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BUF at TOR - Sat. 7pm ET 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
Q4
13:14
New York
4
Georgia
9
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

The Kilgour Brothers: The NLL’s First Indigenous Superstars

Many Indigenous children are introduced to lacrosse at an age at which the meaning of the game, and how it’s played, is incomprehensible. Yet, as the years pass, the game’s rich history, traditions and rules will become second nature to them. You will often hear some version of this adage from experienced Indigenous lacrosse players: “I’ve had a lacrosse stick in my hands for as long as I can remember.”

That line had more than one meaning for brothers Rich and Darris Kilgour, who grew up on the Tuscarora Nation Reservation in upstate New York.

Throughout the 1970’s and ’80s, the opportunities to play organized lacrosse, particularly box lacrosse, on this reservation were few and far between. By some accounts, this is still true today. However, for the Kilgour’s, lacrosse still managed to be a family affair.

You see, the Kilgour’s grew up no more than 150 yards away from Tuskewe Krafts, a famed and legendary Indigenous crafts business started by one of the great “builders” of the game of lacrosse, John Wesley Patterson. One of the most notable products that are still made there today is Patterson lacrosse sticks.

The Kilgour’s father, Richard, and their mother, Christine, helped to make those sticks at the factory – Richard would build the sticks while Christine would meticulously weave them. The littler Kilgour’s became accustomed to this factory at a very young age and would go on to spend ample time there helping out.

Not too long after Darris and Rich learned to run, skip and hop, they began playing lacrosse. The Kilgour’s ingratiated themselves in the Niagra-on-the-Lake lacrosse community playing both the box and field versions of the game throughout their pre-teen and high school years.

The Kilgour’s were then able to establish themselves as dominating and decorated forces for both the St. Catharine’s Athletics Jr. A lacrosse team, where they won a Minto Cup together in 1990, and then with the Sr. A. Six Nations Chiefs where they went on to win three Mann Cups in 1994, 95’ and 96’.

The idea of going on to play professional lacrosse couldn’t’ have been a future option for the Kilgour brothers as they worked their way through the Jr. ranks. The MILL was still in its infancy, and, at the time, there wasn’t a team in upstate New York or in the neighboring Ontario, Canada area either. That was, until 1992 when the Buffalo Bandits joined the league.

Taking a step back for a moment, when the brothers grew up around the Niagra-on-the-Lake lacrosse scene, they were fortunate enough to watch plenty of Jr. B Thunderhawks action and watched the Thunderhawks win the Jr. B Founder’s Cup in 1981. The coach of that championship team was Robert “Buff” McCready.

As fate would have it, just as Rich and Darris joined the MILL for the 1992 season, so did McCready. Under McCready, Rich and Darris and the rest of the star-studded Bandits would go on to win the MILL Champion’s Cup in the franchise’s inaugural season.

The brothers would win two more NLL titles playing together in the ’90s and then uniquely would win another championship together, but with Darris as head coach of the Bandits while Rich was still playing in 2008.

By 2010, both Darris and Rich had been enshrined to the exclusive NLL Hall of Fame. Including the Class of 2021’s ten inductees, the Kilgours are two of only 37 people that have earned the right to be in the hall.

Winning is never easy, although the Kilgour’s resume may make you think otherwise. What makes them different is that they put in the hours and hard work required to win and always looked to do what was best for the team.

“My dad always preached, ‘It’s a team sport, and you have to do what’s best for the team,’” Rich said. “So, if what was best for the team was for me to take a backseat on the offensive end, there were a lot of other things I could do on the floor.”

When you have played on teams that included legendary names such as John Tavares, Derek Keenan, Jim Veltman, Paul Day, Bob Hamley and Kevin Alexander, to name a few, finding any which way to contribute can be difficult, but they were always up for the challenge.

They were surrounded by winners, but it was their warrior spirit that they brought to every possession that made the opposition fearful when facing them, particularly Darris, who was known for his gritty, no-nonsense play.

“This is a warrior’s game,” Darris said. “Little brother of war, that’s the way you’re supposed to play. You play to honor those that have played before you, those who can’t and those that are going to play.”

Lacrosse has been a game that has always been a part of their lives. They’ve played it, coached it, helped make the equipment, and most importantly, they’ve taught successive generations the traditions and meanings of the game as only the Indigenous people who have owned this game for centuries can.

What had started as just a desire to play lacrosse because they had a passion for the game, turned into a teaching tool that could help younger generations learn about the sport and lessons for life as a whole.

“I just wanted to play lacrosse and it turned into something more,” Darris said. “Now I see people from other reservations that know me and I’ve made great friends from other reservations through lacrosse.”

Rich shared similar sentiments about how his experiences and successes throughout his career have positively affected the lives of others.

“I appreciate the fact that [Indigenous NLL players that came after us] might have said, ‘Hey, look at those Kilgour brothers. If those guys can play professional lacrosse – they’re native, I’m a native – so can I.’”

At the professional level, there weren’t Indigenous players that could help guide the Kilgour’s through their NLL journeys. Yet, as many younger players would attest too, the Kilgour’s have helped steer them, whether directly or indirectly, toward promising careers.

One of the many younger players that the Kilgour’s have impacted is a former first overall draft pick who became an NLL MVP and an NLL champion: Cody Jamieson.

Jamieson not only watched the Kilgour’s play lacrosse when he was growing up, but he’s also had the privilege to be coached by Darris, the younger Kilgour brother was leading the Jr. A Six Nations Arrows. Much like his playing career, Darris included a similar intensity to his coaching style. Jamieson says that he has tried to channel that level of grit into his play.

“Darris and Rich Kilgour had a huge influence on my game,” Jamieson said. “Growing up watching them play, seeing their tenacity and intensity, helped me develop that into my game.”

Jamieson’s feelings are likely echoed by hundreds, if not thousands, of former and current players, coaches and anyone else who has been part of the game since the Kilgour’s began their professional careers.

From the lacrosse stick factory to the arenas, the Kilgour’s have manufactured desirable career paths for themselves. Now, the Kilgour brothers are trying to allow future generations to have lacrosse change their lives just as it did for the two of them.

NLL