National Lacrosse League (2015-2020)
Tombstone
Born: August 6, 2014 – The Philadelphia Wings relocate to Uncasville, CT1Singer, Stephen. ASSOCIATED PRESS. “Mohegans purchase lacrosse franchise”. The Record-Journal (Meriden, CT). August 7, 2014
Moved: February 23, 2021 (Albany FireWolves)
First Game: January 2, 2015 (W 12-8 vs. Buffalo Bandits)
Last Game: March 7, 2020 (W 9-7 @ Philadelphia Wings)
NLL Championships: None
Arena
Mohegan Sun Arena (7,074)22019-20 National Lacrosse League Media Guide
Branding
Team Colors: Orange, Black & Gray32019-20 National Lacrosse League Media Guide
Ownership
Owners: The Mohegan Tribe, Mike French, Brad Brewster & Ted Goldthorpe
Attendance
Tap (mobile) or mouse over chart for figures. Tilting your mobile device may offer better viewing.
Source: National Lacrosse League on Pointstreak Sports Technologies4“National Lacrosse League – on Pointstreak Sports Technologies.” Pointstreak Sports Technologies, 2015. https://pointstreak.com/prostats/attendance.html?leagueid=230&seasonid=13569.
Background
The New England Black Wolves were a professional box (indoor) lacrosse team that played five seasons and part of a sixth at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.
The franchise was partially owned by the Mohegan Tribe, operators of the Mohegan Sun casino & resort. The Black Wolves operated as a winter complement to the tribe’s other sports property, the summer season Connecticut Sun of the Women’s National Basketball Association. Both teams played in the casino’s 7,500 seat arena and they shared the same front office sales & marketing staff.
The franchise began play in 1987 as the Philadelphia Wings. The Wings won six championships of the National Lacrosse League and its predecessor, the Major Indoor Lacrosse League, between 1987 and 2014. The Black Wolves counted these titles as well as the Wings’ player stats as part of their official history.
On The Carpet
The Black Wolves first season in Connecticut under head coach Blane Harrison was rough. The team finished 4-14, the worst mark in the 9-team NLL.
The following season Glenn Clark took over the coaching reigns and would stay at the helm for the rest of the team’s stay in Connecticut. Clark led the Black Wolves to four straight playoff appearances from 2016 through 2019, though the club would win only one postseason game over that stretch.
During the 2019-20 season, the Black Wolves got out to the best ever start of their New England era. A March 7th, 2020 road victory over a new version of the Philadelphia Wings gave the Wolves a league-best 8-3 record. But five days later the NLL suspended the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Forward Callum Crawford (33 goals, 43 assists) led the NLL in scoring at the time of the shutdown.
The Black Wolves never returned to competition. In February 2021, the Mohegan Tribe sold its stake in the franchise and the new owners relocated the team to Albany, New York in anticipation of a late 2021 return to action. The team will begin play as the Albany FireWolves later this year.
New England Black Wolves Video
The Black Wolves host the Georgia Swarm at Mohegan Sun Arena. January 26, 2020 game highlights package.
Downloads
3-29-2015 Black Wolves vs. Minnesota Swarm Roster Card
3-29-2015 New England Black Wolves vs Minnesota Swarm Roster Card
3-1-2020 Black Wolves vs. Halifax Thunderbirds Game Notes (Final home game played in Uncasville)
Links
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