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Breaking: League Adopts Unified Standings Format & Updated Playoff Structure for 2023-24 Season

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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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HeritageNLL UnitesStories/Op-Ed

Indigenous Players Cherish Opportunity to Play in Front of Indigenous Communities

This season, the National Lacrosse League is hosting preseason games at a variety of venues. Each year, the league takes the opportunity to showcase the sport in smaller arenas in cities where fans don’t always have regular access to an NLL team.

Some of these arenas have been used before: the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre in Oakville, for example, is where the Toronto Rock run their day-to-day business. It’s conveniently located in southern Ontario, where a large number of NLL players make their home. The TRAC is set to host seven preseason games.

Brampton’s Memorial Arena, just half an hour away from Oakville, will host three.

And this season, the NLL is bringing the game to two Indigenous communities: Onondaga, New York and Akwesasne, a Mohawk community that straddles the border of Canada and the United States along the St. Lawrence River.

It is fitting that the game returns to the communities where it was born. Lacrosse is an Indigenous game, traditionally played for the enjoyment of the Creator and as a medicine game to promote healing.

Onondaga Nation will host the Philadelphia Wings and Georgia Swarm on November 26th at Tsha’ Thoñ’nhes (Where They Play Ball) Arena. It is the home of Swarm players Lyle and Miles Thompson.

“NLL games being played on Native territory is amazing as a whole. It was a great thing to see how much energy it brought to the Akwesasne community (a community I grew up in). In Onondaga I expect the same… there are people that travel hours just to watch minor, Jr., Sr. competitions, so the love for the game in this community is unmatched. I’m excited to be a part of bringing the NLL to Onondaga and I’m in excited to come home” said Lyle Thompson.

Last weekend, Las Vegas, San Diego and Halifax played a mini tournament in Akwesasne at the A’nowara’ko:wa Arena (colloquially called the Turtle Dome) and got to meet with the local fans. Over three games, those fans were treated to some incredible lacrosse, including two sock tricks over two games from the Seals’ Austin Staats.

Staats hails from Six Nations, a Haudenosaunee community about an hour away from Oakville, as does Halifax goaltender Warren Hill. Six Nations is a lacrosse hotbed and is frequently the site of NLL practices and training camps.

Though there is a five-hour drive between Six Nations and Akwesasne, Hill called the more northern community a home away from home.

“I have friends and family up there,” he said. “It’s one of those communities that we’re close to, as is Onondaga. I’ve played in the A’nowara’ko:wa Arena before but it was a lot of fun to be back.”

Geographically, Akwesasne’s closest NLL team is Rochester, just a “quick” four-and-a-half-hour car ride away. Albany and Toronto are drivable as well, but it’s a long journey, so taking in an NLL game is a rare event.

“Where their community is, aside from back in the day when they had the Ottawa Rebels or the Montreal Express, they haven’t had any NLL action close by in a long time… It’s hard for people up there to see live professional games and it’s a big sacrifice to go, so for us to play up there and put on a show for them was really cool and I think they really appreciated it,” Hill expressed. “For a preseason game, the arena was packed and I’ve only seen that with Ontario championships and things like that.”

Staats was blown away by the crowds that appeared, calling it special, inspiring and unreal.

“It meant so much that the fans really showed up to the Turtle Dome to support,” he said. “I was inspired by all the kids that we were there to perform for, and show them the game and it’s something I’ll remember for sure.”

Over the weekend, the Seals emerged victorious, putting up 18 goals in each of their wins, beating Las Vegas 18-9 and Halifax 18-14. Halifax downed Las Vegas 15-12.

Hill said the Thunderbirds were able to meet many of the fans and take photos and sign autographs.

“We take pride in doing things like that. It’s a cliché but all of us were little kids like that and we couldn’t wait to meet stars like John Grant Jr. and John Tavares,” he said.

Staats had a special interaction with a young fan named Tayt, who gave him a beautifully beaded Seals logo medallion.

“After the game on Friday night Tayt asked his mom, Apryl, to help make a Seals medallion for me for the game on Saturday,” Staats recalled. “She started at like midnight and it took six hours or something to make. Before the game on Saturday I got to meet Tayt and he gave me the medallion. It was incredible; one of the coolest gifts I’ve ever received. It means so much to me, to kinda be a role model for these kids. I was glad I was able to go out there and score some goals on Saturday for him.”

Hill also recognizes the importance of children from Indigenous communities getting to watch him play and interact with him.

“It definitely goes a long way to see Indigenous people represented on this stage,” he said. “For Haudenosaunee communities, a lot of us grew up wanting to be in the NLL and be the best at lacrosse that we can be. In other communities the dream might be the NHL or NBA, but for us, we always wanted to play in the NLL. To see other Native players in the league, those are superstars, our role models. It’s nice to give back that way and be that guy now.

Staats wants to remind fans that lacrosse is so much more than just a game: “It’s the Creator’s game and it finds a way to heal people. We were able to bring the medicine game to Akwesasne and really show what the game can do. Playing the game, watching the game, even just being around the game is healing and brings positivity to the community. The game of lacrosse means so much.”

Not all preseason games are at neutral sites: three teams are hosting games in their home rinks. The Buffalo Bandits fell 14-10 to Rochester on November 6 at KeyBank Center. The Las Vegas Desert Dogs will hit the turf at Michelob ULTRA Arena for the first time on the 20th as they host the Colorado Mammoth. The Calgary Roughnecks will also host their rival Saskatchewan at Scotiabank Saddledome on the 26th.

Action also continues this weekend at the TRAC and Memorial Arena. See the full schedule here: https://www.nll.com/news/2022-23-exhibition-game-schedule/. The NLL regular season opens on December 2nd for Face Off Weekend.

NLL