The National Lacrosse League (NLL) is a men's professional box lacrosse league in North America. Headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the NLL currently has thirteen teams: eight in the United States and five in Canada. The NLL ranks third in average attendance for pro indoor sports worldwide, behind only the NHL and NBA. Unlike other box lacrosse leagues which play in the summer, the NLL plays its games in the winter and spring, from December to June. Each year, the playoff teams battle for the National Lacrosse League Cup. The NLL has averaged between 8,900 and 10,700 spectators per game each year since 2004.
Box lacrosse, also known as boxla, box, or indoor lacrosse, is an indoor version of lacrosse played mostly in North America. The game originated in Canada in the 1930s, where it is more popular than field lacrosse and is the national summer sport. Box lacrosse is played between two teams of five players and one goalie each, and is traditionally played on an ice hockey rink once the ice has been removed or covered. The playing area is called a box, in contrast to the open playing field of field lacrosse. The object of the game is to use a lacrosse stick to catch, carry, and pass the ball in an effort to score by shooting a solid rubber lacrosse ball into the opponent's goal. The highest level of box lacrosse is the National Lacrosse League.
The Colorado Mammoth are a box lacrosse team playing in the National Lacrosse League. The Mammoth have played at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, since the 2003 season. They are owned by Stan Kroenke, who is also the owner of the Colorado Avalanche, Denver Nuggets and the Colorado Rapids of the MLS.
The Philadelphia Wings were a member of the National Lacrosse League, a professional box lacrosse league in North America starting in 1987. They played at the Spectrum (1987–96) and then at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The Toronto Rock are a professional box lacrosse franchise based in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the North Division of the National Lacrosse League (NLL). The team was the first Canadian franchise in the NLL. Oakville resident Jamie Dawick is the current owner of the Rock, purchasing the team after the 2009 season. Since 2014, Dawick has also served as their general manager. The Rock play their home games at FirstOntario Centre which they currently share with both the Hamilton Bulldogs of the OHL and the Hamilton Honey Badgers of the CEBL.
The Calgary Roughnecks are a professional box lacrosse team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Western Division of the National Lacrosse League (NLL) and play their home games at Scotiabank Saddledome. The team name is derived from the roughnecks who work drilling rigs in Alberta's oil and gas industry. The team is affectionately known by fans as the Riggers.
Tracey Kelusky is a Canadian former lacrosse player and current head coach of Panther City LC. Kelusky played for the Columbus Landsharks, Montreal Express, Calgary Roughnecks, Buffalo Bandits and Philadelphia Wings. While with the Roughnecks, Kelusky was named captain and lead them to titles in 2004 and 2009.
Gary Charles Gait is a Canadian retired professional lacrosse player and currently the head coach of the men's lacrosse team at Syracuse University, where he played the sport collegiately. On January 24, 2017, he was named the Interim Commissioner of the United Women's Lacrosse League.
John Christopher Grant Jr. is a professional lacrosse player who has played in Major League Lacrosse, the National Lacrosse League, and the Ontario Lacrosse Association. Grant Jr. was named men's lacrosse Offensive Coordinator at Johns Hopkins in 2020.
Dan Dawson is a Canadian professional lacrosse player for the Toronto Rock of the National Lacrosse League, Brampton Excelsiors (MSL) of Major Series Lacrosse, and is currently a free agent in Major League Lacrosse. Dawson ranks 10th on the all-time NLL points list as of the end of the 2011 season. He is a 7 time NLL All Pro selection. As a professional, he is a 7 time Mann Cup Canadian box lacrosse champion, and a 1 time Major League Lacrosse (field) champion (2009 Toronto Nationals. Representing Canada, Dawson has won two World Indoor Lacrosse Championship titles and was a finalist in the 2010 World Lacrosse Championship. Dawson has won two Champion's Cups as a member of the Rochester Knighthawks in 2013 and 2014.
The New York Titans were a professional lacrosse team based in the New York metropolitan area. The team was a member of the Eastern Division of the National Lacrosse League from 2006 to 2009. On August 11, 2009, the National Lacrosse League confirmed that the franchise would relocate to Orlando, Florida and become the Orlando Titans.
The 2007 National Lacrosse League season, the 21st in the history of the NLL began on December 30, 2006 and concluded with the championship game on May 12, 2007.
The 2001 National Lacrosse League season is the 15th season in the NLL that began on December 21, 2000 and concluded with the championship game on April 27, 2001. The Philadelphia Wings won their 6th NLL championship, defeating the Toronto Rock 9-8 in Toronto. Philadelphia had now won twice as many championships as any other team in NLL history. The Championship game was one of only two games the Rock lost at home during the 2001 season, and ended Toronto's bid for an unprecedented third straight Championship.
Geoff Snider is a retired Canadian lacrosse player from Calgary, Alberta. He was as a dominant faceoff man and a very physical player.
The Rochester Knighthawks were a lacrosse team based in Rochester, New York that played in the National Lacrosse League (NLL). The 2007 season was the 13th in franchise history. Rochester started the season 2-2 but then won their last 12 consecutive regular season games. After defeating Toronto and Buffalo in the playoffs, they won the right to host the Championship game against Arizona. However, due to scheduling conflicts at the Blue Cross Arena, the Sting hosted the final game. The Knighthawks extended their winning streak by defeating the Sting 13-11 for their first NLL Championship since 1997.
The Arizona Sting are a lacrosse team based in Phoenix, Arizona playing in the National Lacrosse League (NLL). The 2007 season was the 7th in franchise history and 4th as the Sting.
The 2013 National Lacrosse League season, the 27th in the history of the NLL, began on January 5, 2013 and ended with the Championship game on May 11, 2013. The Rochester Knighthawks overcame a mediocre 8-8 season to get hot in the playoffs for the second straight year, defeating the Philadelphia Wings, Minnesota Swarm, and Washington Stealth to win their second straight Championship. The Knighthawks became the first team to repeat as NLL Champions since the 2002-2003 Toronto Rock.
Cory Vitarelli is a Canadian professional lacrosse player who plays for the Philadelphia Wings of the National Lacrosse League and the Peterborough Lakers of Major Series Lacrosse. Vitarelli scored the NLL's first ever series-ending overtime goal in a mini-game in the 2014 NLL Playoffs.
The 2015 National Lacrosse League season, the 29th in the history of the NLL, began on January 2, 2015, and ended with Game 2 of the Champion's Cup Finals series on June 5, 2015. In the finals, the Edmonton Rush defeated the Toronto Rock two games to none to win their first-ever Champion's Cup.
The National Lacrosse League (NLL) is a men's professional box lacrosse league in North America. The NLL when it was first formed in 1987, was originally known as the Eagle Pro Box Lacrosse League and after two years, the Major Indoor Lacrosse League. The NLL would take on its current name beginning in 1998.
