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BUF at TOR - Sat. 7pm ET Schedule

×
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
FINAL
New York
7
Georgia
12
Fri, Mar 31
FINAL
Las Vegas
9
Colorado
11
Fri, Mar 31
FINAL
Calgary
8
San Diego
14
Q1
01:48
Buffalo
0
Toronto
7
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

Todd Labranche on the Verge of History, but There is More to the Story

400 games in the NLLis a long time. With the current 18 game schedule that is still over 22 seasons. There are players in the NLL who are not even 22 years old, let alone playing at the highest level of lacrosse for 22 seasons.  

When initially looking to write this story, I thought I would be covering the accomplishments and accolades of Todd Labranche, who will be officiating his 400th NLL game this weekend but as I was talking with Todd, there were so many interesting points of conversation that many NLL fans would not have expected to hear or would not know. So while 400 games officiated is no easy feat in the span of 21 seasons for Labranche, his thoughts around the game and impact he has had on the NLL is much larger than just dressing in a striped uniform. 

He doesn’t negate the record and recognizes the importance of the it, saying “I’m proud of it. I was talking with Dan Dawson who was supposed to break John Tavares’ record in Vancouver but was out with a knee injury. I said to him I was disappointed I wasn’t able to call his record game at 307 but joked that it was nothing, that game was going to be 390 for me. It’s something I will be able to talk to my grandkids about.” 

It’s even more impressive when you find out Labranche did not start refereeing in the NLL until he was 36 years. “At the time in 2001, the League was a bit foreign to me. It had never really made its way out west until the Vancouver Ravens and Calgary Roughnecks expanded. The NLL was looking for officials and I threw my hand up. I had been officiating in the Western Lacrosse Association (WLA) for 13 or 14 years at that point.” The expansion gave him an opportunity to get his feet into a different version of the sport that he would soon dedicate his full-time officiating duties to. 

You could have thought officiating was in his DNA from an early age, having started to referee lacrosse games at the age of 12. As he went through his teen years, he explained what made him change his focus from playing the game to officiating. “I finished my junior career at the age of 21 and that’s when my legs started getting bad where I could not keep up with all the twists and turns playing of the game. I felt like I had a bit of a knack for officiating, and I just decided to keep doing that to stay involved in the game.” 

Labranche would be a referee with the WLA starting at 22 years old. Over the years he learned from great mentors and found his footing as a referee. A big piece of that is how to manage communications with players and coaches on both teams. “The absolute key is to be forthright, to be up front and honest. If you didn’t see something the same way they did, you need to say that.” 

“If you are upfront and you are honest, then you start to garner some respect and the ability to have important two-way conversation. Some players will come and say their piece and walk away. I tell them to come back and let me give them my answer. ‘I gave you the respect to allow you to ask your question now it’s my turn to give you an answer.’” 

The game of lacrosse has changed in his 30 plus years of officiating and is coming to a better place for all parties to understand the game better and to grow it. There is now an emphasis across multiple box lacrosse leagues and properties to play by a unified rulebook, which has not been the case in the past and is what prevented Labranche from officiating Canadian Lacrosse Association (CLA) games in addition to his NLL duties.  

Rule consistency will help not just players, but fans too as Todd mentioned, “Being able to go to your local game in the summer and then to your NLL game, you would have been confused trying to understand the different rulebooks. There are certain nuances that are different in the games. Even to this day, players will comment and say a call is an interference which we don’t have in the NLL unless it’s a penalty. What they’re asking about is a Canadian rule.” 

Todd emphasizes with his younger colleagues that they need to know the NLL rulebook inside and out. That they can’t just show up on gamedays and expect to be great, they need to do the work through the week just like a player or coach does.  

When looking at his weekly routine, Labranche mentioned: 

“I try to set one day a week, Monday, where I don’t do anything, lacrosse related to give my head and body a rest so I can come at it refreshed. Every Tuesday we go back and review clips from games from the prior weekend. Tuesday night we have conference calls with Brian (Lemon, EVP, Lacrosse Operations) and Don Koharski (NLL Director of Officials) to review any specific rules or clips. Wednesday and Thursday are preparation days to read the rulebook, to study, to look at the rosters for our upcoming games, and review game tape from previous matchups from the teams. One of the mentalities Koho (Koharski) has brought to us this season is that we are the third team out on the floor, and we need to be better prepared than the other teams out there. “ 

Still, Labranche says that isn’t the hardest part of being a referee. He says the hardest part is trying to keep up with the speed of the game and to be able to make that instantaneous call with so many factors in play. Think of a crease dive where you would be trying to watch a player’s feet, if they were pushed into the crease, if they made contact with a goalie, and where the ball is when the player lands.  

“I was once asked to wear a camera on my helmet, and I said I would be thrilled to just to be able to give fans, coaches, and players to the perspective of what we have to view in the blink of an eye.” 

Labranche says there are three important factors that make a good official: thick skin, a short memory, and a good sense of humor. He says one of his favorite compliments he has received over the years was from the Georgia Swarm’s Owner and General Manager, John Arlotta. He said he loves watching Labranche officiate since he always has a smile on his face. “Enjoy what you are doing and have a smile on your face while doing it” said Labranche. 

Over the years, Labranche has seen some of the game’s greats including names like Grant, Tavares, Gait, Kelusky and more. While he could not admit to just one favorite memory or player to watch, he did have an interesting mention about how good some of these players were. When talking about the Gait’s, who he officiated in Juniors, he mentioned, “I remember doing a Junior game and looking at the game sheet where they won 36-9 and between the two (Paul and Gary) they had 54 points in that game.” 

When asked on his legacy on the game, he could not think of any specifics but did mention: “The one thing I will be known for is the call in Colorado. It is probably something that will live beyond me”. Don’t remember it? Watch it here. 

So what is next for Labranche after hitting his 400th game this weekend? He says he wants to do more. Given his workload, where in 2015 he worked 32 games in a 16-game season, he is aiming for 500, or about another four years, “whether my body lets me or not that’s to be determined” he added.  

And for what he is most proud of through his career and what he has always tried to reiterate is consistency. He has always tried to call the game fairly and consistently, that his performance should be consistent on a week-to-week basis. What you get from him in one week, you should get the same every other week.  

The consistency to be available for assignment is another piece he is proud of, even at the expense of some personal matters. “I’ve never darked out a weekend in my 21-year career where I couldn’t be available. That’s all due to the support of my wife. She has been so supportive. I missed my father in law’s 65th birthday for an assignment and she never said a word about it, she has been an amazing support.” 

While Todd may be towards the ending stages of his career, he does have future aspirations for the NLL. He hopes to get to a point where officials, players, coaches, and other staff alike can make the NLL their full-time position and focus on it each day. 

With the potential to add more expansion teams and more games on the schedule in the future Labranche says “I’ve told our younger officials that 400 games will be nothing with the way the league is expanding. They should be able to crush 400 games and I hope they are able to do that as full-time officials.” 

While there may be more officials who end up reaching the 400-game plateau in the future, Todd will be the first. The impact he has made on the NLL, the game of lacrosse, and its community is understated as the man in the stripes during games. Referees tend to never get the love at the end of the game but as he put it, “you can’t play the game without officials.” 

NLL