Black Bears Players are Loving the Ottawa Experience

The Ottawa Black Bears are looking to provide their fresh fanbase with an entertaining and riveting sequel to their blockbuster premiere when the two-time defending champion Buffalo Bandits swing through Canada’s capital city as part of NLL Friday Night on TSN this weekend.

The Black Bears’ highly anticipated home debut went off as well as any of the players had hoped, as a raucous Canadian Tire Centre crowd witnessed a resounding 11-5 victory over the Toronto Rock on November 30.

The combined passion and knowledge possessed by the 7,000 fans in attendance was a phenomenon that drew immediate and persistent attention from the players on the field, who fed off the energy from the paying customers.

“The fans were tremendous. Right from the get-go you could feel a good excitement and buzz during warmups,” noted starting goaltender Zach Higgins. “As more people started to fill into the arena it just grew even more up to the opening faceoff and throughout the whole game. I think every time there was a big play, no matter who made it, you could just sense the crowd was behind us. The cheering of big plays was really uplifting.”

Forward Larson Sundown was equally impressed with the expertise of the fans.

“With the nuances of the game, you could hear them rooting because the fans understood what was coming next. And that certainly comes from having a rich lacrosse culture in Ottawa,” shared the RIT alum.

The maiden Black Bears’ voyage was especially meaningful to Sundown because of his involvement in the team’s logo and uniform designs, along with his efforts to introduce the Black Bears brand to the community during a myriad of offseason appearances and engagements.

“It was incredible. Obviously, a lot of moving pieces went into this,” Sundown explained. “To finally get on the floor in front of all the fans was something amazing. I was blown away at the number of fans. You could tell by the shirts that people were coming from all over Ottawa, as well as Indigenous [reserves]. To have that support meant so much,” beamed Sundown.

The lacrosse player/fashion designer later added, “after being a part of the jersey design process, nothing hit home more than to see everyone in their jerseys and wearing them proudly. I heard a lot of good reviews after the game. I’m just so thankful that everyone loves them as much as we do.”

Black Bears forward @Larson_Sundown of the Tonawanda Seneca Nation was a big part of the team’s jersey design process.

Sundown recommended an indigenous “People’s Motif,” which represents peace, friendship, and unison. Standing together for the greater good. pic.twitter.com/Da5o7elEyu

— Ottawa Black Bears (@ottblackbears) July 31, 2024

Sundown was ecstatic when discussing every aspect of taking the floor at the home of the NHL’s Ottawa Senators. From the sights and sounds of life between the boards to the behind-the-scenes player amenities, the lefty’s opening night reviews would be the envy of Ottawa’s finest dining and nightlife establishments.

“The lighting of the arena and all the theatrics were amazing. The Canadian Tire Centre is beautiful. I love the layout of it. I love that we get to see fans in different areas, with so many things to do. I was also in awe of the training, workout and meeting rooms. It certainly makes me feel good about being here, understanding that we are taken care of in that way, and that there are so many resources for us to use.”

Zach Higgins, who got in the way of 37 of 42 Toronto shots on goal in the opener, has been extremely impressed with the first-class treatment showered on him and his teammates, courtesy of the Black Bears’ ownership and front office.

“The organization really wanted to set this up properly and have it run super professionally, and they’ve done a great job of that. From the hotel right to the amenities at the arena, they’ve really gone above and beyond to set this up to be successful,” opined the man between the pipes.

Higgins then elaborated on the benefits surrounding the synergistic relationship that exists between the Black Bears and Senators. This is a subject that the Courtice, ON product is intimately familiar with, having played under similar collaborations during his three years with the Philadelphia Wings and two prior campaigns with the Bandits. Both clubs not only share an arena with their NHL brethren but operate under the same ownership group as the Flyers and Sabres, respectively.

The 33-year-old netminder was traded from Philadelphia to Ottawa during the offseason, as part of a transaction that sent Phil Caputo, Liam Patten and a first-round pick to America’s birthplace.

“It is super beneficial being able to use some of the resources the Senators have,” stated the 225 lb. keeper. “I think it elevates our brand of lacrosse. It raises everyone’s game because it feels like you’re part of a big brand of sports. And having that is really a boost and kind of exciting. I know that coming from Philadelphia we had some of the best amenities there. We have the same thing in Ottawa. We’re being set up perfectly with the arena and the facilities within the arena.”

Sundown is the first to admit feelings of uncertainty when the move from Long Island was initially announced, considering that the Basom, New York native had played every minute of his three-season NLL career with the former Riptide. But, with a brand new three-year contract in his back pocket and the extraordinary support that he and his lacrosse brothers experienced during the lead up to the inaugural campaign and subsequent first game, the esteemed member of the Tonawanda Seneca people is very excited regarding where he landed and what lies ahead.

With this scenario at play, here is Sundown’s campaign pitch to lacrosse fans who may be interested in partaking in an NLL game 27 km (16 miles) west of the Canadian Parliament Buildings: “We have a very hard-working team. A very exciting and selfless offense to go along with a mean and tough defense, one that’s willing to sacrifice their bodies. In the goaltending area, we have Zach Higgins and Cameron Dunkerley, one of the best backups in the league, who’s good enough to be a starter. Come out to the Canadian Tire Centre because there’s a group of men in that locker room that are willing to do whatever it takes to win for the city and organization.”

Sundown returns to the turf when his Black Bears host the Bandits in a battle of unbeaten teams at 7pm ET on TSN, TSN+, ESPN+ and NLL+.