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Season opens on December 1st. Find 2023-24 schedules here and buy your tickets today

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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
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A Look At The NLL’s Updated West Division

Reflecting on the moves and predicting the West's best

After the COVID-19 pandemic cut short the 2019-20 season and then forced the league to cancel the 2020-21 campaign, the National Lacrosse League returns to action for the 2021-22 season with opening weekend set for December 3-4, 2021.  The NLL will welcome a new team as the Panther City Lacrosse Club will be a part of the new West Division under the leadership of Tracey Kelusky as Head Coach and Bob Hamley as GM.

Here’s a team-by-team capsule of each club that will make up the West Division as we have had two offseasons to digest transactions.

Calgary Roughnecks (5-5, t-3rd in West Division 2019-20)

With the 2019-20 NLL season shortened because of the COVID-19 pandemic, a champion was not crowned, so the Calgary Roughnecks enter the 2021-22 season as defending champions.  Because the 2020-21 season was cancelled as a result of the ongoing pandemic, the Roughnecks will be adding players from both the 2020 and 2021 drafts into the mix.

“It’s going to be different,” said Roughnecks Head Coach, Curt Malawsky. “The young guys will have a chance to really prove themselves. We’re more of a team that was really established before and didn’t have very many spots. There’s going to be a lot of competition for spots this year.”

The loss of Dane Dobbie will hurt the Roughnecks offensively. When a player puts up 17 goals in four games, it is almost impossible to find talent to replace what is missing. The Roughnecks went 2-4 in Dobbie’s absence but expect players like Ryan Martel and a healthy Jesse King to increase their production. The core of the team is still intact and will remain competitive in the West.

Key Additions:  

Nate Wade and Harrison Matsuoka

Key Losses:

Dane Dobbie and Tyson Bell
Colorado Mammoth (7-6, 2nd in West Division 2019-20)
The Mammoth did not get off to a good start in 2019-20, opening the season by losing six of their first ten games.  But then came a three-game winning streak that pushed Colorado over .500 and into contention for a playoff spot. The tide was changing for the Mammoth who traded for right handed forward Tyler Digby from the New York Riptide to bolster the right hand side of the offense. In their last game, they had an impressive comeback against the Knighthawks after starting the game down 7-1.  That’s when the COVID-19 pandemic put an end to the season and now the Mammoth turn their attention to the 2021-22 campaign and providing the fans at the Loud House with a solid team.

The loss of captain Dan Coates will hurt the Mammoth defense and leadership in the locker room but provides more opportunities for young players such as Warren Jeffrey and Brett Craig to grow in their careers. The big splash for the Mammoth came when they grabbed Zed Williams from Georgia. Williams hasn’t suited up for the Mammoth yet but has put on an amazing two seasons with the PLL in the meantime.

“Our league is blessed to be in a position where we continue to attract the best box lacrosse talent in the world,” said General Manager Brad Self. “We’re thrilled to get back to work with last year’s group and look forward to seeing how our young guys fit into the picture moving forward.”

Key Additions: 

Ron John, Zed Williams, and Connor Robinson

Key Losses: 

Dan Coates, Jacob Ruest and Will Malcom
Panther City Lacrosse Club (Expansion Team)
The National Lacrosse League welcomes the Panther City Lacrosse Club in Fort Worth Texas as the league’s 14th franchise for the 2021-22 season and they will play their home games at 14,000 seat Dickies Arena.  Five-time NLL All-Star Tracey Kelusky will be the team’s first Head Coach.

“To say I’m incredibly honored would be an understatement,” said Kelusky. “I am very excited for the opportunity to assist in leading the Panther City franchise to become a Championship caliber team in the NLL.”

Kelusky was the first overall pick in the 2000 NLL Entry Draft and became an assistant coach following a 14-year, Hall of Fame playing career primarily with the Calgary Roughnecks.  Most recently, Kelusky was the offensive coach for the Philadelphia Wings and he oversaw the highest scoring offense in the league during the 2019-20 season.

Expansion teams did not fare well in the 2019-20 season and with a tough West Division, it remains to be seen how well Panther City will compete especially with some of their top picks from the 2021 Entry Draft returning to school or with Randy Staats potentially being out for the season with a knee injury. Bob Hamley has a vision but it might take a year or two to see the results of his plan pay off.

Key Additions:

Ryan Benesch, Matt Hossack, Phil Caputo, Connor Kelly, Liam Patten, Connor Sellars, Taylor Stuart, Randy Staats and Jeremy Thompson.
San Diego Seals (6-6, t-3rd in West Division 2019-20)
When the COVID-19 pandemic prematurely ended the 2019-20 NLL season, the San Diego Seals were in the mix for a post-season berth.  They were riding a three-game winning streak that brought their season-ending record to 6-6 and look to bring a championship caliber squad to southern California for the 2021-22 campaign.

The Seals made arguably the biggest splash in the off-season by signing former NLL Most Valuable Player Dane Dobbie as a free agent where he spent his entire career with division rival, Calgary.

“Dane is one of the best offensive players of his generation,” said Seals General Manager and Head Coach Patrick Merrill. “And to put it simply, he’s a winner. He’s a true competitor to his core and we’ve been able to see that throughout his Hall of Fame-caliber career so far.”

The extra additions of Tre Leclaire and Mac O’Keefe make an already scary Seals offense even scarier. The Seals did lose Nick Damude in the expansion draft which gives Frank Scigliano the starting role in net. Damude split time in net with Scigliano last season and is credited with a 3-1 record in the 2019-20 season. Will this be the year that Brodie Merrill finally gets a NLL Championship?

Key Additions:

Dane Dobbie, Tre Leclaire and Mac O’Keefe.

Key Losses: 

Connor Fields, Kyle Buchanan, Nick Damude, and Connor Kearnan.
Saskatchewan Rush (7-3, 1st in West Division 2019-20)
The Saskatchewan Rush was a legitimate contender for the NLL title when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the 2019-20 season.  They were leading the West Division with a 7-3 record and now they look to recapture their winning ways for the 2021-22 season.  Historically, the Rush don’t often pursue other team’s unrestricted free agents but they did fortify their back end with the signing of ten-year veteran defenseman Matt Beers.

“When Matt Beers became available, it was an easy decision for me to put together an offer,” said Rush General Manager Derek Keenan.  “Matt has long been a premier defender in the NLL.  Our fans are going to love Matt Beers.”

There are questions about the Rush’s age and whether their dynasty is reaching an end point with this group of players. Some would think Derek Keenan is exactly where he wants his roster to be. It would not surprise anyone to see the Rush lead the West Division and for players like Mark Matthews, Robert Church, and Ryan Dilks to have stellar seasons. The Rush did lose former Goalie of the Year, Evan Kirk in free agency which leaves a question mark for arguably the most important position in this expanded NLL with goalie talent thinning. Adam Shute has been in reserve for a few seasons, stepping in net in 2019 for a few games recording a 5-3 record on a .772 save percentage. It looks like it will be his time to start in net.

Key Additions:

Josh Currier, Matt Beers, Dan Lintner, Bobby Kidd III, and Marshall Powless.

Key Losses:

Connor Robinson, Jeremy Thompson, Matthew Dinsdale, Evan Kirk, and Matt Hossack
Vancouver Warriors (4-9, 5th in West Division 2019-20)
This coming season, the Vancouver Warriors hope to make some big strides since the NLL was last in action.  When the pandemic put an end to the 2019-20 season, the Warriors were sitting in last place in the Western Conference and were in the midst of a four-game losing streak.

Despite how the last season turned out and the loss of veteran defenseman Matt Beers, there is excitement in Vancouver about the addition of 2020 first round pick (2nd overall) defenseman and transition player Reid Bowering.

“Reid is a dynamic, two-way player that has the rare ability to dominate the game at both ends of the field.  He has won at every level he has played at and we see him as a future leader and future Captain of the Vancouver Warriors” said General Manager, Dan Richardson

The struggling Warriors will have many new faces, including first round pick from the 2021 entry draft in Adam Caharalambides, and a young core with the number of players who announced their retirement within the last few months. If Mitch Jones and Keegan Bal can have similar performances as they did in the 2019-20 season, they can be dangerous. The real question will be on the backend as they allowed three more goals per game than they scored in 13 games. The only teams to allow more goals on a per game basis were the expansion Riptide and Knighthawks.

Key Additions:

Matthew Dinsdale, Reid Bowering, Adam Charalambides, and Brett Mydske.

Key Losses: 

Matt Beers, Ian Hawksbee, Joel McCready and Jame Rahe.

With the defending champion (2018-19) Calgary Roughnecks, one of the best teams from the 2019-20 season in the Saskatchewan Rush and the expansion Panther City Lacrosse Club, the National Lacrosse League’s West Division should be a fun watch during the 2021-22 season.

In my next article, we’ll take a look at the NLL’s East Division.

NLL