Warriors Clinch NLL Regular Season Title

The Vancouver Warriors secured the National Lacrosse League’s regular season title on Saturday night with a 17-10 win over the Philadelphia Wings on Fan Appreciation Night at Rogers Arena, locking up first place and home-floor advantage throughout the playoffs.

The victory improved Vancouver’s record to 13-5, clinching the top spot in the NLL standings following a Colorado Mammoth loss to the Calgary Roughnecks later that evening.

It marks the franchise’s best regular season since the Albany Attack era in 2002 and caps off a rapid turnaround under head coach Curt Malawsky.

With the win, the Warriors will host the eighth-seeded Halifax Thunderbirds in a single-elimination quarterfinal on Friday, April 24 at Rogers Arena.

Second-quarter surge

After a slow start, Vancouver took control of the game with a dominant second quarter that ultimately decided the outcome.

Philadelphia opened the scoring early, and the Warriors led just 2-1 after the first quarter. However, Vancouver responded with seven unanswered goals in the second, turning a tight contest into a 7-3 halftime lead.

Keegan Bal led the charge, scoring four goals in the quarter and five in the first half. The Warriors’ ball movement improved significantly during the run, allowing the offence to find its rhythm after a quiet opening 15 minutes.

The momentum continued into the third quarter, where Vancouver answered every Philadelphia push. A key stretch saw Curtis Dickson, Tyler Suboch, and Riley Loewen (check: actually Klarich—keep original info) contribute to a three-goal run in just over three minutes, extending the lead to 11-5.

From there, the Warriors controlled the pace, trading goals in the fourth quarter and closing out a comfortable win.

Balanced offence drives scoring output

Vancouver’s offence showcased both star power and depth in the victory, finishing with 17 goals on 55 shots and recording 27 assists.

Bal delivered a standout performance with six goals and five assists for 11 points, securing the NLL scoring title with 124 points (45 goals, 79 assists). Jesse King added two goals and five assists, while Dickson contributed two goals and four assists.

Adam Charalambides chipped in with two goals and three assists, while additional scoring came from Marcus Klarich, Owen Grant, Tyler Suboch, Ryan Dilks, and Mitch Bowering.

Malawsky said the performance reflected the team’s “offence by committee” approach, noting that contributions throughout the lineup have been key to the Warriors’ success.

“It’s an absolute team effort all the way through,” Malawsky said. “When one side slips, the other side bails them out.”

Del Bianco anchors defensive effort

Goaltender Christian Del Bianco made 36 saves on 46 shots, providing steady play behind a defence that limited second-chance opportunities.

Malawsky praised Del Bianco’s consistency and impact, pointing to his rebound control and ability to move the ball quickly in transition.

“We believe he’s the best in the business,” Malawsky said. “His rebound control — the ball drops and it’s up and out right away.”

Del Bianco credited the defensive group for its ability to adjust and execute throughout the season, noting that the unit’s cohesion has been a key factor in Vancouver’s success.

“Their ability to adjust… that’s been huge for us all year,” Del Bianco said. “We think less and just execute what we’re told.”

Milestone season reflects organizational turnaround

The Warriors’ first-place finish represents a significant step forward for a franchise that has undergone major changes in recent years.

Since being acquired by Vancouver Canucks ownership in 2018 and rebranding from the Vancouver Stealth in 2019, the team has steadily built toward contention.

The hiring of Malawsky in July 2023 accelerated that process, with Vancouver improving from an 11-7 record last season — which ended in a semifinal loss to the Buffalo Bandits — to a league-best finish this year.

Malawsky said the accomplishment is meaningful given the challenges the organization has faced in the past.

“It feels good… there’s been some tough sledding here, so I’m super proud of those guys,” Malawsky said. “To get home floor in the quarterfinal game is big for us.”