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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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Il Indoor: Observations From Champion’S Cup Finals

The Saskatchewan Rush made history as just the sixth team in National Lacrosse League history to win back-to-back titles by defeating the Buffalo Bandits at home in front of over 15,000 fans at a sold-out SaskTel Centre on Saturday night. Preview Stephen Stamp’s observations from the clinching win below and find the full story on IL Indoor.

“It took 59:48 of the 60 minutes in Game 2 but the Saskatchewan Rush earned their second straight sweep of the Champion’s Cup finals, downing the Buffalo Bandits 11-10 Saturday night when Jeff Cornwall scored on a breakaway with 12 seconds to play,” Stamp writes. “The game, against all odds, lived up to the thrill-a-minute excitement of Game 1, even if the quality of play—understandably–was slightly lower.”

One aspect of the game that even outshone last week’s contest was the play of Aaron Bold. The Rush keeper turned away 47 of 57 shots, including stoning the great Dhane Smith driving alone to the net late. His .825 save percentage in Game 2 provides ample evidence of why Bold was named the series’ MVP.

Below, some observations from a riveting final game to the 2016 season.

* I saw more mistakes in this game than in Game 1 but it was still brilliant lacrosse. The level in Game 1 was just so high, offensive chances were so hard to come by and the goals that were scored were the results of such precision plays that it’s hard to imagine it could have been any better. It wasn’t, but it wasn’t far off. Saskatchewan and Buffalo are two excellent lacrosse teams and while the Bandits won’t be taking home the Champions Cup, they should be holding their heads high after the season they just had.

* Derek Keenan said Curtis Knight would play a big role at some point and he was dead on. Knight, who was inconsistent in his first year back from knee reconstruction as many players are, had a pair of goals and three assists. He added a boost that the offence needed with Mark Matthews being handled effectively by the Bandit’s defence for much of the night (although Matthews still managed to score 2 goals and 4 assists). Knight’s second goal, in particular, was sensational. A perfect seal to open space on the pick and roll led to him being alone on top of the crease, where he threw a short but credible fake far side then tucked a slight twister into the near side. A healthy and effective Knight just makes the Rush better.

* There wasn’t a ton of transition in the game, but that is attributable to both teams recognizing how important the running game is to their opponents and working hard to take it away. The shortage just elevated the important of the transition goals that were scored, including of course Cornwall’s winner.

* Okay, let’s talk about that winning goal. Cornwall was excellent all series—in fact, all season and through the playoffs as well. He may not have shone any brighter, though, than in the sequence leading up to that final goal. The Bandits got the ball to Smith on a pick and roll that couldn’t have been played any better than Cornwall handled it, switching off his man to jump on Smith. Cornwall got out to Smith in time to take away the immediate shot without overrunning him and allowing a cutback, which is no easy task in and of itself.

Then Cornwall initiated a solid cross check that he was able to ride all the way down the alley, forcing Smith past the net unable to get a quality shot off and making it easy for Bold. When the Bandits got the ball back, Cornwall was ready for more. He was out in the lane when the shot was taken that bounded high off the back boards and he tracked it perfectly, positioning himself so that Smith couldn’t get past him but he was able to grab it and take off.

The speed he showed—Cornwall actually pulled away from Smith, which almost no one can do—was remarkable. The shot was perfectly placed. But the real beauty of that goal came at the other end of the floor.

* Speaking of outstanding defenders for the Rush, I saw Brett Mydske make two mistakes yesterday. I’m not sure I’ve even seen him make two mistakes in one game before. One came when he jumped out on Smith too quickly and overran his check, leaving Smith a lane to the net. The other came when he was trying to execute a switch and actually fell down. Neither resulted in a goal, but it’s still an anomaly for Mydske. He has been so reliable for Saskatchewan. It’s not just this year, although 2016 may have been his best season in the NLL. I had Mydske as the top player in the 2015 world championships because he was simply impeccable. If ever a player was underrated, it’s Brett Mydske. Just think what it says about his play that making two mistakes in a game against the top offence in the league stands out.

* I thought the officiating in Game 1 was excellent. I disagreed with a couple of calls in Game 2, but when you look at the game as a whole, the officials provided consistency. Mitch de Snoo was visibly upset on Zack Greer’s goal with four seconds left in the first half because he felt Matthews had ripped the stick out of his hands. He was probably right, but the call was consistent because Jarrett Davis was left to play a rebound with his feet earlier because Billy Dee Smith was still holding Davis’ stick in the slot as the Rush player ran towards the crease. Later in the game, there were a pair of holding the stick calls. How does that equal consistency? My guess is that the refs told both teams to knock it off and when they didn’t, the calls were made. There’s a lot more to reffing than just blowing your whistle, and communicating how you’re going to call the game then following through on it is a huge part. Kudos to the crew for a solid showing.

* There are some plays where it just doesn’t feel right for a team not to score. With a little over four minutes left in the first half, Ryan Benesch threw a pass from the left side to the right and somehow got the ball through to a teammate who was covered by two defenders. Even more amazingly, his teammate was able to get a pass back through the coverage to a cutting Benesch, who caught it with a defender draped all over him. Unfortunately for the Bandits, Bold anticipated the play perfectly and made the save actually look fairly routine, although it was anything but.

* One other Mydske point: not many guys can knock Dhane Smith flat on the floor like he did on the first possession of the second half. Even fewer would still be balanced, in position and alert enough to lay another big hit on the Bandit who picked up the resulting loose ball.

* Nick Weiss’ goal was a strange one, much like Kedoh Hill’s odd transition marker in Game 1. Great point made during the broadcast that 90% of coaches would have told Hill not to take that shot, with no one else even in the play yet, if they had a chance and saying that Troy Cordingley had said he’s in that 90%. Well, not many coaches would want Weiss taking the odd little hop shot on a one on one break with no support, either. But it’s hard to argue when he picks the top corner perfectly with the shot. It’s the old no-no-no-no-nice shot that I heard a few times from my high school basketball coach.

* The next goal was a power play marker by Benesch and it was a textbook example of a good shot selection. As Andy McNamara and Brian Shanahan noted, the subtlety of Benesch’s look to the top like he was going to throw the ball back to Smith then turning to release a shot and hit an open spot barely larger than the ball, well, it was spectacular.

* About McNamara and Shanahan. I’m a bit biased because I’ve worked with both and consider both friends. But I believe I’m able to impartially say that the game call was very good in both games. It’s a real pleasure to hear solid announcers with excellent chemistry and timing. Good work, fellas.

* The Ben McIntosh goal that followed Benesch’s marker was a momentum-turner. It looked like a Buffalo player had possessed the ball momentarily in the corner off a rebound, so the 30-second clock was reset and the Rush had plenty of time to work. The refs huddled, though, and agreed that there hadn’t been sufficient possession. That meant while the Rush still had the ball they only had four seconds to get a shot off. McIntosh looked like he was going to try to feed the ball down to Knight on the wing but instead just let a sidearm fly that somehow eluded Anthony Cosmo.

* Then Greer scored from even further out. Greer was barely inside the Buffalo zone and it was early in the shot clock, but something told him that was a good shot to take. Granted, there was a screen and Cosmo may never have seen the ball on its way to the net, but it was a strange shot selection. As with Weiss’ goal, though, it’s hard to argue when the ball goes in.

* There was nothing strange about Mark Steenhuis’ that followed, simply hard work and execution. David Brock, who may be almost as underrated as Mydske, showed a combination of diligence and stick skill to win a loose ball battle with Robert Church along the boards in the Buffalo end. Brock then got up the floor, left the ball for Steenhuis and laid a hard but legal pick on a Saskatchewan defender. The seal was excellent and Steenhuis shot over it to put Buffalo back in front.

Click here for the full story by Stephen Stamp on Inside Lacrosse via IL Indoor. Photo by Josh Schaefer.

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