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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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Billy Dee Smith and His Family Are Lacrosse Pioneers

Billy Dee Smith has always been surrounded by black leaders, role models and pioneers both in the lacrosse world and while growing up in his hometown of St. Catharines, Ontario.

As an adolescent, Billy Dee’s father, Keith Smith, worked on a farm run by Rose and Joe Engemann. The Engemann’s were also famous around town for having soccer, hockey and lacrosse teams. In his youth, Keith became one of the original members of the St. Catharines Spartans lacrosse team. Naturally, his three sons followed suit.

In the 1990’s, Billy Dee’s passion for lacrosse was taken to the next level. During the 1992 NLL Season, Billy Dee’s lacrosse team played during halftime of one of the Bandits games that season. Being on that floor where John Tavares and one of the league’s more notable black players at the time, Kevin Alexander, were showing off their skills at the professional ranks gave Billy Dee hope that he might one day be able to do what they were doing.

Then, in 1995, Billy Dee’s brother, Jason Luke, was drafted to the team. To see his brother join the team that had become such an integral part of his, and his families life, was deeply inspiring. To see these black men that he looked up to making a name for themselves in the NLL was a symbol of hope.

In his youth, Billy Dee was confronted and taunted by many non-black youths, but he wasn’t one to sit back and be insulted. Much like his father, grandparents and even his great grandfather, Billy Dee was not going to let others determine how he was going to live his life or who he was going to become. Billy Dee’s grandmother ran a black church in St. Catharines and his great grandfather was a runaway slave. They spoke up and spoke out against injustice and never stopped fighting for their rights. Billy Dee was known for standing up for himself with his words and his fists when he was being harassed.

“I definitely did experience racism growing up in the minor system,” Smith said. “Kids are just young and dumb and don’t know any better. But, that’s kind of to be expected unfortunately.”

Finally, in 2002, a decade after he first started focusing on one day being an NLL player like his brother, Billy Dee was given the opportunity by the Buffalo Bandits. He was drafted by Kurt Silcott, the only black GM at the time. Considering what it meant to Billy Dee to be playing in the NLL as one of the few black men in the NLL at the time, to be drafted by a black GM was a special experience.

“It was cool that he had the position that he did,” Smith said. “I knew that he was the only black GM at the time.”

The Bandits are an organization synonymous with winning. In the 90’s, the team had already won three NLL Championships, including in his brother Jason’s rookie season in 1996. By the time that Billy Dee had joined the team, the Bandits had already appeared in five NLL Finals. In the first years of Billy Dee’s professional career, the Bandits made three more trips to the NLL Finals. In 2008 (Billy Dee’s third NLL Finals), they added one more trophy to the collection beating the Portland Lumberjax 14-13.

Billy Dee reminisced about what it was like to win an NLL Championship. The taste of victory was even sweeter for a man like Billy Dee. It wasn’t easy making the NLL, particularly as a person of color. Thankfully, the Bandits were willing to bring in whoever could help them win.

“I think, first and foremost that they want to win,” Smith said. “Back in the day when I was a rookie, there was like three training camps before you even got to practice with the team. You would see all types of people coming out to the training camps. They were big in the community, whether it was the native communities like Six Nations – those guys knew a lot about lacrosse. But, I feel like a lot of people were overlooked because of the color of their skin, natives included.”

When Billy Dee finally decided to hang up the jersey at the end of the 2019 NLL season, he had built a reputation as being one of the most fierce and formidable defenders the game had ever seen.

Billy Dee’s 685 penalty minutes are the most given out in NLL history. Most of his career was played before the league began tracking caused turnovers and he had retired before blocked shots were being tracked, as well. He still amassed 52 caused turnovers over 16 seasons (8 were seasons where CTOs were tracked). He also collected 534 loose balls in that time. But, we don’t need stats to know how menacing Billy Dee was on defense, winning the 2009 Defensive Player of the Year award. His ability to bully the opposition and keep them from attacking the net was a problem for the rest of the league for the 16 seasons of his career.

In 2013, Billy Dee had the privilege of playing with his cousin, Dhane Smith. In 2016, they came close to winning the NLL Finals, but the team couldn’t muster enough offense against the defensive juggernaut named the Saskatchewan Rush. However, 2016 was not a wash. Dhane went on to became the first black player in league history to win NLL MVP honors. Last NLL Season, Dhane won the award again, making him the first black player to be named MVP multiple times – he also became only the fifth player in NLL history to win the award more than once.

Now an Assistant Coach for the Halifax Thunderbirds, Billy Dee is coaching another one of his cousins, Tyson Bell. He hopes that the two of them can one day do what he and Dhane couldn’t seven years ago. Billy Dee has been impressed with what Tyson and Dhane have been able to do in their careers. He’s been around those two since they were little kids and now they are elite professional box lacrosse players. More than that, Tyson and Dhane are outspoken leaders for the black community.

“Being their older cousin, it’s an absolute honor to see how they’ve grown up and turned into men,” Smith said. “I’m extremely proud of them. Hopefully I had something to do with their growth by letting them be their own men and having them learn to have the courage to speak up when you should, not only when people expect it.”

Billy Dee Smith and his family have been trying to make a difference in their communities for decades. Each one of them have been undeniably true to themselves and true to their hearts. They are proud of what they’ve become, but they are even more proud of how far they’ve come and where they’ve come from.

NLL