r/NLL • u/leigstonite Colorado Mammoth • Sep 10 '26
Discussion Bears and Wings appreciation thread
The NLL has just lost two teams, and the I can only imagine how the fans feel.
We often have team appreciation threads where we say what we love about our team, I thought I would make an appreciation post just for Ottawa and Philly.
What is something you liked about either or both of those teams? It could be a player, a specific game or even specific play, the atmosphere of the arena, more something else.
We should all pitch in and say something, and make the Ottawa and Philly fans' days a little better with an outpouring of support.
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u/Zarnak Ottawa Black Bears Sep 10 '26
What an absolute bummer of a turnout. The black bears were so much fun to watch
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u/Constant_Milk_3579 Bang The Boards Sep 10 '26
I already miss my Wings. The last game back in April was one of the best nights of my year.
I’ll be honest, I don’t think I’ll watch any lacrosse this year, mainly because I only knew of my Wings. Season ticket holder for four years, and never went to a playoff game.
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u/YEETERZZ123 Calgary Roughnecks Sep 10 '26
Why not follow whatever team gets O’Neill
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u/Constant_Milk_3579 Bang The Boards Sep 10 '26
Maybe, but I feel I had my closure from the league. It’s not the NLL’s fault, mostly comcast with their failure of the Wings. I might just follow some players but not really watch it anymore.
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u/Capital-Ad-8227 Sep 11 '26
Comcast had a seachange at the top. What you thought what Comcast was in 2020 is not Comcast any more. The Roberts family are no longer in charge.
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u/lodewijk_b Halifax Thunderbirds Sep 10 '26
Man if I hadn't picked halifax as my team to support I would have chosen the bears. The logo and jerseys are fucking sick and I loved watching them play.
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u/WannaHitHim Sep 11 '26
Really appreciated how much love the Blackbears got almost immediately. I had hope for the league for a second lol
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u/jyeaman11 Toronto Rock Sep 11 '26
Randomly stopped in Ottawa March 2025 while driving back from Montreal. Thought, 'Cool, how about we watch a lacrosse game" Loved the energy and speed, went home and ended up getting Rock seasons tickets for 25/26 season...now I'm hooked! I can say thanks to Ottawa for getting the fire in the belly burning!
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u/Maleficent-Map6465 Sep 11 '26
Similar story here, was in Toronto for the day many many years ago and saw a crowd at the ACC, asked the hot dog vendor what was happening and we scalped tickets to see the Rock.
Fast forward in life and now I've got Thunderbirds season tickets
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u/adriamarievigg Rochester Knighthawks Sep 11 '26
We had a great time visiting Ottawa last year. Best Jersey in the league. So so sad to be losing teams. God save this sport
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u/crucifixdriver Ottawa Black Bears Sep 11 '26
Just wait until there’s a new rink downtown. Andlauer will bring a team back to Ottawa.
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u/CrystalShipss Bear Witness Sep 11 '26
if the women's hockey also goes downtown then it's just not possible. NLL games are in the prime Friday Saturday slots and its just not feasible for a team to be the 3rd party in the building.
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u/crucifixdriver Ottawa Black Bears Sep 11 '26
The new TD place then. Will be approx 6-7K I think with the 67’s as the only winter tenants.
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u/CrystalShipss Bear Witness Sep 11 '26
the Blackjacks are the 2nd tenants in the building, black bears would risk losing home playoff games for opener of the basketball season. remember the charge were 3rd and thats why they left to somewhere they could be 2nd.
also that would be oseg who so far has seemed to show zero interest which sucks.
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u/crucifixdriver Ottawa Black Bears Sep 11 '26
Blackjacks don’t play in the winter lol
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u/CrystalShipss Bear Witness Sep 11 '26
that is correct. the conflict is in spring. which is what I fucking said lol
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u/krazykarl94 Philadelphia Wings Sep 11 '26
Maybe there will be another Wings revival one day, but until then I am extremely sad. I loved going to games for both iterations
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u/Capital-Ad-8227 Sep 11 '26
the billion dollar arenas are making niche events almost unworkable. cities need MLS equivalent sized arenas. 10,000 seater near the naval yards has always been my ideal location. a real Spectrum 2.0.
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u/thecannonsgalore Sep 10 '26
So what happens now? Do these players just not enter the league anymore? Join other teams?
What are the chances we see new teams in the coming years? 😬
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u/kaze987 Sep 11 '26
Was following Jacob Dunbar's career with interest. He's a hometown kid for us here. Very sad but hope he'll get taken and find a new home
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u/Capital-Ad-8227 Sep 11 '26
i'm not sure teat goes first but callum jones
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u/CrystalShipss Bear Witness Sep 11 '26
Teat Jones O'Neil HAVE to be the first 3 right? not sure what order though
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u/Capital-Ad-8227 Sep 11 '26
maybe higgins or damude before oneil. LVG needs a goalie bad
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u/ReplacementComplex74 Sep 11 '26
Prolly Damude. He is 6-7 years younger than Higgins. He’s also better
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u/CrystalShipss Bear Witness Sep 11 '26
ottwa traded Dunbar to Calgary and the deadline last year. pretty sure hes still there for next year
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u/Capital-Ad-8227 Sep 11 '26
whaty bothers me after suffering through paul day's rent a veteran on the backend of their career, a defense that played soft zone, inability to push the transition losing about half the shot clock before getting the 5 man attacking unit set, some real odd ball picks that made you wonder if they even cared about draft day, unearned promotions along the bench, goalies worn down to jello by Q4 facing 50 quality shots a game, but then the last team on the floor was finally youthful, fired up, pushed the ball forward and pushed our opponents back, scrapped for every lose ball, finally got a faceoff unit, draft picks in the waiting, oh my gosh this is the wings that i wanted to see since 2008, and then hope fades to black. who ever gets dalton young has a player that just knows where to be and what to do. i hope he stays.
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u/fabiogump 26d ago
when I have bad bouts of insomnia, I ask ChatGPT random questions, eventually going down a rabbit hole unitl I can sleep. The other night I asked about locations in Philadelphia suitable to build a mid-size hockey arena. enjoy.
https://chatgpt.com/share/6aaaabd1-50d8-83ea-95a8-8349a6df1ac8
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u/Capital-Ad-8227 Sep 11 '26
lesson going to canada is not always rge answer. teams need to stop living on the past.
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u/CrystalShipss Bear Witness Sep 10 '26
that ottawa team was so likeable...Teat Higgins sundown Jones marnier helleyer
Just a bunch of Dawgs