TORONTO ROCK WILL TAKE ON OTTAWA BLACK BEARS IN RELOCATED TEAM'S FIRST GAME

When the nation’s capital ushers in a new era of pro lacrosse, the Toronto Rock will be there.

The Ottawa Black Bears will host the Rock in its first game since relocation on Friday, Nov. 29 at Canadian Tire Centre. The Black Bears had previously operated in Long Island, N.Y., as the New York Riptide.

The Rock also are relocating, albeit temporarily, to the Paramount Fine Foods Centre in Mississauga while FirstOntario Centre in Hamilton undergoes extensive renovations.

The Rock will open its home schedule on Saturday Dec. 7, against the Albany FireWolves, who finished as the league’s runners-up to the Buffalo Bandits last season.

Among the players back for the Rock are defenders Brad Kri and Justin Martin, who enjoyed success earlier this week when the Six Nations Chiefs successfully defended their Mann Cup championship in a 4-1 series win over the Victoria Shamrocks.

Bandits fans will have to wait until Dec. 28 for their home opener against the Rochester Knighthawks, at which time the team will raise its sixth championship banner. The National Lacrosse League will release the full 2024-25 schedule on Tuesday.

2024-09-13T14:53:11Z dg43tfdfdgfd