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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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Stories/Op-Ed

Don’t Sleep on Panther City Lacrosse Club, They’re Ready To Attack

In 1875, a story was written in the Dallas Daily Herald by a clearly bitter ex-Fort Worthian lawyer that suggested that Fort Worth, Texas was such a sleepy city that when a panther found its way to the downtown area, even it fell asleep.

Nearly 150 years after this unproven claim was published, Panther City Lacrosse Club (PCLC) is providing dozens of reasons for why Fort Worth is anything but sleepy. They are embodying the traits of the animal it’s named after: unrelenting, determined, strategic, and, most importantly, always prepared to defeat its opponent.

Since their franchise-opening game on December 4th, 2021, against the Philadelphia Wings, each of PCLC’s games have been decided in the late stages of the contest – except for their 14-8 loss to the Vancouver Warriors in Week 2. That includes the organizations first win a couple of weeks ago when they beat the New York Riptide 13-12 in overtime.

Before their first game, PCLC head coach Tracey Kelusky told his players that they need to have the mentality that they are not an expansion team that can be pushed around. He made it clear that the goal was to improve each week; following the team’s victory versus the Riptide, it’s clear they are improving.

But, winning one game shouldn’t be cause for too much celebration. Kelusky has stressed to his 1-4 team that they need to keep sticking to the long-term game plan and buying into the system, especially as a younger group that has not spent much time together as a full unit.

“From a tactical point of view, we have the systems in place and the more we trust in those things, the better off we are,” Kelusky said. “The non-negotiables of coming to work prepared – we have to do that; we have to do that more so than other groups. We have to study film, we have to come in on off-weeks because we don’t have the luxury of playing together for several years or have the superstars that other teams do.”

The organization’s first win is historic and well-earned, but it’s what PCLC does going forward that will define them.

And to think, they’re already developing an identity as a team that has a strong mental fortitude. It’s impressive to see how a team’s mentality can remain so positive and hungry for victory after coming out on the wrong end of each of their first four games, three of which were decided by three goals or less, including two one-goal losses.

PCLC defensemen Liam Byrnes spoke for his team about what it felt like to come so close to winning multiple times this year, only to go home with a loss.

“Having been so close in all these games has been mentally exhausting,” Byrnes said. “You know you’re putting all this effort in and you know you’re doing the right stuff, but you keep coming up short.”

This speaks to the resilience of this young team. Just because PCLC is a new team to the league, and just because they find themselves in a hole in the hyper-competitive West Division, doesn’t mean they are ever willing to give up. It’s much like a panther on the hunt.

Much like the players on PCLC, as an apex predator in its environment(s), a wild panther is always looking to assert its dominance by attacking and defending at all costs. To achieve those same goals, you must communicate and find different ways to be a threat.

As the last line of defense, goaltender Kevin Orleman spoke about the importance of communicating both on and off the floor.

“Our lines of communication have been very strong,” Orleman said. “We’re very active in our group chats when we’re away from the rink, and then we love spending time together when we’re at the rink. Having a strong veteran presence on the back end really helps with that. Communication is something players really pick up as they mature in this league and it’s something our younger guys have been able to pick up from them.”

Communicating also builds trust and confidence. These are two components you would want to successfully move the ball up the floor. The PCLC offense is as unselfish as it gets in the NLL. 22 different players have scored a point this season – no other team in the NLL has more different point-getters – including 10 of the 11 defensemen who have played at least one game and two of the three transition players who have stepped on the floor.

Byrnes pointed out that when defensemen like himself can make plays on offense, it makes them more eager to contribute to the scoreline.

“I think it helps keep us in these [close] games when you know as a defender you have the green light whenever you’re pushing the ball,” Byrnes said. “It gives you more confidence and you’re more likely to take chances.”

More and more chances will need to be taken throughout the season if PCLC wants to get out from the bottom of the West Division standings. And, looking forward, as this team continues to grow as a unit, they may be able to take advantage of the remaining teams on their schedule.

With 13 games left on their calendars, PCLC plays nine of those games against teams that have a record of .500 or below. Showing the spirit of a true panther, Orleman knows that those opportunities could pay dividends if PCLC can capitalize off their foe’s weaknesses.

“I know the West is a really strong division,” Orleman. “[But], there’s a couple of teams that maybe haven’t played as well as their potential, and maybe that’s an opportunity for us to take advantage of that.”

If there’s one way PCLC doesn’t embody its animalistic nature, it’s that they hunt as a team, not as individuals. Since their inaugural game, this increasingly cohesive unit has put the rest of the league on notice.

PCLC is hoping to make enough noise in the NLL for the remainder of this season that anyone who steps within the city limits will know this is a team you won’t want to sleep on.

NLL