All teams in action with four matchups on Saturday & two more on Sunday
After weeks of facing off against teammates in training camp, National Lacrosse League players will finally get the chance to take on live opponents with every NLL team in action this weekend. With less than one month until NLL Face Off Weekend 2015 presented by New Era on January 2-3, the preseason gets into gear with six exhibition games including four matchups on Saturday and two more on Sunday.
Saturday, Dec. 6
New England Black Wolves (9) at Buffalo Bandits (10)– First Niagara Center- 7pm ET
Calgary Roughnecks (14) at Toronto Rock (5)- Toronto Rock Athletic Centre- 7pm ET
Minnesota Swarm (14) at Rochester Knighthawks (8)- Blue Cross Arena- 8pm ET
Edmonton Rush (13) at Vancouver Stealth (6)- Langley Events Centre Fieldhouse- 8pm ET
Sunday, Dec. 7
Calgary Roughnecks (12) vs. Minnesota Swarm (19)– Toronto Rock Athletic Centre- 12pm ET
Colorado Mammoth (14) at Vancouver Stealth (11)- Langley Events Centre Fieldhouse- 12pm ET
The Buffalo Bandits will hold their annual Open Practice at First Niagara Center on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. The event is open to the public as a free, non-ticketed event with general admission seating and free parking (more info). Later that evening, the Bandits will face off with the New England Black Wolves for a closed scrimmage at 7 p.m. open to the media only.
The Toronto Rock will host the Calgary Roughnecks on Saturday also at 7 p.m. at Toronto Rock Athletic Centre (TRAC). There is no charge for admission, however fans are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item for the Kerr Street Ministries food bank in Oakville. Doors will open at 6 p.m. and seating for the game is limited (more info).
The three-time defending NLL champion Rochester Knighthawks take on the visiting Minnesota Swarm, who are opening training camp for the first time this weekend, for their annual exhibition at Blue Cross Arena at 8 p.m. Tickets are free while supplies last and must be picked up from the BCA box office on Saturday. For more information, call the Knighthawks ticket offices at (585) 454-4295.
Meanwhile, the Edmonton Rush visit the Vancouver Stealth at the Langley Events Centre Fieldhouse for a scrimmage at 8 p.m. The exhibition will be open exclusively to Stealth season ticket holders as the team will be hosting a Season Ticket Holder Party from 7:30-11 p.m. ET (more info).
On Sunday, the Swarm will travel north of the border to battle with the Roughnecks at the TRAC at 12 p.m. ET. At the same time, the Colorado Mammoth play their first preseason tilt against the Stealth at the LEC Fieldhouse with the game open to the public (more info).
Find each team’s remaining preseason schedule below as the league prepares to open its 29th season:
Buffalo Bandits
Saturday, Dec. 6 – 10am Open Practice & 7pm (scrimmage vs. New England) – First Niagara Center (Buffalo)
Sunday, Dec. 7 – 10am – First Niagara Center (Buffalo, NY)
Saturday, Dec. 13 – 4pm – (scrimmage vs. New England) – Toronto Rock Athletic Centre (Oakville, ON)
Sunday, Dec. 14 – 11am – (scrimmage vs. Colorado) – First Niagara Center (Buffalo, NY)
Saturday, Dec. 20 – 10am – Iroquois Lacrosse Arena (Hagersville, ON)
Tuesday, Dec. 23 – 7pm – Iroquois Lacrosse Arena (Hagersville, ON)
Calgary Roughnecks
Friday, Dec. 5 – 8:30-10:30pm – Toronto Rock Athletic Centre (Oakville, ON)
Saturday, Dec. 6 – 9-11am & 7pm (scrimmage vs. Toronto) – Toronto Rock Athletic Centre (Oakville, ON)
Sunday, Dec. 7 – 12-3pm – (scrimmage vs. Minnesota) – Toronto Rock Athletic Centre (Oakville, ON)
Friday, Dec. 19 – 6-8pm – Genesis Place (Airdrie, AB)
Saturday, Dec. 20 – 7pm (exhibition vs. Edmonton) –Scotiabank Saddledome (Calgary, AB) (tickets)
Saturday, Dec. 27 – 4-6pm – Genesis Place (Airdrie, AB)
Sunday, Dec. 28 – 9-11am – Genesis Place (Airdrie, AB)
Colorado Mammoth
Friday, Dec. 5 – 8:15-11:15pm – Langley Events Centre (Langley, BC)
Saturday, Dec. 6 – 1:30-3:30pm & 7:30-9:30pm – Langley Events Centre (Langley, BC)
Friday, Dec. 12 – 9-11pm – Toronto Rock Athletic Centre (Oakville, ON)
Saturday, Dec. 13 – 1-3pm & 7-10pm (scrimmage vs. Minnesota) – Toronto Rock Athletic Centre (Oakville, ON)
Sunday, Dec. 14 – 10am-1pm – (scrimmage vs. Buffalo) – First Niagara Center (Buffalo, NY)
Saturday, Dec. 20 – 6-8am – Bladium Sports & Fitness Club (Denver, CO)
Edmonton Rush
Friday, Dec. 5 – TBD – Langley Events Centre (Langley, BC)
Saturday, Dec. 6 – 5pm (scrimmage vs. Vancouver) – Langley Events Centre (Langley, BC)
Friday, Dec. 19 – 10-11:30am & 1-2:30 pm – Rexall Place (Edmonton, AB)
Saturday, Dec. 20 – 7pm – (exhibition vs. Calgary) – Scotiabank Saddledome (Calgary, AB) (tickets)
Minnesota Swarm
Friday, Dec. 5 – 6:30-8:30pm – Toronto Rock Athletic Centre (Oakville, ON)
Saturday, Dec. 6 – 1-2pm – Toronto Rock Athletic Centre (Oakville, ON)
Saturday, Dec. 6 – 8pm – (exhibition vs. Rochester) – Blue Cross Arena (Rochester, NY)
Sunday, Dec. 7 – 12-3pm – (scrimmage vs. Calgary) – Toronto Rock Athletic Centre (Oakville, ON)
Friday, Dec. 12 – 7-9pm – Toronto Rock Athletic Centre (Oakville, ON)
Saturday, Dec. 13 – 6-9pm – (scrimmage vs. Colorado) – Toronto Rock Athletic Centre (Oakville, ON)
Sunday, Dec. 14 – 8-9am – Toronto Rock Athletic Centre (Oakville, ON)
Friday, Dec. 19 – 7-9pm – Toronto Rock Athletic Centre (Oakville, ON)
Saturday, Dec. 20 – 9-11am & 3-5pm – Toronto Rock Athletic Centre (Oakville, ON)
Sunday, Dec. 21 – 1-3pm – Toronto Rock Athletic Centre (Oakville, ON)
New England Black Wolves
Saturday, Dec. 6 – 7pm – (scrimmage vs. Buffalo) – First Niagara Center (Buffalo, NY)
Sunday, Dec. 7 – 9-10am – First Niagara Center (Buffalo, NY)
Saturday, Dec. 13 – 8-9am & 4pm (scrimmage vs. Buffalo) – Toronto Rock Athletic Centre (Oakville, ON)
Saturday, Dec. 20 – 10-11am & 6-9pm – (scrimmage vs. Toronto) – Toronto Rock Athletic Centre (Oakville, ON)
Sunday, Dec. 21 – 9-11am – Toronto Rock Athletic Centre (Oakville, ON)
Rochester Knighthawks
Saturday, Dec. 6 – 8pm – (exhibition vs. Minnesota) – Blue Cross Arena (Rochester, NY)
Wednesday, Dec. 10 – 7pm-10pm – Iroquois Lacrosse Arena, Six Nations
Sunday, Dec. 14 – 2pm – (exhibition vs. Toronto) – Bell Centre (Montreal, QC) (tickets)
Wednesday, Dec. 17 – 7-10pm – Iroquois Lacrosse Arena (Hagersville, ON)
Monday, Dec. 22 – 7-10pm – Iroquois Lacrosse Arena (Hagersville, ON)
Sunday, Dec. 28 – 10am-1pm – Iroquois Lacrosse Arena (Hagersville, ON)
Toronto Rock
Saturday, Dec. 6 – 11am-1pm & 7pm – (scrimmage vs. Calgary) – Toronto Rock Athletic Centre (Oakville, ON)
Tuesday, Dec. 9 – 8-10pm – Toronto Rock Athletic Centre (Oakville, ON)
Saturday, Dec. 13 – 9-11am – Toronto Rock Athletic Centre (Oakville, ON)
Sunday, Dec. 14 – 2pm – (exhibition vs. Rochester) – Bell Centre (Montreal, QC) (tickets)
Tuesday, Dec. 16 – 8-10pm – Toronto Rock Athletic Centre (Oakville, ON)
Saturday, Dec. 20 – 11am-1pm & 7pm (scrimmage vs. New England) – TRAC (Oakville, ON)
Sunday, Dec. 21 – 11am-1pm – Toronto Rock Athletic Centre (Oakville, ON)
Vancouver Stealth
Saturday, Dec. 6 – 9-11am & 5-7pm (scrimmage vs. Edmonton) – Langley Events Centre (Langley, BC)
Sunday, Dec. 7 – 9-11am (scrimmage vs. Colorado) – Langley Events Centre (Langley, BC)
Saturday, Dec. 13 – 9am-11am & 5-7pm – Langley Events Centre (Langley, BC)
Sunday, Dec. 14 – 9-11am – Langley Events Centre (Langley, BC)
Saturday, Dec. 20 – 9-11am & 5-7pm – Langley Events Centre (Langley, BC)
Sunday, Dec. 21 – 9-11am – Langley Events Centre (Langley, BC)
Saturday, Dec. 27 – 11am-1pm – Langley Events Centre (Langley, BC)
