The Lacrosse Matrix Podcast

The Philadelphia Wings picked up their biggest win of the 2025-26 NLL Season in Week 11, beating the Buffalo Bandits 13-11 in Buffalo. Transition player Scott Dominey joins us to talk about his first goal in the NLL in over a year, his mindset during his recovery process after his ACL tear, and so much more.

Kyle Bennett of the Outside The Box Podcast also joins the podcast to give his analysis on the Philadelphia Wings season so far and what he expects from the team for the rest of the season.

The Colorado Mammoth's Andrew Kew is on fire right now.

Having played only 4 games, he's already totaled 33 points. He's also posted 10+ points in back-to-back games. The Mammoth are 6-2 on the season and sitting in 2nd place in the standings, and are riding a 5-game win streak.

Andrew and I talk about his hot start to the 2025-26 season, reminisce about his time with the Georgia Swarm, talk about golf & and so much more.

I also address the Rylan Hartley and Steph Charbonneau hit and explain the full context of my tweets regarding the issue and my thoughts on what went down.

Jack Hannah is one of the most dynamic and attention-grabbing goal scorers in the National Lacrosse League. He's a weapon when the ball is in his stick, whether he's going for goal or looking for his teammates.

As he starts the next phase of his NLL journey in Colorado after spending his first three seasons in the league with the Las Vegas Desert Dogs, the Mammoth's newest star is shining bright and making a great impression.

Jack and I had an extended conversation talking about his business, Lacrosse Den, how he's feeling fitting in with Mammoth, what impresses him most about his youngest teammates, and he has a message for the Desert Dogs fans.

You won't want to miss this jam-packed conversation with one of the brightest young stars in the game today.

Reed and Tye Kurtz are brothers, best friends, and both are very talented lacrosse players.

They've excelled as teammates at the collegiate level during their two years together at the University of Delaware, and now they're trying to one-up each other (while supporting one another) in the National Lacrosse League.

On January 3rd, they played their 2nd game against each other in the NLL. Hear their thoughts about that game, their time as teammates at UDel, their goals in the NLL as brothers, and so much more!

Tanner Cook is a leader of the Calgary Roughnecks offense. The 27-year-old has already scored 13 goals in only 5 games so far during the 2025-26 NLL Season. He's learned from some of the best Roughnecks in history and has taken on a new leadership role as he follows in their footsteps.

Tanner and I chatted about his tenure with the Roughnecks (and how long he wants to be with the club), His time learning from the likes of Dane Dobbie and Curtis Dickson, the talented youngsters on the team, and much more.

The Buffalo Bandits' Nick Weiss is one of the best all-around transition players in the National Lacrosse League today. He's a big team guy who will muck it up on the floor to grab any loose ball and to force as many caused turnovers as possible. He'll always find himself on the scoresheet every once in a while.

I spoke with the 3-time NLL champion and 6-time NLL Finals participant about the Bandits' run for a 4th consecutive championship, his little-talked-about rookie season with the Vancouver Stealth, and what we should expect for the Bandits' upcoming heavyweight matchup versus the Las Vegas Desert Dogs.

Enjoy this first episode of 2026!

Brett Hickey was one of the National Lacrosse League's most dominant goal scorers of the late 2010s. Especially during his time with the Toronto Rock, he was an offensive beast.

Now he's in the next phase of his lacrosse life, as the offensive coordinator of the Las Vegas Desert Dogs. Hickey and the Desert Dogs earned their first win of the season in Week 4 NLL action. Hickey and I break down that contest, talk about his playing career, and revisit the 2015 season, which will always hold a special place in his heart.

Ryan Lanchbury is one of the best passers in the National Lacrosse League. He's got the skill, the vision, and a special connection with his teammates that has helped him become one of the most difficult players to stop in the league.

In this conversation, Lanchbury and I talk about everything from his performance in Week 3, crying in sports, what it means for the Knighthawks to have an Indigenous owner, and so much more.

Check out this episode of TLMP with our fantastic guest, Ryan Lanchbury.

Joe Resetarits is arguably one of the best Americans to play in the National Lacrosse League. If we're being honest, with what he seems to have left in the tank, when it's all said and done, he will likely be in the conversation of the Top 20 or Top 15 forwards of all-time.

Resetarits is going to be taking on a bigger role without Mitch Jones on the team this year, but no matter who he's played with, Resetarits has been an elite scorer and playmaker.

In this conversation, I brought on a surprise guest for Joe, we talked about expectations for this season, and we chatted about his impact as an American in the box game.

Warren Hill delivered a historic performance in Week 2 of the National Lacrosse League season. He is now a member of an elite group of 3 men who have achieved a certain feat. Sit back, relax, and find out what Hill achieved in this episode.

We also spoke about the importance of the Haudenosaunee being included in the Olympics, the Six Nations Chiefs, and much more!

Robert Church is Mr. Rush. He holds many records in Saskatchewan/Edmonton Rush franchise history and will be making more Rush history this season. He's a dynamic goal scorer and an equally talented playmaker. He's hoping for a great season with his team, with the goal of helping them get back into the NLL Finals and competing for the NLL Cup.

In this conversation, Church and I cover a ton of topics, including what it felt like to come up short for the NLL Cup last season, who some of the bright young stars on the Rushs to have accomplished so many rare feats in Rush history, and so much more!

Tyler Pace is now the veteran guy on this year's young Calgary Roughnecks team. There's been tons of turnover with his team this offseason, which is giving him more of a leading role. He's ready for this opportunity - and who knows how many more opportunities he'll have like this in a Calgary Roughnecks uniform.

In the episode, Tyler and I chat about his future with the Roughnecks, what this new look team is going to be able to accomplish on the floor, his ranking among the all-time Roughnecks greats, and much more. Enjoy the conversation!

Mark Matthews has made a significant impact on the National Lacrosse League since his rookie season back in 2013. He's established himself as one of the most gifted facilitators in league history and has managed to stay on the floor without injury for almost the entirety of his career.

In this episode, Mark and I chat about the "secrets" to staying healthy, what this year's young Toronto Rock offense will look like with him back in the lineup, where he wants to finish his pro career, and much more.

Dyson Williams is one of the best young talents in the NLL. In his rookie season, he scored some BIG goals and helped his team earn a few hard-fought Ws. Now, coming into his sophomore season, Dyson is ready to improve upon his solid first year in the league.

With the FireWolves now in Oshawa, Ontario, having moved from Albany, #51 is back in his hometown, where his lacrosse career started. There is so much lacrosse history that has taken place in Oshawa and the Durham region, and now Williams is ready to make some more lasting memories.

This is an episode about life, love, and lacrosse. Enjoy this extended conversation with the 2025 NLL Rookie of the Year.

Damon Edwards has been one of the great leaders in the National Lacrosse League.

Recently, the former captain and 13-season NLL veteran decided it was time for him to retire from pro box lacrosse. This is his first extended interview since announcing his retirement from the NLL.

Damon and I talked about family, friendship, championship games, being resilient, and much more. Enjoy this latest edition of TLMP!

Dillon Ward is one of the best goalies of his generation, and arguably of all time. Whether he's playing in the PLL, NLL, or on the international stage, Ward shines on any stage.

In this episode of the Lacrosse Matrix, Ward and I talk PLL action with the Philadelphia Waterdogs, NLL action with the Colorado Mammoth, and so much more in this jam-packed episode of the pod.

The rust is coming off after a prolonged hiatus, but TLMP is back in business. Enjoy this episode!

It’s been 3+ years in the making, and now episode #100 of TLMP is officially here!

Over the years, I’ve spoken with some of the greatest athletes and smartest minds around the National Lacrosse League, talking to them about their careers and breaking down some of their most impressive statistical achievements.

Graeme Perrow’s site NLLStats.com has allowed me to dive into these guys' numbers like never before. Without Graeme’s website, this show wouldn’t be what it is today. That got me thinking: How can I thank Graeme for how much he’s helped me become who I am in the lacrosse world? Sure, I’ll buy him a beer (or two) when I see him next, but is there is a better way to honor the man who has complied all of the data when want to see than making him the featured guest on the 100th episode? I don’t think there is.

In this episode, Graeme tells his story about how he got involved in the NLL and all the different projects he’s been involved with over the years. We also go over some of the best features on NLLStats.com, and he gives me his thoughts on what we can expect in Week 21, the final weekend of the NLL regular season.

Cody Jamieson is one of the greatest lacrosse players of this generation, and many might say one of the best they’ve seen.

Since signing an NLL record-setting 10-year deal with the original Rochester Knighthawks back in 2010, Cody Jamieson has shined with the Knighthawks-turned-Halifax Thunderbirds.

He’s an excellent scorer and masterful facilitator, but he’s equally as great of a leader and teammate. Jamieson is one of the best ambassadors the NLL has ever had.

In this conversation, Jamieson and I spoke about a record he’s recently broken, records that he’ll soon be breaking, why he loves lacrosse, playing in front of the passionate Thunderbirds fans, and much more. Enjoy Ep. 99 of TLMP!

Shawn Williams is a National Lacrosse League Hall of Famer, a GM, and Head Coach. He was one of the greatest facilitators the NLL has ever seen. More importantly, though, he is a father and a husband.

Coach Williams is one of the most respected men in the NLL. He and his family have had to find their way through unimaginable grief after losing their youngest son, Tucker, to Burkett’s Lymphoma when he was still a young boy.

Over the last few years, Coach Williams has been the GM/Head Coach of the Las Vegas Desert Dogs. This season has not gone to plan (the team is 3-12 as of the release of this episode), but they plan to compete for a win for the rest of the 3 games remaining in their schedule.

Enjoy this conversation as Coach Williams and I chatted about so many of his players and what makes them valuable to the team. We discussed the passionate Desert Dogs fan base and much more.

Ed Comeau has coached a lot of National Lacrosse League regular season games - most of them with the Georgia Swarm. He has coached so many games in the NLL, in fact, that only Derek Keenan has coached more games.

Coach Comeau had the honor and privilege to learn from one of the greatest coaches in NLL history, Les Bartley. Since, Coach Comeau has gone on to achieve impressive feats and continues to be one of the leading and most respected coaches in the sport.

Enjoy this conversation as Coach Comeau and I chatted about his extended time in the NLL, including a very cool, yet brief stint with the New York Titans, some of the players that he’s coached in the NLL (and what they’re up to now) and much more.

The Albany FireWolves' Will Johansen is having a National Lacrosse League rookie season to remember. He’s been playing so well, in fact, that he may end up winning the NLL’s Rookie of the Year.

Johansen is a Victoria, British Columbia native but spent his collegiate years playing at Robert Morris University alongside a handful of Canadians who are playing in the NLL.

As of this episode, Johansen’s FireWolves are on a 3-game win streak and sit 11th in the standings. They are still very much in the playoff hunt, which is great for them as the team is heating up at the right time.

Check out this conversation with Will Johansen as we talk about injuries, RMU, Canadians playing field lacrosse, March Madness, the FireWolves season, and so much more.

The Buffalo Bandits Kyle Buchanan brings a veteran presence and unwavering skill to the floor every week.

Buchanan was picked in the last round (6th) in the 2012 NLL Entry Draft. He has proved a lot of doubters wrong throughout his pro career, and this season, 12 years in at 37 years old, he’s on pace to set a new single-season-high in goals.

Originally from Ottawa, Buchanan thought, for a moment, and maybe playing for the Ottawa Black Bears this season, but realistically, he was not going to leave a great situation in Buffalo.

In this conversation, you’ll hear all about his thought process about coming back to play for the Bandits this season, the emotional roller coaster ride of the past few weeks for the Bandits, how the Bandits play team ball, and much more.

Make sure to check out this episode featuring a player who could go on to be part of an extremely rare NLL three-peat.

Connor Robinson is an NLL champion and a staple on the Colorado Mammoth offense.

It’s great for the league that he has been able to blossom into the player that many expected to be in Colorado because in Saskatchewan (when he was with the Saskatchewan Rush for the earliest parts of his NLL career), it wasn’t clear what was going to become of Robinson.

He’s been a top scorer for the Mammoth, and this season he is one of the team’s best playmakers. He’s a versatile talent that play an important role on a team with a deep offensive.

In this conversation, we spoke about the Mammoth’s success this season and compared it to the low points of last season. We also talked about the team’s mentality without the likes of Zed Williams and Eli McLaughlin. We also spoke a lot about his time at High Point University, the growth of lacrosse in the Carolinas, and his Jr. A ball with the New Westminster Salmonbellies.

The Calgary Roughnecks have surprised a lot of lacrosse fans during the 2024-25 NLL Season. Heading into Week 16 action, the Roughneck are 7-6 and sitting in 6th place in the standings.

Justin Inacio has played an integral role in the team’s success this season. He’s been very reliable at the face-off dot and making sure his offense gets ample opportunities with the ball.

The fact that he’s been as good as he has been this year despite missing much of last season due to a hamstring injury and other lower body injuries prior to that makes what he’s doing even more impressive.

In this episode, Justin and I talked about his injuries, his success this season, what it was like to beat the Buffalo Bandits in Banditland, the remainder of the Roughnecks' season coming up, and we chatted a lot about The Ohio State University.

Josh Sanderson is a legend of the National Lacrosse League. He is one of the rare NLL Hall of Fame players for a reason.

His playing career (1998-2016) was one of the greatest spectacles the lacrosse world has ever seen. Now as the Head Coach of the Calgary Roughnecks, he’s hoping to find tremendous success on the bench.

Coach Sanderson touched on a bevy of interesting topics in our conversation, from his early days in the NLL to what made him such a great facilitator to his introduction to being a head coach in the NLL and much more.

Corey Small has been one of the most consistent excellent goal scorers in NLL history.

He’s scored over 400+ goals in his NLL regular season career over 14 seasons. He’s a 7-time 30+ goal scorer, and has also tallied over 900 points.

A St. Catharines, Ontario native, Small has grown up watching some great lacrosse players. He’s watched a lot of Buffalo Bandits’ games in his life, but since joining the Toronto Rock ahead of the 2022-23 season, he’s grown to hate them (at least during the season).

Small and I chatted about his greatness as a goal scorer, his dominance in Vancouver, his connections with Rhys Duch, John Lintz, and Brett Mydske and much more.

This was a fun, candid conversation you won’t want to miss.

Thomas McConvey is one of the brightest young stars in the National Lacrosse League.

At only 24-years-old he’s made his mark in NLL and Rochester Knighthawks history. I guess, we shouldn’t have expected much less from the #1 overall draft pick in the 2022 NLL Entry Draft.

While McConvey had a great rookie year, he’s on pace to set new career-highs in multiple categories in his sophomore season. He’s really panning out to be what many of us expected him to be.

Enjoy this conversation with the rising Knighthawks star. We talked about his big game performances so far in his NLL career, his time at the University of Vermont, the gruelling schedule the Knighthawks faced in their first 12 games, and much more!

Paul Dawson embodies what it means to be a gritty warrior when he steps onto NLL floors.

He is tough, he is fearless, and he’ll do whatever he has to do to help his team win games. He has played a pivotal role in the Bandits' success over the last year, including helping them win the NLL Cup in 2024.

Dawson is one of the best at blocking shots in the NLL and we talked all about how he has the guts to step in front of a hard rubber ball that’s going around 80mph.

In this conversation, Paul and I talk about the Bandits' hot start to their season, his experience of being traded last season, his golf experience in San Diego, his side gig as a podcast co-host, and more.

You won’t want to miss this candid conversation with one of the NLL’s most battle-tested veterans.

San Diego Seals Captain Wes Berg knows how to help his team win.

In Week 12 NLL action, Berg led his Seals into Banditland to face the Buffalo Bandits and helped his side to a dramatic 14-13 OT win. Berg not only scored 5 goals in that game, but he also scored the game-winner in OT.

Despite the Seals’ 3-5 start, they have now won 2 massive road games against the Toronto Rock and Bandits, respectively, to move to 5-5 on the season. They are now right back in the thick of the playoff race, currently sitting in 9th, only behind the Vancouver Warriors for that final playoff spot because of tie-breaks.

But this conversation involved much more than chatting about the Seals’ most recent game. Berg and I talked about fishing, great brunch spots in San Diego, and much more. Make sure you give this one a listen to stay up-to-date on everything Seals’ lacrosse and Wes Berg.

Tyrell Hamer-Jackson is back in the National Lacrosse League.

The face-off man/defenseman has signed a 1-year deal with the Las Vegas Desert Dogs, a team that has been looking for their long-term reliable guy at the dot since their inaugural season in 2022.

Hamer-Jackson had a couple of great years, winning draws in Vancouver with the Vancouver Warriors in 2022 and 2023. Now with the Desert Dogs, he’s focused on taking things one draw a time.

We also chatted about Hamer-Jackson’s Loading Lacrosse and his very unique and exciting day job.

Give this a listen. If you’re a Desert Dogs fan, you’ll want to learn all about your newest guy at the dot.

Connor Kirst is the captain of the Las Vegas Desert Dogs. He has been a leader in every sense of the world, both on and off the floor.

He is one of the rare Americans who has ever been a captain of an American National Lacrosse League team. What an incredible honor to have for a guy and a family that has given so much to the beautiful game of lacrosse both in the box and on the field.

Enjoy the in-depth conversation with Captain Kirst. We chatted about everything from his history playing box to being named captain of the Desert Dogs to his brother CJ Kirst of Cornell University helping to raise money for CityLax through their #GBSFORNYC initiative.

Christian Del Bianco is considered to be one of, if not the best, NLL goaltenders, and he’s not even playing in the NLL this season.

The former Calgary Roughnecks goaltender, NLL Goaltender of the Year, and NLL champion is hoping to get back into the NLL after he told the Roughnecks he wasn’t going to play for them anymore. Still, the Roughnecks have not let him go anywhere just yet.

Del Bianco has been playing in the Arena Lacrosse League for the Grizzles while he’s been out of the NLL and has been one of that league’s best goaltenders this season.

Del Bianco and I talked about everything that is going on in his life right now, from the ALL to moving into his new home and dove into his past and present in the NLL.

We don’t hear from Christian Del Bianco often when it comes to all of these issues (unless through a humorous tweet), so make sure to give this entire conversation a listen to get all the latest on the Christian Del Bianco saga and much more.

We can never forget about the people who paved the way to make the National Lacrosse League what it is today.

Neil Doddridge played in the NLL for 14 seasons from 1991-2005. He played in 8 different cities during his time in the league and won two NLL championships, one in 1991 with the Detroit Turbos and the other in 1996 with the Buffalo Bandits.

He was a tough, no-nonsense defender who always had his teammate's backs. Many of the guys he played with became NLL legends, including Paul Gait, Gary Gait, and John Tavares.

Neil and I dove into his long history in the NLL, what the game and the league were like in the 1990s and early 2000s, and much more.

The Toronto Rock’s Tom Schreiber, aka “Captain America,” is one of the best Americans to ever play in the National Lacrosse League.

Schreiber has recently returned to the floor for the Rock after recovering from yet another injury. In his first couple of games back, he looks locked in. He is now on the cusp of moving up the Rock’s all-time ranks in both assists and goals - he could achieve both milestones this weekend.

Enjoy this conversation as Tom and I chat about the Rock, dishing the rock, scoring for the Rock, and a little bit about the NFL playoffs.

Larson Sundown is one of the most talented offensive stars on the Ottawa Black Bears. He is a versatile scorer that can make teams pay from all of the floor.

In recent weeks, Sundown is playing some of his best lacrosse, not only of this National Lacrosse League season, but of his career. Having posted back-to-back hat tricks in coming into the Black Bears’ Week 9 NLL game against the Vancouver Warriors, it’s fair to say Larson Sundown is feeling it right now.

Beyond being a rising star in the NLL, Sundown is a family man who embraces his, and the sport’s rich cultural history. Sit back and enjoy this episode with Larson Sundown where we talk about lacrosse, family, indigenous culture, and much more.

Pat Coyle is one of the winningest head coaches in NLL history.

After he led his Colorado Mammoth to a thrilling 15-13 comeback victory on the team’s home floor in Denver in Week 7 against the Albany FireWolves, Coyle passed Chris Hall for the 9th-most head coaching wins in NLL history, earning W #86.

Having been a leader on the bench for this team since 2014, Coyle has been through it all with his guys. He’s had some down years, but he’s also won an NLL Cup with this club during his coaching career.

Enjoy this conversation where Coach Coyle and I take a deep dive into his time coaching the Mammoth, and his time as a player with the Mammoth, as well.

The Lacrosse Matrix Podcast is back. This week, a Vancouver lacrosse fan-favorite and Vancouver Warriors/Stealth all-time great, Logan Schuss, was the featured guest of the week.

Schuss is not currently signed to any NLL team, but he is eager to get back on the floor and is ready to play any positive role to help win a team a championship.

Schuss and I spoke about his time with the Minnesota Swarm, his time with the Warriors and Stealth, his brief stint with the Calgary Roughnecks, and what his future looks like.

Note: I apologize; there were some audio issues during this episode, particularly between the 10:00 and 12:00 minute marks of the show.

It’s not every day that you get to listen to and learn from a National Lacrosse League Hall of Famer, but for episode 79, you get that opportunity. Happy Holidays.

Tracey Kelusky is the current Associate Head Coach and Offensive Coach of the Philadelphia Wings. He is also a former player and a two-time NLL champion.

Coach Kelusky hopped on the pod to chat about his playing days, his journey as a coach in the NLL, and, most notably, his 2024-25 Wings team. Throughout the conversation you’ll hear all about the incredible record-setting games that Kelusky has been a part of.

It’s a conversation you won’t want to miss ahead of the Wings’ Week Five clash against the Saskatchewan Rush this weekend - check it out!

Happy Holidays to all of the listeners out there, and thank you for checking out this latest edition of the TLMP.

In this episode, I spoke with one of the hottest goalscorers in the NLL right now, the Saskatchewan Rush’s Zach Manns. Opposing teams need to get the ball out of Manns’ stick because, right now, he’s unstoppable.

Zach and I spoke about what he’s done to improve as a goalscorer, what it’s been like playing with the Rush, his time in Toronto with the Rock, and so much more. Make sure to give this awesome episode a listen!

The Lacrosse Matrix Podcast is back, and so are the experts. This week, we've got two new experts to talk about the Philadelphia Wings and the Georgia Swarm.

Ty Merrow of Tymerlacrosse.com is on the show to talk about Swarm, which he knows so well (the team he used to work for). Kyle Bennett of Outside the Box Podcast also joins me to go over everything Philadelphia Wings related.

We've got two awesome extended conversations in the episode, so sit back, relax, and get ready to consume a ton of nuggets - nuggets that will get you very ready for Week Four National Lacrosse League action.

The Lacrosse Matrix Podcast is back for episode #76 with an awesome conversation with the Georgia Swarm’s Joey Cupido aka “Lightning”. The Swarm are off to a hot start this NLL season - they are having their best start in the post-COVID NLL era. Cupido has tried to do anything he can to help the team win, and it appears to be helping.

Cupido spent 12 National Lacrosse League seasons with the Colorado Mammoth, the team he was drafted by in 2011, before signing with the Georgia Swarm this past offseason. Now in his mid-30s, Cupido is feeling re-energized and ready to have a solid season with the Swarm.

Enjoy this episode as Cupido and I discuss the Swarm, the Mammoth, winning an NLL championship, the importance of having a good connection with your goalie, and whether transition is really a position. You won’t want to miss this episode featuring one of the newest members of the Georgia Swarm.

Whether you’re a National Lacrosse League fan, a Premier Lacrosse League fan, or a University of Denver lacrosse fan, episode #75 of TLMP is one you’ll want to check out because Jack Hannah hopped on for a great chat.

Jack is one of the brightest up-and-coming stars of the NLL and one of the most successful Americans in the big game right now. Early on this 2024-25 season, Hannah seems poised for his best season yet, particularly when it comes to scoring.

We talked about the incredible university-to-box pipeline that is the University of Denver, the growing number of Americans playing in the NLL, his goalscoring prowess, what it’s like playing with a talented facilitator in Jonathan Donville, a friend of the podcast and one of the newest members of the Desert Dogs, and so much more.

The Lacrosse Matrix Podcast is back for episode #74 with the San Diego Seals’ Rob Hellyer. Hellyer has been an elite playmaker in the National Lacrosse League for more than a dozen years. But he’s not just great at finding his teammates; he’s proven to be a solid goalscorer, too.

In his season and team debut with the Seals, Hellyer wonderfully showcased his passing and scoring abilities. Was his three goal and three assist outing an example of what we can expect from him this season? It helped the Seals start out their season at 1-0 in Week One vs. Philadelphia Wings. We’ll have to wait and find out what he does going forward.

Enjoy this latest episode of TLMP, and don’t forget to sign up and make your picks for Preston’s Picks on officepooljunkie.com before 5pm EST every Friday to compete for awesome lacrosse prizes. Each week, the winner will also have a $51 donation made in their name to support the Tucker Williams Braver Than Brave Memorial Fund, which supports research for pediatric lymphoma.

The Ottawa Black Bears' Zach Higgins was electric in the team's 11-5 home win - the first home win in their new city (after moving from Long Island, New York, and changing their name from the New York Riptide).

Even more impressive, Higgins made his 38 saves and shut down the Rock in his team debut - he was traded from the Philadelphia Wings over the offseason.

Hear Higgins' thoughts about the game, his performance, which earned him NLL Player of the Week honors, the fans in Ottawa, and much more in this latest edition of TLMP.

The National Lacrosse League’s Las Vegas Desert Dogs have a new star in town. Jonathan Donville is an elite athlete and one of the most interesting up-and-coming lacrosse media personalities. He is a former NLL #1 overall pick, a former Rookie of the Year, and one of the best young facilitators in the game today.

Jon sat down with me to discuss his past with Panther City Lacrosse Club, his future with the Desert Dogs, and what plans he has in the media space. There was so much we covered in our 30-minute conversation.

Donville makes his Desert Dogs team debut on Saturday, November 30th vs. Rochester Knighthawks. It will be intriguing to see what difference he makes with his new club. I know I expect him to be a very impactful member of the offense.

Owen Grant was a great National Lacrosse League defender last season, and he was just a rookie. Now, going into his sophomore season, he's ready to keep improving.

Not only does Grant have the privilege to get to play alongside other young, talented guys in the NLL, such as Reid Bowering and Brayden Laity, but he also has the privilege of learning from some of the best defenders to ever do it in Ryan Dilks, Brett Mydske, and Matt Beers.

Hear all about Grant's time with the Warriors and so much more in this week's episode of TLMP!

Austin Shanks was an elite playmaker last National Lacrosse League season. He recorded a career-high 62 assists, which was the 12th-most assists in the NLL last year. How was he able to up his assist-game as much as he did? Was there anyone in particular that helped him to be as successful as he was?

Over the offseason, Shanks signed a two-year deal with the Saskatchewan Rush. Will Shanks be able to keep up those kind of assist numbers with his new club? Is there anyone in particular he feels like he’ll have a strong chemistry with?

Find out all these answers and more in this latest episode of TLMP. This is the last episode before the season starts, so make sure to catch up on all of the preseason episodes that have come out in the last month before this season starts. It’s going to be an incredible NLL season!

Welcome to another expert edition of The Lacrosse Matrix Podcast ahead of the 2024-25 NLL Season.

In the last episode, we spoke with four leading NLL experts (Jake Elliott, Brad Challoner, Tino Fera, and Cody Janzen. This week, I've brought in three more of the wisest NLL minds. We've got Teddy Jenner, Pat Gregoire, and Mitch Besile to go over some key talking points before this season gets rolling.

Now, sit back, relax, and get ready to take in a boatload of nuggets as you head deep into the matrix. By the end of this episode, I promise you'll be more prepared for this NLL season than you were before.

We are only a few weeks away from the start of the 2024-25 NLL Season. There is no better time to hear from the best analysts in the business about what to expect from your favorite National Lacrosse League players and teams. On this episode, I'm joined by the four wise men: Jake Elliott, Brad Challoner, Tino Fera, and Cody Janzen.

Alex Simmons was the star rookie last National Lacrosse League season - he earned Rookie of the Year honors after his tremendous season. He scored a bunch, tallied almost more points than any other rookie in NLL history, and took a ton of shots.

Alex and I discuss his rookie year, the confidence he got from his teammates and coaches, and his thoughts on this year's FireWolves club.

Dan Coates is going into his 12th National Lacrosse League season (4th with the Knighthawks). He is a talented player on and off the floor, and his discipline (especially during his time in Rochester) has been second to none. Since joining the Knighthawks, he has established himself as one of the few defenders in the league who barely racks up any penalty minutes. Listen to some of Dan's lessons and tips on how to be a top defender in the NLL without being sent to the penalty box.

The New York Riptide are in the midst of their hottest offensive streak in franchise history. Offensive Coach Jason Crosbie has played a big role in that. In this episode, I talk to him about his expectations for the Riptide offense for the remainder of this NLL season, and we also touch on his playing career.

Riley Hutchcraft has come a long way in his National Lacrosse League career. Finally, in his 6th season in the NLL, Hutchcraft is getting more opportunities in net than ever before. The circumstances behind that are not necessarily ideal for the team, but Hutchcraft is taking full advantage of every opportunity he's getting in net.

Mike Hasen has been a head coach in the NLL for over a decade and has only coached for Rochester. He's coached the old Knighthawks and now the new Knighthawks. He needs only one win to become the 6th head coach in NLL history to reach 100 head coaching wins. What does reaching that mark mean to him, and how has his previous success been helping them in the now?

The Albany FireWolves are off to a fantastic 2-0 start to the 2023-24 NLL Season. Marshall Powless has played a key role in that. Since he came to Albany in the middle of last season, the former 1st round pick has started to show the box lacrosse world what he's capable of.

Kyle Jackson is a family man, a high school lacrosse coach, and an NLL player. He took more than a year away from the pro box lacrosse game to focus on those first two pieces of his life. Now, he is back in the NLL and with a new team. Hear from Kyle about his journey back to the NLL and why he made the decision to come back.

Ian Mackay is one of the NLL's elite transition players, and he has been since he came into the league for the 2018-19 season. He's a do-it-all kind of player and is one of the more understated and underrated top players in the NLL. Hailing from the small town of Port Elgin, Ontario, Mackay has made quite the name for himself as one of the world's best lacrosse players.

Blaze Riorden is already a Philadelphia Wings lacrosse legend, and he still has so much left to give. He is the franchise's leading goalscorer and is coming off a career year where he set career highs in goals, assists, and points. Hear what he has to say about his past, present, and future with the Wings.

Holden Cattoni is one of the newest big-time playmakers on the Philadelphia Wings. Over the summer, he signed a 3-year deal with the Wings after being traded to the team from the Rochester Knighthawks. Throughout his career, he has made a positive impact on the Calgary Roughnecks, Georgia Swarm, and Knighthawks. Can he be a difference-maker on the Wings and help lead them to their first NLL Cup in team history?

Before there was Jeff Teat, there was Dan Teat. Dan, the father of the New York Riptide's superstar, Jeff, was a great player in his own right for 14 seasons in the NLL. In our conversations, Dan and chat about lacrosse and life. And, don't worry, I do mention the NLL Finals, which start on May 27th, 2023!

The Buffalo Bandits are headed to their 3rd consecutive NLL Finals, and Chris Cloutier has a lot to do with that. The forward has one of the brightest stars during the playoffs, and there's no indication that he's going to slow down any time soon. At 27 years old, Cloutier is becoming a dynamic scorer in this league. This is his story of how he got to where he is today.

Jim Veltman is an 8-time NLL champion - he won 3 with the Buffalo Bandits and 5 with the Toronto Rock - and he participated in 10 NLL Finals. He is a loose ball wizard and is a great passer as well. Have a listen to NLL Hall of Famer Jim Veltman's story through the NLL.

Dallas Eliuk is an NLL Hall of Famer who played in the NLL from 1991-2008. He is a 4-time NLL champion and has competed in the NLL Finals 8 times. To this day, he remains in the Top-10 in all major goaltending statistical categories in both regular season and postseason play. Hear Dallas' story about his time in the NLL, how times have changed in the NLL, and what he's still doing to help the sport of box lacrosse grow in North America.

The Knighthawks made it to their first postseason in franchise history in large part to the effort of their starting goaltender, Rylan Hartley. However, Hartley's backup, Riley Hutchcraft, is a very capable goaltender in his own right. Both guys are still so young, and they have already logged so many minutes in net in the professional ranks. Hear what they have to say about the regular season, the team's first postseason appearance, and their futures.

The Halifax Thunderbirds Jake Withers is great at the face-off X, but he can do so much more. He is a very reliable defenseman and always steps up to do whatever is asked of him. He is a big team guy that isn't focused on personal records, but he did almost set 2 NLL single-season records during the NLL regular season. Listen to Jake Talk about the playoffs, his regular season, and even the UFC!

Jim Else is a lacrosse fan. He is a lacrosse like no other. He has gotten to know so many players so well over the years, and they've helped him through some tough times in life. Jim is a loyal Victoria Shamrocks fan when it comes to WLA action and a Calgary Roughnecks fan when it comes to the NLL. Hear what it's like being a "super" fan and how lacrosse can help create tremendous positive change in your life when you need it the most. This is the story of Jim Else.

CityLax was started in 2005 with a mission to develop and expand the game of lacrosse inside New York City public schools through a public-private partnership model. Over nearly 2 decades, CityLax has worked with dozens of schools and taught hundreds and hundreds of kids about the game of lacrosse. I also helped CityLax on the administrative side of things about 10 years ago. Here's the story of CityLax as told by founder Mat Levine and the newly appointed CEO Eamon McAnaney.

Andrew Kew is having the best year that not enough people are talking about. Kew has played a pivotal role in the Swarm's turnaround, and even with two games remaining in the NLL season, he has already set multiple personal single-season records. The Big question down the stretch is: Can Andrew Kew and the Swarm make it into this year's playoffs?

Mike Hasen is a winner. He's won a championship as a player in the NLL and won multiple titles as the Head Coach of the Rochester Knighthawks. He's essentially spent more time in Rochester over the last 30 years than anywhere else. Hear his story in this week's episode!

Ed Comeau has been a coach in the NLL for over 2 decades. In 2004, he got his 1st experience being a head coach, but it wasn't until 2006 that he was the leader on the bench for an entire season. Coach Comeau has had a tremendously successful head coaching career and is one of the league's winningest coaches. Hear about his journey as a head coach in this week's episode!

Troy Cordingley began playing in the NLL in 1993. About a decade later, in the early 2000s, he began his coaching career as an assistant coach. Shortly after that, in 2009, he began his heading coaching career. He has now coached over 200 games in the NLL and won multiple championships. He has won two NLL Coach of the Year awards and is hoping to make his newest team, the Vancouver Warriors, NLL champs. Thanks to Coach Cordingley for sharing his NLL story!

Corey Small has become a bit of a journeyman in the NLL. Over the last 4 seasons, he has played for 3 teams. But it hasn't mattered where he's played in his 12-year NLL career; Small has played very well wearing any jersey. This season with the Rock, Small is having a career year and is hoping to win his 1st NLL title with the Rock. In this episode, I examine Small's career in the NLL and how he's been able to play so well this year. Tom Schreiber and Pro Lacrosse Talk Founder Hutton Jackson also join me for this episode.

Move over, Kevin Crowley, there's a new franchise goals leader on the Philadelphia Wings, and his name is Blaze Riorden. Going into Week 16 action of this NLL season, Blaze has scored 82 career goals with the Wings, passing Crowley, who put 80 goals in the net. Matt Rambo currently has 79 goals for the Wings and he will likely pass Crowley as well this weekend - the Wings play 2 games in Week 16. Hear from Blaze about his journey to becoming the franchise leader in goals. It's been a wild ride, but he wouldn't change a thing!

One of the reasons so many of us love the NLL and its players is that these supreme athletes are so much more than just athletes. They are fathers and/or husbands or all-around busy guys who often work full-time jobs. NLLPA Vice President and Executive Director Reid Reinholdt is one of those guys. Not only does he hold very important responsibilities for the NLLPA, but he's also a key veteran piece on the Las Vegas Desert Dogs. Hear about the Desert Dogs and what's going on with the NLLPA in the episode of The Lacrosse Matrix Podcast.

Mitch Jones is back playing in the East Conference, and he is playing the best lacrosse (statically speaking) of his career. He's had some great years with the Buffalo Bandits and then with Vancouver Warriors, but his 4-game stretch ahead of Week 15 action in the NLL is his best yet. Hear from Mitch and his former Warriors teammate Logan Schuss about how Mitch is doing so well with his new team.

Teddy Jenner played in the NLL from 2002-2007. In 2009 he began his broadcasting career. By 2016, he was the play-by-play man of the Colorado Mammoth. Now you can hear and see teddy on the NLL Game of the Week on TSN, and you can listen to his podcast, which he co-hosts with Pat Gregoire, Off The Crossbar (OTCB). Thank you Teddy for joining me for this week's episode!

The Buffalo Bandits Dhane Smith keeps getting better and better. He is once again on pace to break a couple of single-season NLL records. More importantly, his team is 8-2 this NLL Season, and he is determined to help win his team an NLL Cup this season. Thank you to Dhane Smith, Bandits Head Coach John Tavares, and Brad McCulley for joining the podcast this week!

Rob Hellyer made a name for himself in the NLL while playing with the Toronto Rock for 10 seasons. Now, as a member of the Las Vegas Desert Dogs, Hellyer is on pace to have one of the best seasons of his career. Thank you to Rob Hellyer, Desert Dogs HC Shawn Williams, and IL Indoor's Bob Chavez for joining me this week!

In Week 9 of this NLL season, PCLC's Will Malcolm and Jonathan Donville put on a clinic. The young duo combined for 25 points in a huge 20-7 win against Vancouver. Hear how they were able to be so successful that night and how they have been able to be so good for this season. We also talk about what the team needs to do going forward to keep wins coming. Thank you to Will Malcolm and Jonathan Donville for joining me!

The Halifax Thunderbirds Clarke Petterson is one of the raising stars in the NLL. He is a multi-faceted athlete who has become one of the leading facilitators in the league - he's not too shabby when it comes to goal scoring, too. What makes Petterson stand out as a player though, is the way he studies the game. He is one of the smartest minds around the league and he's just 25 years old.

Thanks to Clarke Petterson, Thunderbirds Defensive Coach Billy Dee Smith, and NLL/TSN Analyst Pat Gregoire for joining this week!

I took a short trip to New York last week and took the opportunity to feature my dad on this week's episode of the podcast. My dad is a Friends School of Baltimore lacrosse and Trinty college lacrosse alumnus. He introduced me to lacrosse when I was a young kid, and I wouldn't be involved with the game had he not had me play. Hear the story of his 22 years in lacrosse.

There's only a handful full of NLL legends. There's an even smaller handful of American NLL legends. Casey Power is at or very, very near the top of that mountain. As an American, he excelled in a game that he didn't have that much experience in. Hear his story about how he became the American NLL legend he is today and who some of his other favorite Americans to play in the NLL are.

The Georgia Swarm have had the privilege of having Lyle Thompson and Shayne Jackson for a number of years now. Each of them have been racking up their assist totals over the years and have either reached or are nearing significant personal milestones. They have been key faces of this franchise for so long and are continuing to excel at their craft. 

Thank you to HC Ed Comeau, Shayne Jackson, and Ty Merrow for joining the podcast this week.

The Vancouver Warriors aren't happy with their 0-3 start to the 2022-23 NLL Season, but many of their players can be proud of nearing significant milestones. Thank you so much to Shawn Evans, Mitch Jones, Reid Bowering, Warriors HC Troy Cordingley & The Province's (newspaper) Steve Ewen for joining me this week.

Zach Currier is an elite player in the NLL - The IL Indoor, which I am a part of, voted him as the #1 player in the NLL. Hear from Zach Currier, Eli Salama and Roughnecks PxP announcer Grant Farhall, for joining this week and sharing their thoughts on the Roughnecks superstar

Tyler Burton is a journeyman of the NLL, and his life story has been equally filled with twists and turns, ups and downs. However, it seems that each year in the NLL, Burton is becoming more and more of a complete player on and off the floor. Thank you to Tyler Burton, PCLC HC Tracey Kelusky, and Brad Challoner for joining the podcast this week. And, always a special thank you to the NLL's director of statistics, Rob Benson, for his contributions!

It's rare to find a player these days in any sport that desires to stick with one team for over a decade; Brett Manney has done that with the Albany FireWolves/New England Black Wolves /(old) Philadelphia Wings. Now nearing 200 NLL games played and having played the most games played for this  organization, Manney joined the podcast to reflect back on his career and what he still wants to accomplish

It's always great talking to true legends of the NLL, especially when they are still giving 110% to their teams in pursuit of trying to win an NLL title. Thank you to Dan Dawson, Brodie Merrill, and Jake Elliott for joining this week!

Kyle Rubisch is a master at causing turnovers. He is about to become the 1st player in NLL history to reach 400 CTOs - no one else has even reached 300 CTOs. Thank you to Kyle Rubsich, Ryan Dilks, and Cody Janzen for your contributions this week!

There is no Georgia Swarm player that would earn the title "Mr. Swarm" more than Jordan MacIntosh (Shayne Jackson might have something to say about this). He is the longest-tenured player in the organization and holds club records for face-offs won, caused turnovers and loose balls. Hear from Jordan why he signed a new three year contract and why he loves being with the Swarm. Thank you to Jordan MacIntosh, HC Ed Comeau, Chris Mooneyham and the Philadelphia Wings Kiel Matisz (MacIntosh's former teammate) for your contributions!

In an NLL offseason where there was an insane amount of roster changes around the league, the Philadelphia Wings jumped in on that and signed Joe Resetarits after the loss of Kevin Crowley. Hear how Joe is going to fit in with the Wings and how he ended up with the team in the first place. Thank you to Joe Resetarits, GM and HC Paul Day, Kiel Matisz, and Brian Andrew of Pro Lacrosse Talk for your contributions!

The NLL regular season is almost upon us, and to get ready for those games, the team's around the league will be starting training camp during the final weekend of October. Having just experienced one of the wildest off-seasons in NLL history with all the player movement that went down, plenty of teams have a lot to work out before the season begins. Thank you to the Albany FireWolves' HC Glen Clark, the New Yor Riptide's Jake Fox, the Rochester Knighthawks' Connor Fields, the Las Vegas Desert Dogs Reid Reinholdt and Brian Shanahan for joining me this week

The San Diego Seals added two incredible veteran offensive talents this offseason in Kevin Crowley and Curtis Dickson. They instantly catapult the Seals to be NLL title favorites. Thank you to Curtis, Kevin and our analyst of the week, Nick Ossello, for joining the podcast this week. WARNING: There is some explicit content in this episode.

There are only a handful of guys who have averaged at least 75 points in the NLL over the last 3 years and the Vancouver Warriors' Keegan Bal is one of them. Keegan has proven that he is one of the elite offensive players in box lacrosse, and his stats back it up. Hear what his teammates and his head coach have to say about his play since 2019. Thank you to Warriors' Head Coach Troy Cordingley, Logan Schuss, Keegan Bal, Kyle Killen and Tino Fera for your contributions!

The Toronto Rock have brought in hometown boy Stephen Keogh (as well as other veterans) to try and win an NLL Championship. Keogh is not only hoping to win an NLL title with his hometown team, he is also hoping to reach a handful of milestones this season. Thank you to Rock HC Matt Sawyer, Challen Rogers, Austin Owens and Stephen Keogh for joining this week!

History is made as the Peterborough Lakers win their 4th straight Mann Cup. They become only the 2nd team since 1932 to win the Mann Cup 4 straight times. Thank you to Tracey Kelusky, Mike Hasen, Matt Vinc, Robert Hope and Stephen Stamp for joining me for the 1st episode of season 2 of The Lacrosse Matrix Podcast! 

The Calgary Roughnecks Jesse King had the best year of his NLL career this past season and now he is having the best season of his WLA career this summer. Staying healthy and taking on a new leadership role has helped Jesse become the elite player that he is and most expected him to be after being drafted 3rd overall in the 2015 NLL Draft. King gives thanks and appreciation to his family, friends, and mentors for all the success he's had. 

Thank you to Roughnecks Head Coach Curt Malawsky, Shamrocks Head Coach Mike Simpson, Jesse King, and NLL/TSN Lacrosse Analsyt, Teddy Jenner for joining the podcast this week!

Finally, after 16 years, the Colorado Mammoth are NLL Champions once again. Congratulations to every one of the coaches, players, and staff on this incredible achievement. 

Thank you to the amazing guests this week Pat Gregoire, Pat Coyle, Joey Cupido, and our featured guest Dillon Ward

It is the final and deciding game of the NLL Finals. Game 3 will decide who lifts the NLL Cup: Will it be the Buffalo Bandits or the Colorado Mammoth. Each of the teams' captains chimed in with their thoughts before the big game on Saturday, June 18th. 

Thank you to Steve Priolo, Robert Hope and the analyst of the week, Teddy Jenner.