The NLL Returns to Edmonton: Reuniting a City with Its Lacrosse History

January 15, 2026 By: Anna Taylor

On Friday, the National Lacrosse League returns to Edmonton, Alberta. The Georgia Swarm will host the Calgary Roughnecks at Rogers Place in the second installment of the NLL UnBOXed Series.

The game marks the first time the NLL will play in Edmonton since the former Edmonton Rush hoisted the championship trophy in 2015. The next year, the team, which had played in the provincial capital since 2006, moved to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

Friday’s special showcase event continues the NLL’s effort to bring professional box lacrosse to passionate sports markets across North America (or back to them, in this case), while celebrating the sport’s deep roots and growing presence in Western Canada.

The players are excited. Fans in Edmonton are excited. Friday, January 16th, is going to be a special night for lacrosse, and thankfully, it won’t be that cold. Just -7 °C, or -12 °C with the wind chill. That’s about 19 °F, for the Georgia fans.

Watch all of the action on NLL Friday Night on TSN at 10PM ET.

To get you prepped for the game and what it means to the city, here are some interesting facts about Edmonton and its history with lacrosse.

The Edmonton Rush were formally the Ottawa Rebel until acquired by businessman Bruce Urban. Paul Day was the team’s first head coach and general manager.

In their first season, the team went 1-15, with their only win coming on the road in Calgary. In that victory, Edmonton had an 11-7 lead halfway through the fourth quarter, but Calgary tied it up with 10 seconds to go. Cam Bergman got Edmonton the 12-11 game winner with one second left to play.

The Edmonton Rush made the playoffs for the first time in 2010, losing in the Western Final, in overtime, to Washington.

The last game at Rexall Place is still remembered by fans and players alike. After beating Toronto in Game 1 of the best-of-three championship series 15-9 in Toronto, the Rush won a close Game 2 by an 11-10 score to claim the title. Two late goals from Mark Matthews gave Edmonton a 5-4 lead at halftime. The game was tied 8-8 after the third, with no team ever leading by more than two goals. In the final quarter, Rob Hellyer and Matthews traded goals before Matthews put the Rush ahead with a jumper shot on the crease. Colin Doyle replied for Toronto, converting Stephan Leblanc’s cross-crease pass for a quick stick. Marty Dinsdale’s outside shot was the game-winner for Edmonton with 1:02 left to play. Matthews led that game with five goals and three assists.

Only one current NLL player hails from Edmonton proper, and that’s Bennett Smith of the Calgary Roughnecks, who will be playing professionally in his hometown for the first time. Former NLLers from Edmonton include John Lintz, Cameron Wengreniuk, Tristan Rai and current Saskatchewan Rush head coach Jimmy Quinlan. Jeff Shattler was born in Edmonton but raised in Toronto. Throwing it back to the earlier 2000s: Jamey Bowen, Devan Wray and 2004 NLL Rookie of the Year Taylor Wray called Edmonton home. Additionally, players from the Edmonton Metropolitan Region include Mathieu Gautier (CGY) and Tyden Redlick (SD) from St. Albert, just over the highway, along with former NLLers Dean Fairall and Erik Turner. Former Toronto Rock great Blaine Manning called Sherwood Park, on Edmonton’s eastern edge, home.

Alberta is the only province other than Ontario to have two National Hockey League teams, and like Ontario, their teams despise each other. Such was the same when the Rush played at Rexall and battled the Roughnecks. Friday’s game, though hosted by the Georgia Swarm, will see the Battle of Alberta renewed. Edmontonians will not cheer for Calgary, so expect the “home” side to have a lot of support in the stands.

Edmonton is within Treaty 6 territory and has the second-largest Indigenous population of any municipality in Canada, comprising First Nations, Metis and Inuit. Edmonton hosted the first North American Indigenous Games in 1990, with lacrosse as one of the sports played, although only by boys. Women’s lacrosse did not debut at the NAIG until 2017. Players in this tournament can use traditional wooden sticks, given their cultural importance. The first games had over 3000 participants in 15 different disciplines. Saskatoon, the current home of the Rush, is also in Treaty 6 territory.

Rogers Place replaced Rexall Centre in 2016. It is the home of the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers and WLA’s Edmonton Oil Kings and has an attached community rink used for various events. With a seating capacity of 18,500, it is located in the so-called ICE District, the largest mixed-use sports and entertainment district in Canada.

Minor lacrosse in Edmonton and surrounding area is governed by the Greater Edmonton Lacrosse Council, under the Alberta Lacrosse Association, which oversees all levels of lacrosse from minor to major, box and field. There are 10 teams in the GELC.

Junior and senior lacrosse in the province is governed by the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League, which has grown exponentially in recent years. In addition to Alberta, the RMLL has teams in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. There are eight different divisions within the RMLL, including Jr. A, Jr. B, Sr. B and Sr. C, as well as junior and senior lacrosse for women.

The province’s only Mann Cup “victory” came in 1914 via the Calgary Chinooks, who were awarded the trophy due to an ineligible player on Vancouver’s side. That decision was eventually overturned, and the Cup was returned to Vancouver. For many years, the Mann Cup has only been played between Ontario and British Columbia. There are no Sr. A teams in Alberta.

Alberta has never won the Minto Cup, the trophy for junior A lacrosse. However, the RMLL is dedicated to changing that. They are now guaranteed a spot in the round robin tournament each year, competing with Ontario, BC and the host team. The Edmonton Miners represented the RMLL in 2022, finishing in second place, and then hosted in 2023, finishing in third.

The Sr. B Miners (St. Albert/Edmonton) are on an eight-year streak of representing at the President’s Cup. Local teams won the Cup in 1975 (Edmonton Fullers), 2002 (Edmonton Outlaws), 2007 (Sherwood Park Outlaws), 2016-18 (St. Albert Miners). Edmonton will host the 2026 President’s Cup.