprising picks – a few of which have been covered –  as is the case every year, the real impact of what occurred at the 2020 NLL Entry Draft will be seen in the months, years, and even decades ahead. That, after all, is the beauty of the draft.

NLL