The 2024 NLL season was the 37th season of play of the National Lacrosse League (NLL). The season began on December 1, 2023, and ended on May 18, 2024, with the Buffalo Bandits sweeping the Albany FireWolves 2–0 in the NLL Finals series to claim their sixth league title.

League business

NLL Unboxed

On November 16, 2023, the NLL announced "NLL Unboxed", a new initiative to promote lacrosse among youth via branded "lacrosse communities" in strategic markets that do not currently have NLL teams.[4] As part of the initiative, the NLL hosted a regular season game known as the NLL Unboxed Series in Laval, Quebec (a suburb of Unboxed market Montreal, which previously had an NLL team in 2002 in the form of the Montreal Express) featuring the New York Riptide hosting the Toronto Rock at Place Bell.[5]

Team relocation

On February 21, 2024, the NLL announced that the New York Riptide would relocate to Ottawa, and will be renamed the Ottawa Black Bears.[6]

Regular season

The 2024 season introduced a new regular season format; conferences were abolished, with all teams now playing within the same standings. Each team played each other at least once, and the schedule formula provided the opportunity for four "flex games" to showcase league rivalries and and players. The top eight teams advanced to the playoffs.[7]Reference:[8]

PTeamGPWLPCTGBHomeRoadGFGADiffGF/GPGA/GP

1Toronto Rock – xz18153.8330.07–28–1218169+4912.119.39
2San Diego Seals – x18135.7222.08–15–4210178+3211.679.89
3Albany FireWolves – x18117.6114.05–46–3206191+1511.4410.61
4Buffalo Bandits – x18117.6114.06–35–4237212+2513.1711.78
5Georgia Swarm – x18108.5565.06–34–5198197+111.0010.94
6Halifax Thunderbirds – x18108.5565.06–34–5228200+2812.6711.11
7Panther City Lacrosse Club – x1899.5006.05–44–5205202+311.3911.22
8Rochester Knighthawks – x18810.4447.04–54–5214226−1211.8912.56
9New York Riptide18810.4447.04–54–5206234−2811.4413.00
10Saskatchewan Rush18810.4447.04–54–5217210+712.0611.67
11Calgary Roughnecks18810.4447.06–32–7198194+411.0010.78
12Vancouver Warriors18810.4447.05–43–6202211−911.2211.72
13Philadelphia Wings18612.3339.01–85–4198233−3511.0012.94
14Las Vegas Desert Dogs18513.27810.02–73–6176223−479.7812.39
15Colorado Mammoth18513.27810.04–51–8193226−3310.7212.56

x = clinched playoff berth | z = clinched top overall record

Playoffs

Quarterfinal Semifinal (best of 3) NLL Final (best of 3)
         
1 Toronto 9
8 Rochester 6
1 Toronto 0
4 Buffalo 2
4 Buffalo 10*
5 Georgia 9
4 Buffalo 2
3 Albany 0
2 San Diego 9*
7 Panther City 8
2 San Diego 0
3 Albany 2
3 Albany 9
6 Halifax 3

*Overtime

Awards

Annual awards

Award Winner Other Finalists
Most Valuable Player Josh Byrne, Buffalo Bandits[9] Dhane Smith, Buffalo Bandits[10]
Nick Rose, Toronto Rock
Goaltender of the Year Nick Rose, Toronto Rock[11] Doug Jamieson, Albany FireWolves[10]
Chris Origlieri, San Diego Seals
Defensive Player of the Year Ryan Dilks, Vancouver Warriors[11] Mitch de Snoo, Toronto Rock[10]
Brad Kri, Toronto Rock
Transition Player of the Year Jake Withers, Halifax Thunderbirds[11] Ian MacKay, Buffalo Bandits[10]
Shane Simpson, Calgary Roughnecks
Offensive Player of the Year Josh Byrne, Buffalo Bandits[11] Dhane Smith, Buffalo Bandits[10]
Jeff Teat, New York Riptide
Rookie of the Year Alex Simmons, Albany FireWolves[12] Owen Grant, Vancouver Warriors[10]
Tye Kurtz, Albany FireWolves
Sportsmanship Award Lyle Thompson, Georgia Swarm[13] Keegan Bal, Vancouver Warriors[10]
Tom Schreiber, Toronto Rock
GM of the Year Glenn Clark, Albany FireWolves[14] Jamie Dawick,[10] Toronto Rock
Curt Malawsky, Vancouver Warriors
Les Bartley Award Glenn Clark, Albany FireWolves[14] Curt Malawsky,[10] Vancouver Warriors
Matt Sawyer, Toronto Rock
Executive of the Year Award John Catalano, Halifax Thunderbirds[15] Mike Hancock,[10] Toronto Rock
Oliver Marti, Albany FireWolves
Teammate of the Year Award Zach Greer, Las Vegas Desert Dogs[13] not announced
Tom Borrelli Award Adam Levi, NLL.com, NLLPA, Inside Lacrosse, "Lacrosse Matrix" podcast[15] Teddy Jenner, TSN, "Off the CrosseBar" podcast[10]
Graeme Perrow, NLL Chatter

Stadiums and locations

Georgia Swarm Albany FireWolves New York Riptide Philadelphia Wings
Gas South Arena MVP Arena Nassau Coliseum Wells Fargo Center
Capacity: 11,355 Capacity: 14,236 Capacity: 13,917 Capacity: 19,543
Buffalo Bandits Halifax Thunderbirds Rochester Knighthawks Toronto Rock
KeyBank Center Scotiabank Centre[16] Blue Cross Arena First Ontario Centre
Capacity: 19,070 Capacity: 10,595 Capacity: 11,200 Capacity: 17,383
Calgary Roughnecks Colorado Mammoth San Diego Seals Saskatchewan Rush
WestJet Field at Scotiabank Saddledome Ball Arena Pechanga Arena Co-op Field at SaskTel Centre
Capacity: 19,289 Capacity: 18,007 Capacity: 12,920 Capacity: 15,190
Vancouver Warriors Las Vegas Desert Dogs Panther City Lacrosse Club
Rogers Arena Michelob Ultra Arena Dickies Arena
Capacity: 18,910 Capacity: 12,000 Capacity: 12,200

Attendance

Regular season

Home Team Home Games Average Attendance Total Attendance[17]
Buffalo Bandits 9 16,974 152,767
Calgary Roughnecks 9 11,713 105,417
Colorado Mammoth 9 10,380 93,416
Halifax Thunderbirds 9 9,165 82,484
Vancouver Warriors 9 8,874 79,867
Toronto Rock 9 8,636 77,727
Philadelphia Wings 9 8,364 75,276
Saskatchewan Rush 9 8,085 72,767
Las Vegas Desert Dogs 9 6,350 57,154
Georgia Swarm 9 6,231 56,079
Rochester Knighthawks 9 5,526 48,738
New York Riptide 9 4,891 44,021
San Diego Seals 9 4,667 42,002
Albany FireWolves 9 3,963 35,665
Panther City LC 9 2,704 24,332
League 135 7,768 1,047,712

Playoffs

Home Team Home Games Average Attendance Total Attendance[17]
Buffalo Bandits 3 17,749 53,247
Toronto Rock 2 7,032 14,064
San Diego Seals 2 4,903 9,805
Albany FireWolves 3 2,930 8,790
League 10 8,591 85,906

See also

References

  1. ^ Rigdon, Jay (October 26, 2021). "ESPN gets exclusive rights to National Lacrosse League in multiyear deal". Awful Announcing.
  2. ^ "Full Schedule".
  3. ^ "National Lacrosse League Heads to ESPN Under New Broadcast Deal". 26 October 2021.
  4. ^ Genetti, Dominic. "St. Louis Rhythm could be a reality if NLL's youth initiative works". The Edwardsville Intelligencer. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
  5. ^ "NLL returns to Montreal area for regular season game". TSN. 2023-11-16. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
  6. ^ "NLL's New York team to move to Ottawa and be renamed Black Bears starting next season". Toronto Star. The Canadian Press. February 21, 2024. Archived from the original on February 21, 2024. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  7. ^ "NLL ADOPTS UNIFIED STANDINGS FORMAT, UPDATED PLAYOFF STRUCTURE". National Lacrosse League. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  8. ^ "Standings". National Lacrosse League.
  9. ^ "JOSH BYRNE VOTED NATIONAL LACROSSE LEAGUE MVP". NLL.com. May 17, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "NATIONAL LACROSSE LEAGUE ANNOUNCES FINALISTS FOR 2023-24 NLL AWARDS". NLL.com. May 8, 2024. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  11. ^ a b c d "BUFFALO'S BYRNE, VANCOUVER'S DILKS, HALIFAX'S WITHERS AND TORONTO'S ROSE TAKE NLL POSITIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARDS". NLL.com. May 16, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  12. ^ "ALBANY'S ALEX SIMMONS WINS 2023-24 NLL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR". NLL.com. May 17, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  13. ^ a b "GEORGIA'S LYLE THOMPSON COLLECTS SIXTH STRAIGHT NLL SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD". NLL.com. May 14, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  14. ^ a b "ALBANY'S GLENN CLARK SCORES DOUBLE HONOR AS NLL COACH OF THE YEAR AND NLL GENERAL MANAGER OF THE YEAR". NLL.com. May 15, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  15. ^ a b "HALIFAX'S JOHN CATALANO SELECTED NLL EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR AS NATIONAL LACROSSE LEAGUE ANNOUNCED FIRST 2023-2024 AWARDS". NLL.com. May 13, 2024. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  16. ^ "NLL Announces brands and identities for its two newest teams". NLL.com. February 17, 2019. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
  17. ^ a b "2024 Season". nllstats.com. Retrieved 16 June 2023.