Week 6 in the National Lacrosse League featured round two of an epic tussle, a reunion of three-time champs, a new face making a splash in his new city, an interprovincial showdown and a battle beneath the palm trees. All five games delivered in both storyline and drama, with some of the best individual performances of the season thrilling fans from one end of the continent to the other.
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Last weekend, the Saskatchewan Rush picked up an impressive win, traveling to Halifax and knocking off the Thunderbirds 10-9. Six days and 4,300 km (2,671 miles) due west to Saskatoon, the two clubs locked horns at SaskTel Centre with the defending runners-up from the prairies once again walking away victorious, this time with a more comfortable 11-7 margin. Leading 6-5 at half, the hometown crew outscored the visitors 5-2 in the final 30 minutes. Owning a 4-1 record, Saskatchewan lays claim to both a loaded roster and a body of work that more than backs up the team’s weighty expectations.
Memorable Evening for the Keenan Family
On the same night that Rush bench boss Derek Keenan became the first man ever to coach 300 games in the NLL, son Ryan Keenan posted one of the best games of his career, scoring four goals and assisting on two more. Zach Manns added a hat trick and one assist, with Robert Church supplying one score and three helpers. Between the pipes, Frank Scigliano continued his torrid play, barricading 30 of 37 shots.
Thunderbirds in Need of a Little More Offense
Halifax only mustered seven goals in the revenge game, with Clarke Petterson and Dawson Theede dispensing five of the seven, alongside a combined four assists. Randy Staats and Brendan Bomberry totaled six assists, but were held without a goal.
Records: HFX 2-2, SSK 4-1
Next Up for Halifax in Week 7: Friday, at Ottawa Black Bears / Saturday, at Oshawa FireWolves
Next Up for Saskatchewan in Week 7: Friday, at Las Vegas Desert Dogs
Buffalo Bandits against the Las Vegas Desert Dogs on Jan. 3, 2026 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY. (Caroline Sherman/NLL)
A sold-out crowd jammed Buffalo’s KeyBank Center for the return of longtime Bandits stalwarts Chris Cloutier and Chase Fraser, after the three-time championship duo signed with Las Vegas during the offseason. For a while, it appeared as if the reigning title holders would run away with it, holding a 7-3 halftime lead and a 14-7 edge early in the fourth. Just when it looked like a laugher, the Desert Dogs rattled off five consecutive markers, including three from Cloutier, with the other two courtesy of fellow free agent heist Mitch Jones. With the scenario suddenly turning way more interesting, the kings of the mountain held their ground, securing a 15-13 triumph.
Bandits Icons Continue to Shine
Josh Byrne was spectacular in victory, tallying three goals and six assists. Running buddy Dhane Smith fell in right behind him with two scores and six helpers. Ian MacKay notched a natural hat trick and four assists, while Kyle Buchanan checked in with four goals and one assist.
Cloutier and Fraser Return with a Vengeance
Cloutier was absurd in his return to the shores of Lake Erie, adding a quartet of goals to his already sterling resume. Fraser was responsible for one goal – a shot so hard it blasted through the net – and three assists. Jones’ otherworldly night involved five goals and three assists.
Tucker’s Legacy Lives On
Buffalo Bandits against the Las Vegas Desert Dogs on Jan. 3, 2026 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY. (Caroline Sherman/NLL)
The Bandits hosted this season’s first edition of the Tucker Out Lymphoma Cup, in recognition of Desert Dogs’ head coach/GM Shawn Williams’ son Tucker, who tragically passed away from the disease in 2014. The Williams family participated in pregame ceremonies, with a slew of charitable endeavors transpiring throughout the course of the night. Subsequent games in the series will play out in Las Vegas and Oshawa.
Records: LV 2-2, BUF 3-1
Next Up for Las Vegas in Week 7: Friday, host Saskatchewan Rush
Next Up for Buffalo in Week 7: Saturday, at Rochester Knighthawks
The Mammoth and Desert Dogs pulled off a whopper of a trade, with young star Jack Hannah arriving in Denver for three high draft picks. The addition of the 26-year-old University of Denver alum paid huge dividends in his first game, as the Mammoth raced to an 18-13 win over the high-powered Rochester Knighthawks on the strength of his two goals and six assists. Over 9,400 fans packed Ball Arena to watch the Mammoth wrap up the contest with a seven-goal run in the second quarter. The Mammoth didn’t allow the Knighthawks within two goals at any point in the second half.
A Full Team Effort for the Mammoth
Will Malcom starred with four scores and five helpers. Ryan Lee amassed seven total points, with Thomas Vela and Jalen Chaster each scoring twice. Rookie Braedon Saris also scored the first two goals of his young career.
Knighthawks’ Offense Was Far from the Issue
Enduring MVP Connor Fields achieved two goals and six assists, while Ryan Lanchbury was outstanding in a four-score, three-helper outing. Thomas McConvey added three and three, as Ryan Smith deposited two and three in a determined exertion by the road team.
Records: ROC 2-1, COL 2-2
Next Up for Rochester in Week 7: Friday, at Philadelphia Wings/Saturday, host Buffalo Bandits
Next Up for Colorado in Week 7: Saturday, at Georgia Swarm
Goals were fast and furious in downtown Oshawa, where the FireWolves and visiting Ottawa Black Bears went toe-to-toe in a barnburner. With the FireWolves leading 12-10 early in the fourth, the capital city kids found the back of the net on five successive goals, en route to a solid 16-14 victory. Offense was the name of the game in this one, as each side pelted more than 50 shots on goal.
Jeff Teat is a Giving Man
The Ottawa icon has been an assist machine this season, bestowing seven versus the FireWolves. The man can also score with the best of them, as he etched a hat trick in the process. Rob Hellyer’s dynamite year rolls on, with the veteran accumulating five points. Larson Sundown supplied four goals, with Connor Kearnan and Reilly O’Connor coalescing on four goals and six assists.
The FireWolves Core Four Brought the Goods
Alex Simmons led the charge for FireWolves, launching his first career sock trick amid setting up his teammates on five goals. Dyson Williams scored four times, with Ethan Walker and Tye Kurtz joining forces on three goals and an impressive 11 assists. It was the FireWolves’ fourth consecutive loss.
Records: OTT 3-2, OSH 1-4
Next Up for Ottawa in Week 7: Friday, host Halifax Thunderbirds
Next Up for Oshawa in Week 7: Saturday, host Halifax Thunderbirds
San Diego, CA – January 3, 2026: San Diego Seals vs Calgary Roughnecks at Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California (Photo by Alexis Goeller / National Lacrosse League)
With cloudy skies and heavy rains taking the place of the normal Southern California sunshine, the Calgary Roughnecks left the sands of the Pacific Ocean 15-11 winners over the San Diego Seals. 10,000 fans packed Pechanga Arena in a battle that took the shape of a roller coaster ride at nearby Sea World. The Roughnecks jumped on the Seals early to the benefit of a 9-5 third frame score. San Diego evened the festivities 9-9, but soon after, the Albertans took matters back into their own hands, pilfering six of the night’s final eight goals for their first win of the season.
Hat Tricks Aplenty for Calgary
Tanner Cook and Brayden Mayea were both on the depository end of three-goal, six-assists nights, while Haiden Dickson pledged his own hat trick and one assist. Tyler Pace and Noah Manning imparted a combined four goals and eight assists to the cause.
More Hat Tricks!
Wes Berg and Tre Leclaire etched three-goal performances onto the scoresheet, as the duo also helped their pals to three additional goals. Five San Diego players found paydirt on lone occasions, including Corey Small and Pat Kavanagh, who also contributed six assists.
Records: CGY 1-3, SD 1-2
Next Up for Calgary in Week 7: Friday, host Vancouver Warriors
Next Up for San Diego in Week 7: Friday, host Toronto Rock
