Week 9 in the NLL was more streamlined than usual, with only four games. While the offerings may have been lighter, the spectacle remained in full force with the Warriors and Mammoth seeing their title chances grow. At the same time, gatherings in Philadelphia and Hamilton featured the home clubs relinquishing leads in incredibly heartbreaking fashion.
Vancouver Warriors at Ottawa Black Bears 01.23.26 (Photo: Greg Mason)
In Friday’s marquee matchup, the Vancouver Warriors made their way to the Canadian capital city for a battle with Jeff Teat and the Ottawa Black Bears. While the schedule listed Ottawa as the home team, it was the road club from British Columbia who made themselves very comfortable at the Canadian Tire Centre, cruising to a 12-8 victory. The Warriors jumped out to a 3-0 lead, eventually taking a 10-6 advantage into halftime. During the first 30 minutes of play, the teams combined for 16 goals. Come the second half, only four collective scores found the back of the net, with Vancouver never allowing the contest to get closer than three goals. Amazingly, it was Ottawa who attempted 10 more shots on goal, while obtaining 19 more loose balls. Despite the Black Bears winning many of the intangible categories, it was Vancouver who easily owned the game’s most important statistic; of course, the final score.
The Warriors Held a Goal Scoring Party
Keegan Bal led the way for Vancouver by posting a hat trick and two assists. Curtis Dickson, Adam Charalambides, and Shane Simpson each found the twine on two occasions, as did Jesse King, who reached the career plateau of 200 goals. King’s evening also featured four assists, putting him one assist away from 400 and one point away from 600.
Jeff Teat Always Comes to Play
The NLL’s leading points man kept the production going, tallying three goals and three assists. Connor Kearnan, in his 100th career game, notched two scores and two helpers, with no other Black Bear scoring more than once.
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CDB Makes History
Warriors’ goalie Christian Del Bianco had a memorable night between the pipes. In addition to disrupting 42 of 50 shots, the all-world netminder became the fourth keeper in NLL history to achieve the 100-point milestone, courtesy of a second quarter assist on a familiar play – a long pass to Shane Simpson.
Records: VAN 4-2, OTT 4-4
Next Up for Vancouver in Week 10: Saturday, at Rochester Knighthawks
Next Up for Ottawa in Week 10: Saturday, at Toronto Rock
January 23, 2026: The San Diego Seals vs Philadelphia Wings at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo: Heather Barry)
The San Diego Seals traveled to America’s birthplace for the first of a home-and-home fracas with the Philadelphia Wings. In the early going, it looked to be a rough one for the Seals, with the host Wings racing to a 4-1 halftime lead. With Philly possessing a 5-1 third-stanza lead, the Seals abruptly flipped the switch, connecting on eight of the game’s final 10 scores. Tre Leclaire put the warm weather guys ahead with 8:33 remaining in the fourth, enroute to an impressive 9-7 triumph. The Seals have now won two in a row, while the Wings have lost five straight, after opening the season with a “W” versus the Colorado Mammoth.
Ben McIntosh Starred in Old Stomping Grounds
The former Wing marked his return to Xfinity Mobile Arena with a hatty, alongside two assists. All five of the 2015 first overall pick’s points came amid the Seals’ second-half comeback. Connor Robinson contributed two goals and one assist, with Wes Berg, Dylan Watson, Zach Currier, and Tre Leclaire each lighting the lamp once.
Wings Need More Offensive Production
Joe Resetarits, Brennan O’Neill, and Michael Sowers scored two goals per man. But other than a solitary Eric Fannell effort, that was it in the goal-scoring department for a struggling Wings squad.
Both Goalies Shined Bright
Chris Origlieri barricaded 34 of 41 blasts, while Philly net man Nick Damude played nearly as well, knocking down 44 of 53 projectiles, in a competition that only contained 16 collective goals.
Records: SD 3-3, PHI 1-5
Next Up for San Diego in Week 10: Friday, host Philadelphia Wings
Next Up for Philadelphia in Week 10: Friday, at San Diego Seals
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Saturday night’s early scuffle set sail in downtown Hamilton, where the Rock welcomed the Georgia Swarm to the newly renovated TD Coliseum. Toronto came out of the box red hot, sprinting to an early 4-1 lead, which would later culminate in a 6-4 separation at half. Down 8-5, the suburban Atlanta fellas mounted a momentous second-half rally, rattling off four straight scores, with Lyle Thompson tying the game and Shayne Jackson later giving Georgia a shocking 9-8 lead. Undeterred, the Rock kept up the fight, evening the game 9-9, thanks to a Challen Rogers goal with a smidge under four minutes remaining. The tussle would soon traverse its way to bonus lacrosse (OT), with the aforementioned Thompson claiming the 10-9 win for the Swarm, a mere 30 seconds in.
Swarm’s Old Guard Stood Tall
Thompson and Jackson steered the ship for Georgia, combining for four goals and three assists. Jacob Hickey added two scores and one helper, with Bryan Cole picking up four assists and rookie Kean Moon three.
Rock Rookies Are the Real Deal
CJ Kirst and Owen Hiltz each supplied hat tricks in a disappointing defeat. Rogers, Josh Dawick, and Chris Boushy found the scoring column once, as Mark Matthews dished out three assists to his buddies in blue. The 35-year-old is now a member of the 700-assist club.
A Goaltender’s Duel
Brett Dobson’s best season as a pro continued, with the Swarm keeper blocking 48 of 57 shots. Troy Holowchuk (starting in place of the injured Nick Rose) slapped down 39 of 49 endeavors.
Records: GA 4-3, TOR 3-3
Next Up for Georgia in Week 10: Saturday, at Halifax Thunderbirds
Next Up for Toronto in Week 10: Saturday, host Ottawa Black Bears
Denver, Colorado – January 24, 2025: Oshawa FireWolves at Colorado Mammoth at the Ball Arena in Denver Colorado, United States. (Photo by John Matthew Harrison/National Lacrosse League)
Eighteen hours prior to kickoff of the AFC Championship Game between the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots at Empower Field at Mile High, 0.7 miles due west of Ball Arena, the surging Colorado Mammoth moved to 4-0 since the arrival of Jack Hannah, taking down the Oshawa FireWolves 15-11. Newly acquired Dawson Theede initiated the scoring for Oshawa, besting Dillon Ward a quick 41 seconds into the affair. With the FireWolves leading 3-1, the Mammoth connected on five successive scores, flipping the count to 6-3 early in the second. During this avalanche of production, Colorado’s Andrew Kew brought the crowd of nearly 9,000 to its collective feet three times. Up 8-7 at half, the Mammoth obtained the first three goals of the third stanza, advancing the score to 11-7, with the game never growing closer than two goals.
Kew and Hannah Brought the Mile-High Muscle
Kew had a bonkers night, scoring four and assisting on six more. Hannah also added six helpers to go along with one goal. Saturday marked Hannah’s second six-assist output this season. Owen Rahn garnered the first hat trick of his career, with Will Malcom and Thomas Vela merging on four goals and six assists.
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Simmons and Kurtz Were Spectacular
Alex Simmons and Tye Kurtz’s Denver nightfall both featured four goals, with six and two assists, respectively. Dyson Williams contributed four assists.
Dillon Ward Had an Interesting Night
In addition to hindering 49 of 60 shots, the veteran Colorado keeper was the guilty party in two of the game’s four penalties, with Ward’s infractions resulting in delay of game and unsportsmanlike conduct sentences.
Records: OSH 2-6, COL 5-2
Next Up for Oshawa in Week 10: Saturday, at Las Vegas Desert Dogs
Next Up for Colorado in Week 10: Saturday, host Buffalo Bandits
