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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
FINAL
San Diego
17
Panther City
9
Sat, Mar 25
FINAL
Toronto
11
Albany
9
Sat, Mar 25
FINAL
Halifax
14
Philadelphia
10
Sat, Mar 25
FINAL
Georgia
13
New York
8
Sat, Mar 25
FINAL
Calgary
14
Saskatchewan
6
Sat, Mar 25
FINAL/OT
Buffalo
7
San Diego
6
Sat, Mar 25
FINAL
Colorado
12
Vancouver
14
Sat, Mar 25
FINAL
Rochester
7
Las Vegas
12
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

Once Out Of The League, Keegan Bal Now Among Warriors’ Top Scoring Options

Vancouver Warriors forward Keegan Bal is third on his team both in points (31) and goals (13) this year. Playing with top players such as Mitch Jones, Logan Schuss and the emerging Jordan McBride, Bal is one of the top scoring options for a Warriors team that, at 3-6, sits in the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Pretty good for a guy who was out of the league last year, played in three games in 2017 and eight in 2016.

At one point, Bal’s career totals could have looked like this: 11 games played, six goals and 28 points. 11 games over two seasons and done.

Bal started his NLL career with Vancouver in 2016. He played in eight games and totaled 16 points. In 2017, he played in three games for the Warriors before being cut and then signing with Colorado. The next summer, he was let go in training camp without ever playing a regular season game for the Mammoth.

“There was definitely frustration, but those frustrations were to do with myself and my own play and no one else,” said Bal. “I don’t put the blame on anyone except myself.”

“It’s always disappointing when you want to play and it doesn’t actually work out. That took sitting in front of the mirror and seeing what I needed to do to get to that level.”  

So, Bal did what any athlete who loves playing their sport does – he continued to play, but in a different league.

Having moved to Alberta for work, Bal played for the St. Albert Miners (Senior B) of the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League. There, he rejuvenated his game, leading the league in points back to back years (70 in 2016 and 123 in 2017) and winning three straight President’s Cups. He won the league MVP his first year and set the all-time point record in his second year.

Bal said there wasn’t a moment or stretch where he regained his confidence. He did, however, credit one of the St. Albert coaches for his resurgence.

“Todd Lorenz (the offensive coach for all three years) had a lot of influence on me,” said Bal. “He helped me with a little bit of everything in my game. A lot of shooting and decision making stuff – pretty much every part of my game. Both on the floor and mentally.”

“We created a very loose bond and to this day he’s still there for me.”

On June 21, 2018, three days after it was announced that Canucks Sports & Entertainment purchased the Vancouver franchise, Dan Richardson was introduced as the club’s new General Manager. With the team way over the salary cap and no first round pick, Richardson had his work cut out for him in building a roster for the 2018-2019 season and trying to improve the club from its 2-16 finish a year ago.

He would have to find players let go by their previous teams that either weren’t given a fair shot their first time around in the NLL, or that had never before played in the NLL.

Enter: Keegan Bal.

“I don’t think he was given a fair chance, whether it was with the Stealth or the Mammoth,” said Richardson. “What I saw in him and still see in him was the guy that has lightning fast speed and someone who is not afraid to go in those dirty areas.”

Richardson was the General Manager of the New WestMinster Salmonbellies of the Western Lacrosse Association while Bal was on the team for three years before moving to Alberta.

“The kid can play,” said Richardson. “All he needed was a bona fide opportunity and that’s what we were giving him.”

“If you believe he can play, you have to give him an honest chance and that’s more than one exhibition game. You have to show some belief in him. I felt, for whatever reason, he wasn’t given a fair shake where you put him in a spot where he could succeed.”

When Richardson expressed his interest in signing Bal, he could sense hesitation from Bal in playing in the NLL again. It wasn’t a quick phone call between the two of them. There was a longer discussion.

“I told him ‘You’re going to get a fair shake. Bring your A-game and you will be given a fair shot,” said Richardson.  “I assured him we’d be doing things differently and he’d get his fair share of playing time and he’d be able to show the coaching staff what he was made of.”

Maybe it was the relationship the two had formed with the Salmonbellies. Maybe it was Richardson’s no-nonsense approach. Whatever it was, Bal could sense the Warriors would allow him to prove his worth.

“When he called me, it felt good,” said Bal. “I trust him. He’s a straight shooter and it ended up working out.”

On September 24, 2018, Bal signed a one-year contract with the Warriors.

In back-to-back games earlier this year, Bal posted three goals and four assists and two goals and four assists. On Friday in Vancouver’s 14-6 win over San Diego, he had the best game of his career with six goals and four assists. 

Bal credits his time with the Miners playing with top NLL talent such as Ryan Dilks and Aaron Bold for keeping his lacrosse game in tip-top shape.

“I was fortunate enough to play on the team,” said Bal. “We had about at least three, sometimes five NLL defenders on our team every year and we had (Aaron) Bold as our goalie this past year. Having those top players, it helped my game a lot.”

Bal was one of the first free agents Richardson reached out to. The General Manager’s gamble has paid off.

“He’s a classic example of – and we have 3-4 of them on our team – that weren’t given a solid chance in the NLL,” said Richardson. “And he can play. He has speed, doesn’t mind going to the goalie area and he’s a very smart intelligent player. It was a no-brainer. We had to find guys like Keegan and he was right on the top of the list.”

“I kept working at my game and knew it was something that would be there if I kept working hard,” said Bal. “I learned to stay positive and to have a different approach when things don’t go your way. Instead of getting down and upset, just switching your approach and looking at areas where you can improve.”

You can catch the Warriors host the Saskatchewan Rush this Saturday at 10 pm EST on B/R Live. Follow the NLL on TwitterInstagram, and Facebook.

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