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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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Changes In Personnel, Philosophy Fueling Black Wolves Success

Change is never easy, but sometimes it is necessary to reach the returns that you are looking to achieve. In the case of the New England Black Wolves, they knew that shaking up the roster after two sub-.500 records and two seasons allowing more than 240 goals since 2015 -they and the Vancouver Stealth are the only teams in NLL history to have multiple seasons giving up 240+ goals- that something(s) needed to be done to make this team a real contender again like the franchise was in the 90’s and early 2000’s as the Philadelphia Wings.

 

“As a result of the stats from last year and the play in the backend,” Black Wolves head coach Glenn Clark said, “we, as a group, discussed making those changes, so we did, and that’s the big part of it. We’ve adjusted our philosophy a little bit based on our personnel, but a lot of it was bringing in new guys that played the style of game that we wanted to play in terms of transitioning the ball, limiting repossessions, limiting turnovers, all those things we talked about, and it’s been playing out so far.”

 

There was a lot of movement concerning the defense, and rightfully so. Coming into the 2018 season, no team had let in more goals than the Black Wolves over the last three years. David Brock and Adam Bomberry were brought in from the Buffalo Bandits and Rochester Knighthawks respectively to ensure a stronger back-end presence alongside veterans Derek Suddons and Brett Manney as well as budding young talents, Joel Coyle and Matt Spanger.

 

Two other vital moves included sending Sheldon Burns to the Toronto Rock for Stephan Leblanc in the early stages of Week 3 and acquiring Aaron Bold and John Lafontaine (plus draft picks) for long-time goaltender Evan Kirk from the Saskatchewan Rush.

 

“It is always hard trading a quality player like Sheldon,” General Manager Rich Lisk said of the trade, “but you have to give up quality to get quality. In Stephan LeBlanc we get one of the premier left-handers in the NLL and adding him to an already potent offense is something that we are thrilled about. I believe fans will be very excited to see Stephan in a Black Wolves jersey and all of us are very excited to welcome him to the Pack.”

 

The moves weren’t limited to the defense; the aforementioned Lafontaine is playing a key role in the transition game alongside the Black Wolves 7th selection in the 2017-18 NLL draft, Colton Watkinson, and, of course, Leblanc is a dynamic forward. Other selections from this year’s draft such as JP Kealey and Anthony Joaquim have also made an impact on this year’s squad.

 

Black Wolves captain Shawn Evans knows that this is not the team he knew when he came to the club in 2016, but he’ll take the results that this team is putting up any day.

 

“We made a lot of great moves in the offseason, a lot of different faces.” The Captain said. “Aaron Bold has been stellar for us making the saves that he’s needed to late in games to give us opportunities to score on offense. And defensively, they’ve been outstanding in front of him. They’re pressuring to the ball, and they’re holding teams like Rochester to 8 or 9 goals the last two games. So when your defense and goaltender are doing that for you, it gives us on the offensive end time to get things rolling.”

 

Taking away the 24-11 loss the Black Wolves had against the Rush in Week 2, Bold and the defense have allowed 9.25 goals per game. As Evans said, in their last two games, the Black Wolves held the Knighthawks to eight and nine goals respectively, grabbing the attention of Knighthawks head coach Mike Hasen.

 

“The defense is really good.” Hasen said. “They play a good team-system where they get on hand. They want to allow Boldy to be in his spot, see the shot and make it easier to see the ball. At the end of the day, Boldy was exceptional, he stoned us on many opportunities especially when we were tight and had a clear shot at the goal.”

 

Bold’s coach also has plenty of positive things to say about his performance through five games. “I think he’s a guy that doesn’t fade in games,” Clark said. “As the game goes on, he has seemingly been getting stronger and better. That has allowed guys to play with some more confidence and you don’t win in this league unless your goalie, on most nights, is your best player. You need your goalie to be good because in the game of lacrosse, no matter how good you are on defense, you’re going to give up quality shots throughout the game. He has been a big part of giving the guys confidence, and I think with his conditioning and commitment, he has been better in the 4th quarters, which has been real big for us.”

 

Bold and the defense have been so good in fact that even when the Black Wolves have been a man down on the penalty kill, they have been able to stop an NLL-leading 71.4% of the chances against them. Coach Clark is pleased with the effort the man down unit is putting in, and he knows that the success has a lot to do with the new guys on the roster.

 

“We’ve got a couple of new personnel on the man-down. I think we’ve been a little bit more aggressive on the man-down in terms of our schemes and forcing shots from spots we want them to come from. I think probably the aggression, but also some personnel changes have helped as well.”

 

Despite its potent potential, the defense has carried the team to its league-best 4-1 record, and many of the numbers prove that to be true. Offensively, the Black Wolves are 7th in GPG (11.40), 6th on the powerplay (46.15), they have -4 goal differential and they are tied for the fewest players with five points or more in the league with the Colorado Mammoth and Stealth who all only have eight men breaking the threshold. That’s not to say that guys like Evans and Kevin Crowley aren’t producing, they are. Crowley has the 4th-most goals scored (13), and Evans is 4th in overall points with 32. Although, Evans is the only player on the team with more than 20 points through five games.

 

Regardless of the offensive inefficiency, as the adage goes, “Defense wins championships.” As Captain of the Black Wolves, Evans knows that he has a prominent role in leading his team to the Champion’s Cup and bringing the first title to Uncasville, Connecticut.

 

“When I came we had the goal to get better each year and this, my third year here, making the moves that we did, the management have put [us] in a position to succeed. It’s my job and our leadership crew to keep the guys together and make sure that everyone’s happy and everyone’s on the same page. When we’re working together good things happen and as you can see we’re 4-1, and we gotta keep it rolling.”

 

 

NLL