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BUF at SD - Sat. 10pm ET on ESPNews Schedule

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WK
1
Fri, Dec 2
FINAL
Philadelphia
8
Halifax
18
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
Vancouver
8
Toronto
19
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
San Diego
15
New York
14
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
Albany
11
Buffalo
10
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
Rochester
16
Georgia
11
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
Colorado
6
Saskatchewan
18
WK
2
Fri, Dec 9
FINAL
Las Vegas
11
Panther City
13
Fri, Dec 9
FINAL/OT
Saskatchewan
12
San Diego
13
Sat, Dec 10
FINAL
Toronto
7
Rochester
11
Sat, Dec 10
FINAL
Vancouver
9
Calgary
11
WK
3
Fri, Dec 16
FINAL
Calgary
14
Vancouver
5
Fri, Dec 16
FINAL
Panther City
9
Las Vegas
3
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Buffalo
11
Toronto
8
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Rochester
14
Albany
13
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Philadelphia
13
Georgia
12
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Halifax
20
New York
11
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Colorado
12
Panther City
9
WK
5
Fri, Dec 30
FINAL
Halifax
13
Buffalo
18
Fri, Dec 30
FINAL
San Diego
17
Calgary
14
Sat, Dec 31
FINAL
Panther City
9
Saskatchewan
11
WK
6
Fri, Jan 6
FINAL
Philadelphia
14
Las Vegas
9
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Panther City
9
Rochester
17
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Halifax
14
Albany
11
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Buffalo
18
Georgia
9
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Toronto
15
New York
7
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Calgary
8
Colorado
9
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Vancouver
11
San Diego
16
WK
7
Fri, Jan 13
FINAL/OT
Albany
11
Halifax
10
Fri, Jan 13
FINAL/OT
Saskatchewan
10
Colorado
11
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
Halifax
8
Toronto
17
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
Panther City
12
Philadelphia
10
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
Georgia
9
Buffalo
11
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
San Diego
10
Calgary
14
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
Las Vegas
16
Vancouver
19
Sun, Jan 15
FINAL
Rochester
11
New York
8
WK
8
Fri, Jan 20
FINAL
Buffalo
12
Rochester
15
Fri, Jan 20
FINAL
Vancouver
14
Las Vegas
15
Sat, Jan 21
FINAL
Toronto
14
Philadelphia
5
Sat, Jan 21
FINAL
New York
16
Albany
10
WK
9
Fri, Jan 27
FINAL
Rochester
7
Halifax
17
Fri, Jan 27
FINAL
Buffalo
13
Philadelphia
9
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL
Buffalo
16
New York
10
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL
Las Vegas
10
Saskatchewan
15
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL/OT
Toronto
11
Calgary
10
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL
San Diego
13
Colorado
9
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL
Panther City
20
Vancouver
7
WK
10
Fri, Feb 3
FINAL
Georgia
10
Colorado
13
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL/OT
Calgary
12
Halifax
11
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
New York
14
Toronto
22
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Albany
5
Philadelphia
13
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Rochester
10
Buffalo
13
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Panther City
10
San Diego
12
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Saskatchewan
14
Vancouver
8
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Colorado
8
Las Vegas
13
WK
11
Fri, Feb 10
FINAL
Toronto
11
Georgia
10
Fri, Feb 10
FINAL
Saskatchewan
6
Calgary
13
Sat, Feb 11
FINAL
Halifax
14
Rochester
16
Sat, Feb 11
FINAL
Albany
12
New York
14
Sat, Feb 11
FINAL
Vancouver
13
Panther City
14
Sat, Feb 11
FINAL
Colorado
9
Calgary
13
WK
12
Fri, Feb 17
FINAL
Calgary
14
Vancouver
9
Fri, Feb 17
FINAL
Saskatchewan
16
San Diego
11
Sat, Feb 18
FINAL
Georgia
7
Toronto
16
Sat, Feb 18
FINAL
Las Vegas
12
Albany
10
Sat, Feb 18
FINAL/OT
Philadelphia
12
Buffalo
13
Sat, Feb 18
FINAL
Colorado
7
Panther City
13
Sun, Feb 19
FINAL
New York
12
Halifax
13
WK
13
Fri, Feb 24
FINAL
Panther City
12
Colorado
14
Fri, Feb 24
FINAL
Calgary
9
Las Vegas
11
Sat, Feb 25
FINAL/OT
New York
10
Rochester
11
Sat, Feb 25
FINAL
Albany
4
Georgia
20
Sat, Feb 25
FINAL
Vancouver
16
Saskatchewan
12
WK
14
Fri, Mar 3
FINAL
Buffalo
10
Halifax
9
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL
New York
12
Philadelphia
19
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL
Las Vegas
12
San Diego
15
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL
Rochester
8
Toronto
9
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL/OT
Georgia
9
Albany
8
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL
Saskatchewan
10
Panther City
16
Mon, Mar 6
FINAL
Toronto
10
Philadelphia
11
WK
15
Fri, Mar 10
FINAL/OT
Halifax
9
Buffalo
10
Fri, Mar 10
FINAL
Calgary
16
Colorado
10
Sat, Mar 11
FINAL
Albany
6
Toronto
12
Sat, Mar 11
FINAL
Philadelphia
10
New York
13
Sat, Mar 11
FINAL
San Diego
12
Saskatchewan
11
Sat, Mar 11
FINAL
Vancouver
14
Las Vegas
5
Sun, Mar 12
FINAL
Rochester
19
Georgia
18
WK
16
Fri, Mar 17
FINAL
Saskatchewan
6
Calgary
11
Fri, Mar 17
FINAL
San Diego
16
Vancouver
9
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Georgia
13
Philadelphia
12
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Toronto
12
Halifax
14
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Albany
10
New York
13
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Colorado
13
Buffalo
8
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Las Vegas
8
Panther City
11
Sun, Mar 19
FINAL/OT
Philadelphia
9
Rochester
8
WK
17
Fri, Mar 24
20:30:00
San Diego
Panther City
Sat, Mar 25
19:00:00
Toronto
Albany
Sat, Mar 25
19:00:00
Halifax
Philadelphia
Sat, Mar 25
19:30:00
Georgia
New York
Sat, Mar 25
21:30:00
Calgary
Saskatchewan
Sat, Mar 25
22:00:00
Buffalo
San Diego
Sat, Mar 25
22:00:00
Colorado
Vancouver
Sat, Mar 25
22:30:00
Rochester
Las Vegas
WK
18
Fri, Mar 31
19:00:00
New York
Georgia
Fri, Mar 31
21:00:00
Las Vegas
Colorado
Fri, Mar 31
22:00:00
Calgary
San Diego
Sat, Apr 1
19:00:00
Buffalo
Toronto
Sat, Apr 1
20:00:00
Albany
Panther City
Sat, Apr 1
21:30:00
Vancouver
Saskatchewan
Sun, Apr 2
13:00:00
Georgia
Halifax
Sun, Apr 2
18:00:00
Rochester
Philadelphia
WK
19
Sat, Apr 8
19:00:00
Albany
Rochester
Sat, Apr 8
19:00:00
Saskatchewan
Georgia
Sat, Apr 8
21:00:00
Panther City
Calgary
Sat, Apr 8
21:00:00
Vancouver
Colorado
Sat, Apr 8
22:30:00
San Diego
Las Vegas
WK
20
Fri, Apr 14
21:00:00
Las Vegas
Calgary
Fri, Apr 14
21:00:00
San Diego
Colorado
Sat, Apr 15
19:00:00
Philadelphia
Toronto
Sat, Apr 15
19:00:00
Georgia
Albany
Sat, Apr 15
19:30:00
New York
Buffalo
Sat, Apr 15
21:30:00
Halifax
Saskatchewan
Sat, Apr 15
22:00:00
Panther City
Vancouver
WK
21
Fri, Apr 21
20:30:00
Calgary
Panther City
Sat, Apr 22
18:00:00
New York
Halifax
Sat, Apr 22
19:00:00
Georgia
Rochester
Sat, Apr 22
20:00:00
Toronto
Buffalo
Sat, Apr 22
21:30:00
Colorado
Saskatchewan
Sat, Apr 22
22:00:00
Las Vegas
San Diego
Sun, Apr 23
15:00:00
Philadelphia
Albany
WK
22
Sat, Apr 29
19:00:00
Philadelphia
Rochester
Sat, Apr 29
19:00:00
Buffalo
Albany
Sat, Apr 29
19:00:00
Halifax
Georgia
Sat, Apr 29
22:00:00
Colorado
San Diego
Sat, Apr 29
22:00:00
New York
Vancouver
Sat, Apr 29
22:30:00
Saskatchewan
Las Vegas
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Stories/Op-Ed

Navigating Box Lacrosse: The Lay of the Land

NLL, ALL, IBLA, NCBS, OLA, WLA, MSL… the list could go on and on from the pinnacle of the sport with the National Lacrosse League to numerous other professional, semi-professional, and club leagues that offer a challenge to both seasoned box lacrosse players and players looking to learn. 

Lacrosse is the fastest-growing team sport in the United States. Lacrosse takes the power of football, the speed, and toughness of hockey and blends it with the finesse and movement of basketball. This combination of attributes makes box lacrosse one of the most dynamic and fun sports to participate in and spectate.  

Since the inception of my lacrosse career in 2014, I was fortunate enough to win the 2014 Senior B President’s Cup with the Onondaga Redhawks, play 4 years in the National Lacrosse League, win the Arena Lacrosse League (ALL) 2019 Championship with the St. Catharine Shockwave, and a 2020 National Championship with the Philadelphia Phunk in the Interstate Box Lacrosse Association (IBLA). Each and every league offering intense competition, camaraderie, and everything you’d expect box lacrosse to offer. The main differentiating factor from league to league being the IQ and speed of the game. 

A majority of the top National Lacrosse League players like Shawn Evans, Mitch Jones, Kyle Buchanan, and Nick Rose can be found north of the border competing for the Senior A Mann Cup during the NLL off-season. One of the oldest box lacrosse championships in the history of lacrosse, the hunt for the Mann Cup has been taking place since 1910. Teams in the Senior A Major Series Lacrosse (MSL) and Western Lacrosse Association (WLA) are usually jam-packed with NLL talent. Games are fast and the lacrosse IQ is extremely high. Several of the National Lacrosse Leagues’ very own coaches and general managers take on roles with summer box clubs, sometimes coaching and competing against the same players throughout the year. The top teams in both the WLA and the MSL look like NLL all-star teams, with the top players from each NLL division finding a summer home in Peterborough or Six Nations on the east coast, and Victoria, Langley, or New Westminster on the west coast. 

Mann Cup action

Not as fast as the NLL or Senior A Box Lacrosse, the Arena Lacrosse League (ALL) finds itself as a development league for the NLL, mirroring the NLL season through the winter months and partnering with the league in 2018. The ALL has become a go-to league for General Managers and Coaches looking to fill injured shoes, create some movement on their rosters or give players on the cusp of the NLL roster playing experience. Each team has a spectrum of players from savvy NLL veterans like Chad Culp to players in their prime who any given weekend can be playing on the NLL stage like Brooker Muir and Chase Martin. Each team also has those young developing box players, who will make the move to the NLL once they are out of college or of age. A few of these athletes like Luke Pilcher, an RIT attackman, will certainly have NLL defenders with their hands full in due time. More often than not, the Arena Lacrosse League is primarily home to the developing players with their eyes set on making an NLL roster in a few years. The level of competition in the Arena Lacrosse League is high, with a solid mix of NLL veterans and young developing athletes. The ALL is becoming a go-to resource for general managers and coaches of the NLL for new talent. 

Arena Lacrosse League

As the NLL continues to expand the opportunity for other leagues to grow happens simultaneously. The demand and rapid growth of box lacrosse have helped to form organizations like USBOXLA. USBOXLA has created an excellent foundation to help support the growth of box lacrosse from player development, game development, referee development, and coach development. From the peewee level through the National Collegiate Box Series (NCBS) and the international team, USBOXLA is ensuring the proper growth of the game through education and experience for their players, coaches, and referees. USBOXLA action continues throughout the year with several large tournaments coming through the spring with the NCBS. Players like Trevor Baptiste, a phenomenal field face-off man, first gained box lacrosse experience in the CCBLL. Trevor is now a valuable asset to the Philadelphia Wings. Other players like Troy Loper, Jake Govett, and Jack Hannah gained valuable experience playing in the collegiate series. With the expansion of box lacrosse the CCBLL is providing a solution for the demand, recently expanding to Upstate New York, Colorado, Ohio, Connecticut, and hopefully San Diego.

National Collegiate Box Series

Since 2014, the Onondaga Redhawks of the Can-Am have been my summer box team. The Can-Am lacrosse league operates as a member of the Canadian Lacrosse Association or CLA. The Can-Am league consists of eight different teams spanning throughout the state of New York. Seven of the teams are Indigenously owned and operated, with the exception of the Rochester River Monsters. The Can-Am Lacrosse League has been home to some of the world’s top professional lacrosse players from the likes of Brett Bucktooth, Zed Williams, and Lyle Thompson. You can find world-class athletes competing throughout the summers in Upstate New York. The Senior B Can-Am League has been some of the most physical lacrosse I’ve played, and the lacrosse IQ is usually very high each game. The President’s Cup is the tournament that crowns the best Senior B lacrosse team in North America; in order to win gold, you typically have to play nine full box lacrosse games in seven days. The President’s Cup was the most difficult tournament to play, let alone win, that I’ve ever participated in.  

Here is my POV of the President’s Cup

South of the border, the Interstate Box Lacrosse Association (IBLA) is spreading like wildfire. From California to Maine and Oregon to Florida, box lacrosse is being played every weekend from April to September, crowning a National Champion in late September. The Philadelphia Phunk won the 2020 National Championship in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania playing some very good teams from Maine, Minnesota, and Grand Rapids. The IBLA is a fast-growing league with teams sprouting up wherever you can imagine. This certainly makes for an exciting box lacrosse landscape and shows the popularity of box lacrosse throughout the states. With the rapid growth, there is a broad spectrum of athletes on each team. More established teams have NLL veterans, box lacrosse veterans, and college lacrosse players while other teams may be entirely new to the sport. The vast mix of players’ skill and experience is what makes the IBLA extremely unique. In one game you can have a matchup against NLL veteran Corbyn Tao and be shooting on New York Riptide Goaltender Gowah Abrams, and in another game, you’re defending someone trying to ‘dodge down the alley’ in their first-ever box lacrosse experience.

Here is the IBLA National Championship from my POV

Although lacrosse has been one of the earliest games played in North America, just recently box lacrosse participation has been growing faster than the leagues can support it. With the NLL leading the charge, expanding to Fort-Worth in 2020, the IBLA has expanded to numerous cities in 2021, where players look to compete for the championship in Tampa Bay, Florida. While other well-established leagues like the MSL, WLA, and ALL look to get a grasp on what the future of Box Lacrosse looks like in their respective leagues, one thing is for certain – there is no lack of talent or desire to play. The NLL works with most of these leagues to try and establish consistent rules to play by, making the transition for players from one league to another seamless. The consistency, education, and experience offered by these leagues that follow the NLL’s standards contribute to the growth and development of referees and coaches, as well. NLL referee Justin Kitashima gained valuable experience and was developed in the CCBLL.  

With the NLL setting the standard for box lacrosse and working collectively with various leagues, the growth of box lacrosse will benefit as a whole. Athletes of all ages can now access the various aforementioned leagues and gain experience playing the fastest sport on two feet.  

Learn more about each league or if there is a team in your area to play:

Can-AM

CLA

IBLA

MSL

USBOXLA

WLA

NLL