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BUF at SD - Sat. 10pm ET on ESPNews Schedule

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WK
1
Fri, Dec 2
FINAL
Philadelphia
8
Halifax
18
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
Vancouver
8
Toronto
19
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
San Diego
15
New York
14
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
Albany
11
Buffalo
10
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
Rochester
16
Georgia
11
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
Colorado
6
Saskatchewan
18
WK
2
Fri, Dec 9
FINAL
Las Vegas
11
Panther City
13
Fri, Dec 9
FINAL/OT
Saskatchewan
12
San Diego
13
Sat, Dec 10
FINAL
Toronto
7
Rochester
11
Sat, Dec 10
FINAL
Vancouver
9
Calgary
11
WK
3
Fri, Dec 16
FINAL
Calgary
14
Vancouver
5
Fri, Dec 16
FINAL
Panther City
9
Las Vegas
3
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Buffalo
11
Toronto
8
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Rochester
14
Albany
13
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Philadelphia
13
Georgia
12
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Halifax
20
New York
11
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Colorado
12
Panther City
9
WK
5
Fri, Dec 30
FINAL
Halifax
13
Buffalo
18
Fri, Dec 30
FINAL
San Diego
17
Calgary
14
Sat, Dec 31
FINAL
Panther City
9
Saskatchewan
11
WK
6
Fri, Jan 6
FINAL
Philadelphia
14
Las Vegas
9
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Panther City
9
Rochester
17
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Halifax
14
Albany
11
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Buffalo
18
Georgia
9
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Toronto
15
New York
7
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Calgary
8
Colorado
9
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Vancouver
11
San Diego
16
WK
7
Fri, Jan 13
FINAL/OT
Albany
11
Halifax
10
Fri, Jan 13
FINAL/OT
Saskatchewan
10
Colorado
11
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
Halifax
8
Toronto
17
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
Panther City
12
Philadelphia
10
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
Georgia
9
Buffalo
11
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
San Diego
10
Calgary
14
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
Las Vegas
16
Vancouver
19
Sun, Jan 15
FINAL
Rochester
11
New York
8
WK
8
Fri, Jan 20
FINAL
Buffalo
12
Rochester
15
Fri, Jan 20
FINAL
Vancouver
14
Las Vegas
15
Sat, Jan 21
FINAL
Toronto
14
Philadelphia
5
Sat, Jan 21
FINAL
New York
16
Albany
10
WK
9
Fri, Jan 27
FINAL
Rochester
7
Halifax
17
Fri, Jan 27
FINAL
Buffalo
13
Philadelphia
9
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL
Buffalo
16
New York
10
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL
Las Vegas
10
Saskatchewan
15
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL/OT
Toronto
11
Calgary
10
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL
San Diego
13
Colorado
9
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL
Panther City
20
Vancouver
7
WK
10
Fri, Feb 3
FINAL
Georgia
10
Colorado
13
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL/OT
Calgary
12
Halifax
11
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
New York
14
Toronto
22
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Albany
5
Philadelphia
13
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Rochester
10
Buffalo
13
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Panther City
10
San Diego
12
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Saskatchewan
14
Vancouver
8
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Colorado
8
Las Vegas
13
WK
11
Fri, Feb 10
FINAL
Toronto
11
Georgia
10
Fri, Feb 10
FINAL
Saskatchewan
6
Calgary
13
Sat, Feb 11
FINAL
Halifax
14
Rochester
16
Sat, Feb 11
FINAL
Albany
12
New York
14
Sat, Feb 11
FINAL
Vancouver
13
Panther City
14
Sat, Feb 11
FINAL
Colorado
9
Calgary
13
WK
12
Fri, Feb 17
FINAL
Calgary
14
Vancouver
9
Fri, Feb 17
FINAL
Saskatchewan
16
San Diego
11
Sat, Feb 18
FINAL
Georgia
7
Toronto
16
Sat, Feb 18
FINAL
Las Vegas
12
Albany
10
Sat, Feb 18
FINAL/OT
Philadelphia
12
Buffalo
13
Sat, Feb 18
FINAL
Colorado
7
Panther City
13
Sun, Feb 19
FINAL
New York
12
Halifax
13
WK
13
Fri, Feb 24
FINAL
Panther City
12
Colorado
14
Fri, Feb 24
FINAL
Calgary
9
Las Vegas
11
Sat, Feb 25
FINAL/OT
New York
10
Rochester
11
Sat, Feb 25
FINAL
Albany
4
Georgia
20
Sat, Feb 25
FINAL
Vancouver
16
Saskatchewan
12
WK
14
Fri, Mar 3
FINAL
Buffalo
10
Halifax
9
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL
New York
12
Philadelphia
19
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL
Las Vegas
12
San Diego
15
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL
Rochester
8
Toronto
9
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL/OT
Georgia
9
Albany
8
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL
Saskatchewan
10
Panther City
16
Mon, Mar 6
FINAL
Toronto
10
Philadelphia
11
WK
15
Fri, Mar 10
FINAL/OT
Halifax
9
Buffalo
10
Fri, Mar 10
FINAL
Calgary
16
Colorado
10
Sat, Mar 11
FINAL
Albany
6
Toronto
12
Sat, Mar 11
FINAL
Philadelphia
10
New York
13
Sat, Mar 11
FINAL
San Diego
12
Saskatchewan
11
Sat, Mar 11
FINAL
Vancouver
14
Las Vegas
5
Sun, Mar 12
FINAL
Rochester
19
Georgia
18
WK
16
Fri, Mar 17
FINAL
Saskatchewan
6
Calgary
11
Fri, Mar 17
FINAL
San Diego
16
Vancouver
9
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Georgia
13
Philadelphia
12
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Toronto
12
Halifax
14
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Albany
10
New York
13
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Colorado
13
Buffalo
8
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Las Vegas
8
Panther City
11
Sun, Mar 19
FINAL/OT
Philadelphia
9
Rochester
8
WK
17
Fri, Mar 24
20:30:00
San Diego
Panther City
Sat, Mar 25
19:00:00
Toronto
Albany
Sat, Mar 25
19:00:00
Halifax
Philadelphia
Sat, Mar 25
19:30:00
Georgia
New York
Sat, Mar 25
21:30:00
Calgary
Saskatchewan
Sat, Mar 25
22:00:00
Buffalo
San Diego
Sat, Mar 25
22:00:00
Colorado
Vancouver
Sat, Mar 25
22:30:00
Rochester
Las Vegas
WK
18
Fri, Mar 31
19:00:00
New York
Georgia
Fri, Mar 31
21:00:00
Las Vegas
Colorado
Fri, Mar 31
22:00:00
Calgary
San Diego
Sat, Apr 1
19:00:00
Buffalo
Toronto
Sat, Apr 1
20:00:00
Albany
Panther City
Sat, Apr 1
21:30:00
Vancouver
Saskatchewan
Sun, Apr 2
13:00:00
Georgia
Halifax
Sun, Apr 2
18:00:00
Rochester
Philadelphia
WK
19
Sat, Apr 8
19:00:00
Albany
Rochester
Sat, Apr 8
19:00:00
Saskatchewan
Georgia
Sat, Apr 8
21:00:00
Panther City
Calgary
Sat, Apr 8
21:00:00
Vancouver
Colorado
Sat, Apr 8
22:30:00
San Diego
Las Vegas
WK
20
Fri, Apr 14
21:00:00
Las Vegas
Calgary
Fri, Apr 14
21:00:00
San Diego
Colorado
Sat, Apr 15
19:00:00
Philadelphia
Toronto
Sat, Apr 15
19:00:00
Georgia
Albany
Sat, Apr 15
19:30:00
New York
Buffalo
Sat, Apr 15
21:30:00
Halifax
Saskatchewan
Sat, Apr 15
22:00:00
Panther City
Vancouver
WK
21
Fri, Apr 21
20:30:00
Calgary
Panther City
Sat, Apr 22
18:00:00
New York
Halifax
Sat, Apr 22
19:00:00
Georgia
Rochester
Sat, Apr 22
20:00:00
Toronto
Buffalo
Sat, Apr 22
21:30:00
Colorado
Saskatchewan
Sat, Apr 22
22:00:00
Las Vegas
San Diego
Sun, Apr 23
15:00:00
Philadelphia
Albany
WK
22
Sat, Apr 29
19:00:00
Philadelphia
Rochester
Sat, Apr 29
19:00:00
Buffalo
Albany
Sat, Apr 29
19:00:00
Halifax
Georgia
Sat, Apr 29
22:00:00
Colorado
San Diego
Sat, Apr 29
22:00:00
New York
Vancouver
Sat, Apr 29
22:30:00
Saskatchewan
Las Vegas
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Stories/Op-Ed

Craig Wende Took a Long and Winding Road to the National Lacrosse League

The story of Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner has been well documented.

He played college football at Northern Iowa but didn’t get selected in the NFL Draft. Warner was stocking shelves as a supermarket when the Iowa Barnstormers of the Arena Football League came calling.  Then came NFL Europe and finally a chance in the NFL leading the St. Louis Rams to a Super Bowl championship.

He doesn’t have the championship ring just yet, but you could make the argument that Georgia Swarm goaltender Craig Wende is the “Kurt Warner” of the National Lacrosse League.

Goaltender Craig Wende was hoping to be selected in the 2012 NLL Draft, but it never happened.

“Out of Junior A lacrosse I was not drafted,” said 31-year-old native of Kitchener, Ontario where he still resides.

“I was projected as a later pick. I ended up going to the draft and ended up leaving disappointed because my name wasn’t called.”

Despite not being drafted, Wende went to a free agent camp with the Washington Stealth but was released. The following year, he had a tryout with the Toronto Rock and made it all the way to the last day of training camp before…you guessed it…he was released.

At this point, Wende was thinking that his time would never come.

“You’re two years older going on three and basically you kind of get the assumption that maybe the journey wasn’t for me,” said Wende.

Wende’s journey also includes his full-time job as a mechanic for “Central Automotive Services”, the family business started by his grandfather Walter Roth and now owned by his uncles David and Gary Roth. Growing up, Wende spent a lot of time around the shop and the idea of being a mechanic one day was something that he was interested in.

Doesn’t this sound like a scene out of the movie “My Cousin Vinny”?

“I had a fascination with working on cars and a fascination of fixing things,” said Wende. “Growing up, I thought it was a job for me.  When I got the chance to be in the auto shop class, I took full advantage of it doing it in high school.”

And then Wende, who did not play college lacrosse but could certainly explain what “Positraction” is, went to Conestoga College in Kitchener where he earned his mechanics license.

“I came to my family business here with my uncles and my grandfather,” said Wende. “My grandfather is now retired and now my uncles are the owners so it’s a small three-person shop. I work there full-time.”

Kurt Warner worked in a supermarket and was able to live out his NFL dream.

Craig Wende is a mechanic and is now also at the highest level of box lacrosse.

Their stories are certainly comparable.

“It sounds exactly like what I went through,” said Wende. “To get to where I am today took hard work, took perseverance and I had to show everybody that I was capable of being in the league so I’m happy that I’m finally here.”

Wende’s road to the NLL was a long and winding road.

After getting released by Washington and Toronto, Wende turned to other options playing for leagues like the Arena Lacrosse League and the Ontario Senior B Lacrosse League. He also went overseas to play for Team Germany in the Euro Box League.

While he wasn’t in the NLL, he was getting a chance to play and grow as a netminder.

“I was able to get minutes,” said Wende. “It took me a long time to develop into the goaltender that I am today and it took me six years to finally get on a practice roster.”

All of the hard work for Wende began to pay off when he was signed to the Georgia Swarm practice roster for the 2018-19 season, six years after he was draft eligible.  He was on a team that had Mike Poulin and Kevin Orleman, but the positive was that he was with an NLL club and it was a step in the right direction.

And then came the chance…

Mike Poulin was injured and was inactive for the regular season finale against the Philadelphia Wings on April 20th, 2019. Kevin Orleman would get the start and Wende would get his chance to dress as the backup. And then, with about a minute and a half left in the second quarter, Wende replaced Orleman between the pipes.

And emotional Wende was about to make his NLL debut.

“If anybody would have talked to me after that moment, I probably would have burst into tears,” said Wende. “It was one of the happier moments so far in my career.”

Wende then went on to sign with the expansion Rochester Knighthawks for the 2019-20 season.  He went to training camp with the understanding that he would compete for a spot on the active roster. Not only did he make the active roster, but he was named the opening day starter.

“That was seven years of hard work in the making to start my first game in the National Lacrosse League,” said Wende. “There were times throughout those seven years where I thought I should not even play lacrosse anymore and might be getting too old for it.”

Wende proved that narrative to be false by never giving up and finally reaching his goal.

The COVID-19 pandemic ended the 2019-20 NLL season early and wiped out the entire 2020-21 campaign. Wende was then traded by Rochester to Georgia for a draft pick so he was back with the organization where his NLL career began.

This season, Wende has a record of 0-2 with a 14.42 goals against average as the Swarm (0-5) get ready for Friday night’s home game against the Toronto Rock at Gas South Arena (7:30pm ET ESPN+/TSN+).

“We own our record…that’s for sure,” said Wende. “We’re just trying to make sure we’re coming into every game competing as hard as we possibly can. We just have to keep battling. It’s a grind to get wins in this league.”

Win or lose, Wende’s objective of being a goalie in the NLL has come to fruition. It took a little longer…okay a lot longer than he expected, but good things come to those who wait and Wende is trying to make the most of his opportunity.

Especially when you consider there were times when he was convinced it was a pipedream.

“As a kid, you dream about being in the National Lacrosse League but I never thought it would happen,” said Wende. “I would be lying if I said I told myself at ten years old that maybe one day you could be a professional lacrosse player.”

It really doesn’t matter if you’re a football player stocking shelves or a lacrosse player fixing cars.  If you have a dream, you follow it because dreams do come true.

NLL