Philadelphia, PA –November 7, 2016 – The National Lacrosse League (NLL) has announced the 2016-17 NLL pre-season game schedule consisting of 12 games, including five games open to the public. Two of the exhibition games will be hosted at NLL home arenas, while the other three will be contested at nearby locations.
Leading into the kick-off of the 31st year of professional indoor lacrosse, the pre-season games will begin on December 3, as the Buffalo Bandits play the Rochester Knighthawks at 1PM EST and then face off with the New England Blackwolves later in the day at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena in Six Nations, ON. On the same day, December 3, the Toronto Rock will host the Georgia Swarm at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre in Oakville, ON. The Langley Event Center in British Columbia will also host a double header with the Calgary Roughnecks versus the Vancouver Stealth and the Colorado Mammoth playing 2016 NLL Champions, Saskatchewan Rush.
The 12-game pre-season will span three weekends in December, leading up the NLL’s #FaceOffWknd.
“With the 2016-17 National Lacrosse League season quickly approaching, we are excited to announce the schedule of exhibition games and see our players back in action.” said NLL Commissioner Nick Sakiewicz. “We are looking forward to joining our fans at the games, which are open to the public. Preseason is always filled with the hope of a new year and we are looking forward to reconnecting with the athletes and the fans.”
Two of the pre-season games will take place at premier NLL facilities. The Rochester Knighthawks will host the Georgia Swarm at 8PM EST on Saturday, December 10 at The Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial. Tickets for the game will be free for Rochester Knighthawks season ticket holders, with general admission tickets available at ticketmaster.com. Additionally, you can receive two tickets to the game by donating a new, unwrapped toy to benefit the Pirate Toy Fund, to the game or at the Knighthawks office at 144 Exchange Blvd., Suite 102 until 5:00 P.M. EST on Friday, December 9, 2016. Listen to the game live on 107.3 The Bull or stream it live at NLL.com.
The Saskatchewan Rush will host the Calgary Roughnecks on Friday, December 16 with a 7:30PM CST at the Sasktel Centre in Saskatoon, SK. Tickets will be available to season ticket holders November 1 through November 14, to be purchased through the Rush Zone. Public on-sale will be on November 15. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or at the Sasktel Centre Box Office.
For more information on the games open to the public, visit NLL.com.
2017 NLL Exhibition game schedule:
|
DATE
|
TIME (LOCAL)
|
AWAY
|
HOME
|
LOCATION
|
|
Sat Dec 3
|
1PM
|
Buffalo
|
Rochester
|
ILA, Six Nations, ON
|
|
Sat Dec 3*
|
7PM
|
Georgia
|
Toronto
|
TRAC, Oakville, ON
|
|
Sat Dec 3
|
7PM
|
New England
|
Buffalo
|
ILA, Six Nations, ON
|
|
Sat Dec 3
|
7PM
|
Calgary
|
Vancouver
|
LEC Field House, BC
|
|
Sat Dec 3
|
9PM
|
Saskatchewan
|
Colorado
|
LEC Field House, BC
|
|
Sun Dec 4
|
9AM
|
Saskatchewan
|
Vancouver
|
LEC Field House, BC
|
|
Sun Dec 4
|
12PM
|
New England
|
Rochester
|
ILA, Six Nations, ON
|
|
Sun Dec 4
|
12PM
|
Calgary
|
Colorado
|
LEC Field House, BC
|
|
Sat Dec 10*
|
7PM
|
Colorado
|
Toronto
|
TRAC, Oakville, ON
|
|
Sat Dec 10*
|
8PM
|
Georgia
|
Rochester
|
BCA, Rochester, NY
|
|
Fri Dec 16*
|
7:30PM
|
Calgary
|
Saskatchewan
|
Sasktel Center, Saskatoon, SK
|
|
Sat Dec 17*
|
6PM
|
Buffalo
|
Toronto
|
TRAC, Oakville, ON
|
*Indicates open to the public.
**Each home club can determine if games will be open or closed to the public.
Follow @NLL on social media or NLL.com for game coverage.
About the National Lacrosse League
The National Lacrosse League (NLL) is North America’s premier professional indoor lacrosse league. Founded in 1986, the NLL ranks third in average attendance for pro indoor sports worldwide behind only the NHL and NBA. The league is comprised of nine franchises across the U.S. and Canada: Buffalo Bandits, Calgary Roughnecks, Colorado Mammoth, Georgia Swarm, New England Black Wolves, Rochester Knighthawks, Saskatchewan Rush, Toronto Rock and Vancouver Stealth. The 2017 NLL regular season, commemorating the league’s 31st year, opens on Thursday, December 29. For more information, visit NLL.com and find the NLL on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
About the Pirate Toy Fund
The Pirate Toy Fund supplies toys year-round to over 70 agencies that provide aid and comfort to thousands of children in the Greater Rochester region. Headquartered in downtown Rochester, NY and founded in 1995 by local children’s entertainer, Gary the Happy Pirate, the Pirate Toy Fund is the only non-profit organization of its kind in the United States. To date, we have distributed nearly 250,000 toys, and continue to actively pursue new avenues to expand our mission. Gary was inspired to found this endeavor by a special friend, Christie Simonetti.
