fbpx

Season opens on December 1st. Find 2023-24 schedules here and buy your tickets today

×
WK
1
Fri, Dec 1
19:00:00
Saskatchewan
Halifax
Fri, Dec 1
22:00:00
Albany
Las Vegas
Fri, Dec 1
22:00:00
Panther City
Vancouver
Sat, Dec 2
19:00:00
Calgary
Rochester
Sat, Dec 2
19:30:00
Philadelphia
New York
WK
2
Sat, Dec 9
19:00:00
Philadelphia
Toronto
Sat, Dec 9
19:00:00
Buffalo
Albany
Sat, Dec 9
19:30:00
Colorado
Georgia
Sat, Dec 9
20:00:00
Rochester
Saskatchewan
Sat, Dec 9
22:00:00
Calgary
San Diego
Sun, Dec 10
16:00:00
Las Vegas
Panther City
WK
3
Fri, Dec 15
22:00:00
Saskatchewan
Las Vegas
Sat, Dec 16
13:00:00
Albany
Philadelphia
Sat, Dec 16
19:30:00
Halifax
New York
Sat, Dec 16
19:30:00
San Diego
Buffalo
Sat, Dec 16
22:00:00
Georgia
Vancouver
WK
4
Fri, Dec 22
20:00:00
Toronto
Panther City
Fri, Dec 22
21:00:00
Georgia
Colorado
Sat, Dec 23
19:00:00
Vancouver
Rochester
WK
5
Fri, Dec 29
18:30:00
Philadelphia
Halifax
Fri, Dec 29
19:30:00
Georgia
Buffalo
Fri, Dec 29
22:00:00
Rochester
San Diego
Sat, Dec 30
16:00:00
New York
Toronto
Sat, Dec 30
21:00:00
Las Vegas
Calgary
Sat, Dec 30
21:00:00
Vancouver
Colorado
Sun, Dec 31
20:00:00
Albany
Saskatchewan
WK
6
Sat, Jan 6
19:00:00
Halifax
Albany
Sat, Jan 6
19:30:00
Panther City
Georgia
Sat, Jan 6
19:30:00
Colorado
Buffalo
Sun, Jan 7
15:00:00
New York
Philadelphia
WK
7
Fri, Jan 12
18:30:00
Toronto
Halifax
Fri, Jan 12
22:00:00
San Diego
Las Vegas
Sat, Jan 13
19:00:00
Buffalo
Rochester
Sat, Jan 13
19:00:00
Saskatchewan
Philadelphia
Sat, Jan 13
19:30:00
Panther City
New York
Sat, Jan 13
19:30:00
Albany
Georgia
Sat, Jan 13
21:00:00
San Diego
Colorado
Sat, Jan 13
22:00:00
Calgary
Vancouver
WK
8
Fri, Jan 19
19:30:00
New York
Buffalo
Sat, Jan 20
19:00:00
Georgia
Toronto
Sat, Jan 20
19:00:00
San Diego
Albany
Sat, Jan 20
20:00:00
Vancouver
Saskatchewan
Sat, Jan 20
21:00:00
Calgary
Colorado
WK
9
Fri, Jan 26
22:00:00
Colorado
Vancouver
Sat, Jan 27
18:00:00
Rochester
Halifax
Sat, Jan 27
19:00:00
Buffalo
Toronto
Sat, Jan 27
19:30:00
Georgia
New York
Sat, Jan 27
19:30:00
San Diego
Philadelphia
Sat, Jan 27
22:00:00
Panther City
Las Vegas
WK
10
Fri, Feb 2
19:00:00
Halifax
Philadelphia
Fri, Feb 2
19:30:00
Vancouver
Georgia
Fri, Feb 2
21:00:00
New York
Calgary
Sat, Feb 3
19:00:00
Las Vegas
Albany
Sat, Feb 3
19:30:00
Rochester
Buffalo
Sat, Feb 3
20:00:00
Panther City
Saskatchewan
Sat, Feb 3
21:00:00
Toronto
Calgary
Sun, Feb 4
18:00:00
Colorado
San Diego
WK
11
Fri, Feb 9
18:30:00
Las Vegas
Halifax
Fri, Feb 9
20:00:00
Colorado
Panther City
Sat, Feb 10
19:00:00
Georgia
Rochester
Sat, Feb 10
19:00:00
Calgary
Toronto
Sat, Feb 10
19:30:00
San Diego
New York
Sat, Feb 10
22:00:00
Saskatchewan
Vancouver
WK
12
Fri, Feb 16
18:30:00
Buffalo
Halifax
Fri, Feb 16
22:00:00
Philadelphia
Las Vegas
Sat, Feb 17
19:00:00
Colorado
Albany
Sun, Feb 18
19:00:00
Halifax
Calgary
WK
13
Fri, Feb 23
21:00:00
New York
Colorado
Fri, Feb 23
22:00:00
Georgia
San Diego
Sat, Feb 24
19:00:00
Las Vegas
Rochester
Sat, Feb 24
19:00:00
Vancouver
Toronto
Sat, Feb 24
19:30:00
Albany
Buffalo
Sat, Feb 24
20:00:00
Halifax
Saskatchewan
Sat, Feb 24
21:00:00
Philadelphia
Calgary
Sun, Feb 25
16:00:00
Georgia
Panther City
WK
14
Fri, Mar 1
19:00:00
Georgia
Halifax
Fri, Mar 1
20:00:00
San Diego
Panther City
Fri, Mar 1
22:00:00
Toronto
Las Vegas
Fri, Mar 1
22:00:00
Buffalo
Vancouver
Sat, Mar 2
13:00:00
Calgary
Philadelphia
Sat, Mar 2
19:00:00
New York
Albany
Sat, Mar 2
21:00:00
Saskatchewan
Colorado
Sat, Mar 2
22:00:00
Toronto
San Diego
Sun, Mar 3
16:00:00
Rochester
Panther City
WK
15
Fri, Mar 8
19:00:00
Vancouver
Albany
Fri, Mar 8
19:30:00
Calgary
Georgia
Fri, Mar 8
19:30:00
Saskatchewan
Buffalo
Sat, Mar 9
17:00:00
Colorado
Toronto
Sat, Mar 9
19:00:00
Albany
Rochester
Sat, Mar 9
19:30:00
Las Vegas
New York
Sat, Mar 9
22:00:00
Halifax
San Diego
Sun, Mar 10
15:00:00
Panther City
Philadelphia
WK
16
Fri, Mar 15
18:30:00
Panther City
Halifax
Fri, Mar 15
21:00:00
San Diego
Calgary
Fri, Mar 15
22:00:00
Las Vegas
Vancouver
Sat, Mar 16
19:00:00
Rochester
Albany
Sat, Mar 16
19:00:00
Toronto
Buffalo
Sat, Mar 16
19:30:00
Philadelphia
Georgia
Sat, Mar 16
20:30:00
New York
Saskatchewan
WK
17
Fri, Mar 22
20:00:00
Buffalo
Panther City
Fri, Mar 22
21:00:00
Albany
Calgary
Sat, Mar 23
19:00:00
Halifax
Toronto
Sat, Mar 23
19:00:00
Vancouver
Philadelphia
Sat, Mar 23
19:30:00
Saskatchewan
New York
Sat, Mar 23
21:00:00
Rochester
Colorado
Sat, Mar 23
22:00:00
Las Vegas
San Diego
Sun, Mar 24
17:30:00
Saskatchewan
Georgia
WK
18
Sat, Mar 30
13:00:00
Buffalo
Philadelphia
Sat, Mar 30
19:00:00
Halifax
Rochester
Sat, Mar 30
19:30:00
Toronto
New York
Sat, Mar 30
22:00:00
Vancouver
Las Vegas
WK
19
Fri, Apr 5
21:00:00
Saskatchewan
Calgary
Fri, Apr 5
21:00:00
Buffalo
Colorado
Fri, Apr 5
22:00:00
Panther City
San Diego
Fri, Apr 5
22:00:00
Halifax
Vancouver
Sat, Apr 6
19:00:00
New York
Rochester
Sat, Apr 6
19:00:00
Toronto
Albany
Sat, Apr 6
19:30:00
Las Vegas
Georgia
Sat, Apr 6
20:00:00
Calgary
Saskatchewan
Sun, Apr 7
16:00:00
Philadelphia
Panther City
WK
20
Fri, Apr 12
21:00:00
Philadelphia
Colorado
Sat, Apr 13
19:00:00
Rochester
Toronto
Sat, Apr 13
19:30:00
Calgary
Buffalo
Sat, Apr 13
20:00:00
San Diego
Saskatchewan
Sat, Apr 13
22:00:00
Colorado
Las Vegas
Sat, Apr 13
22:00:00
New York
Vancouver
Sun, Apr 14
16:00:00
Albany
Panther City
WK
21
Fri, Apr 19
19:30:00
Rochester
Georgia
Fri, Apr 19
22:00:00
Vancouver
San Diego
Sat, Apr 20
18:00:00
Colorado
Halifax
Sat, Apr 20
19:30:00
Albany
New York
Sat, Apr 20
20:00:00
Toronto
Saskatchewan
Sat, Apr 20
21:00:00
Panther City
Calgary
Sat, Apr 20
22:00:00
Buffalo
Las Vegas
Sun, Apr 21
15:00:00
Philadelphia
Rochester
Powered By
MGM Logo
Scores / Schedule
Stories/Op-Ed

The NLL Honors Native American History Month

As Native American Heritage Month winds down, the National Lacrosse League would like to honor the Native American people for helping grow the game of lacrosse through the NLL and helping to make it into the incredible league that it is today.

“The roots of lacrosse tie deep into the history of the Native American culture.” States NLL Commisioner, Nick Sakiewicz, “We are very proud of the rich diversity found throughout the NLL. Today, the modern NLL benefits from numerous Native North Americans playing key roles in ownership, as players and club executives working to expand the League. We are honored to be affiliated with this great culture and represent the rich heritage in the National Lacrosse League.” While the game has been forever connected to native culture, the increase in Native American presence across the NLL over the past decade has grown exponentially.

In May of 2008, Curt Styres of the Mohawk tribe, became the first Native American owner of a National Lacrosse League team when he purchased 60% of the Rochester Knighthawks. The Knighthawks would become the first team in NLL history to win three straight titles (’12,13’,14’). In 2014, The Mohegan tribe bought part-ownership of the New England Black Wolves – the Black Wolves were previously the Philadelphia Wings under different ownership.

Today, the NLL is a leader in professional sports world-wide when it comes to representing Native Americans both on the field and in the front office. Brothers Darris, and Rich Kilgour of the Tuscarora Nation were staples for Buffalo Bandits both as players and then coaches for nearly 20 years each -their brother Travis also played for the Bandits in the nineties.

They were the league’s first Native American stars, giving hope to the next generations of native youth that they could achieve similar goals. Darris and Rich were inducted into the National Lacrosse League Hall of Fame in 2007 and 2010 respectively.

Many Native American lacrosse players from tribes all over North America attempted to follow in the NLL footsteps of the Kilgours. Over the last decade, each season (on average) Native American participation in the NLL has been higher than that of Americans, making them the 2nd largest ethnic group in the league only behind Canadian players. Generally boasting around two dozen Native Americans a season, a handful of those men have become impressive professional box lacrosse players.

Scorers such as Mohawk Delby Powless, a cousin to lacrosse legend, Gaylord Powless, put up solid numbers consistently during the early 2000’s, while goalie, Ken Montour, was superb between the pipes during that time. Over the last decade, Native American talent has collectively shined brighter than any other time in the leagues history.

Jeff Shattler of the Ojibwe Nation won the NLL MVP Award in 2011 as part of the Calgary Roughnecks.  Cody Jamieson of the Mohawk tribe would become the second Native American to win the NLL MVP Award in 2014 playing for the Rochester Knighthawks.

Photo by Josh Schaefer/Saskatchewan Rush/GetMyPhoto.ca

This past season, the NLL MVP Award was won by Lyle Thompson of the Onondaga Nation. He and his brothers, Miles, Hiana, and Jeremy all are gifted players in the league. As a family, they are not only become the leading Native American players in the NLL – predominately Lyle and Miles who play for the Champions Cup winning Georgia Swarm – but the cream of the crop in the league.

Playing in the NLL is more than just a game for many of the Native American players, it is a way for them to pass down the tradition of their people’s game and is a way to give back to the Creator who gave the game to their people countless generations ago. “It’s a huge opportunity” says Knighthawks Forward, Quinn Powless of the Mohawk tribe, “I’m happy to be playing for my community, playing for them as much as I can.” Lyle Thompson shared similar sentiments stating, “When we have say 30 native players in the NLL, those players are being seen by 3000 kids, maybe more. These kids look at us and see that we came from where they’re from. They’re seeing that we can do it and they can do it to.”

NLL Commissioner, Nick Sakiewicz, understands where Lyle and Quinn are coming from. Shortly after he took over as commissioner, Sakiewicz made a concerted effort to engage himself with the Six Nations. Sakiewicz said, “I love the history of the game and its traditions up there.” With his grasp on history and the effort that the commissioner is putting forth to learn even more about importance of the history and culture that all Native American players carry with them as they play in the NLL. Sakiewicz has made key changes in the league including overhauling the league’s logo to include Native American symbols, as well as ensuring events take place to honor those in native communities.

Photo by Josh Schaefer/GetMyPhoto.ca

The logo is anchored by a four-pointed star, an acknowledgement of the four original NLL teams from the Mid-Atlantic region. The NLL Star serves as a guide, something to take the League into the future. It is also evocative of the Native American Morning Star, and pays homage to the roots of the sport and the tremendous influence of that community. A shield wraps the new NLL logo and reflects the warrior spirit of our Native American forbearers and current players, athletes who must exhibit superior strength of mind and body in order to compete at the ultimate level of the sport.

Each season, teams host a Native American Appreciation night to give thanks to the tribal communities nearest them. In many of the ceremonies leaders will perform a tribal dance and other rituals for the game. Even at this past year’s Fann Cup -an annual lacrosse game played by fans of the NLL- there was a Native American smoke dance included in the festivities.

The commissioner and the league will continue to make an effort to embrace Native American players and their history. Not only have the league’s stars, present and past, come from native tribes across North America, so too has the history and culture. We thank them for sharing the game and letting a broader community around the globe enjoy what will be forever be a Native American game.

 

NLL