Home teams dominate on Opening Night

The NLL kicked off Faceoff Weekend on Friday night with a pair of exciting games. Ottawa and Colorado hosted their home openers, to the delight of fans old and new. The action continues on Saturday with two more games!

Toronto Rock 5 @ Ottawa Black Bears 11

What a debut for the Ottawa Black Bears. The NLL’s newest market couldn’t have asked for a better atmosphere in their home opener, with 6,995 fans taking in the team’s first win in their new home at Canadian Tire Centre.

The NLL is BACK.

Jake Dunbar gets it going in Ottawa and gives the Black Bears a 1-0 lead.

🥍@TorontoRockLax vs. @ottblackbears
🖥️ESPN+ (https://t.co/xP0J7l67fF), TSN+ & NLL+ pic.twitter.com/nBNVff3OnB

— NLL (@NLL) November 30, 2024

Ottawa was buoyed by the big crowd, and led 4-0 at halftime. Jacob Dunbar, acquired from San Diego, had a pair in the first half including the game’s opening goal. Taggart Clark put Ottawa up 5-0 before the Rock’s Latrell Harris, back from a year off rehabbing a torn ACL, scored in transition. It was the highlight of the game for the Rock, who trailed by eight goals after the third quarter.

Dunbar finished the game with three goals and three assists, while Connor Kearnan had a hat trick and two assists. Superstar Jeff Teat had a highlight-reel goal in the third, slipping on the turf but getting up to beat three defenders to the goal. He also added four assists in the game. Goaltender Zach Higgins, acquired from Philadelphia, made 38 saves in his Ottawa debut.

 

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The Rock were missing three key players in Challen Rogers, Brad Kri and TD Ierlan, and facing an uphill battle. Josh Jubenville went 7/18 in Ierlan’s place on faceoffs. Rookie Brian Cameron scored his first career goal for Toronto. Ottawa native Tyler Hendrycks was activated from the practice roster for the game and contributed one assist. Nick Rose made 38 saves in goal.

Vancouver Warriors 7 @ Colorado Mammoth 11

Connor Kelly (Photo: John Harrison/NLL)

There were positives and negatives for both the Warriors and Mammoth in the second game of opening night’s double header. The Warriors got out to a hot start with a 6-1 lead at halftime, only to watch it slip away. The Mammoth came out of halftime with a vengeance, and outscored Vancouver 10-1 in the second half.

Owen Grant led the Warriors with a first half hat trick, though the defender remarked to John Gallant at halftime, “We both know I don’t belong out that front door but I’m going to keep running until they slide to me. Just getting chances right now.”

Keegan Bal scored twice and added one assist, while Aden Walsh made 32 saves for the Warriors.

Connor Kelly was the hero for Colorado, scoring four times, including the game winner, and adding three assists. Zed Williams added a hat trick (including the ridiculously athletic behind-the-net dunk goal below) and an assist as the Mammoth held Vancouver scoreless for the last 25:49 of play, with Dillon Ward made 35 saves in the game. Ryan Lee, the dynamic scorer who missed the entire 2023-24 season with a knee injury, had a triumphant return to the floor, beating Walsh on a late-game penalty shot.

Stop what you’re doing!

Zed Williams just hit us with the goal of the night in Colorado.#SCtop10 pic.twitter.com/JSK968t3KV

— NLL (@NLL) November 30, 2024

Temperatures boiled over in the last minute of play, with fisticuffs occurring at the team benches, with a combined 49 penalty minutes handed out.