National Lacrosse League: Vancouver Warriors At San Diego Seals Primer

By Kyle Bennett

The National Lacrosse League makes its long-awaited return to the floor tonight after 636 days due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With a new television broadcast deal in place with TSN in Canada and ESPN in the United States, a new market in Fort Worth, Texas, and rosters loaded with talent, the 2021-22 season is going to be one for the history books.

The season gets kicked off in San Diego on Friday night as the new look San Diego Seals host the up and coming Vancouver Warriors in a West Division showdown. San Diego signed former League MVP Dane Dobbie during the offseason to pair with the likes of Casey Jackson, Wes Berg, rookie sensations Tre Leclaire and Mac O'Keefe, and when he returns from injury, face of the franchise Austin Staats.

Vancouver comes into this season with hopes of the team's identity being established and the league to be put on notice with all of the young talent it has accumulated to compliment Logan Schuss and Mitch Jones. Rookies Reid Bowering and Adam Charlambides are set to be key pieces to the Warriors puzzle and quest for a postseason berth in a loaded West Division. Vancouver will also get a chance to look at Kyle Killen for the first time since acquiring him from Colorado and another season of Riley Loewen and Keegan Ball in the Warriors system.

This game will bring excitement, high energy, and hopefully build up a new rivalry as these two teams face off to bring back the National Lacrosse League. With both teams showcasing high powered offenses, the goals will come, but defense and a strong transition game will be pivotal for both teams to establish early on if they want to come away with a win. Look for San Diego's Eli Gobrecht to play a key role in San Diego's defensive approach to stopping Mitch Jones from going nuclear.

The excitement for the NLL's return is through the roof and truly cannot be talked about enough. We are BACK and this season is going to get started with a BANG!