Ottawa's professional lacrosse team lasted two seasons: the National Lacrosse League announced on September 10, 2026 that the Ottawa Black Bears have discontinued operations.
The Ottawa Black Bears brought professional box lacrosse back to Canada's capital after more than 20 years away, playing their home games at Canadian Tire Centre in Kanata in the 2024-25 and 2025-26 NLL seasons. In June 2026, season ticket holders were told the team would not return to the arena, and in September the league confirmed the club would not play in 2026-27. This page keeps the record of how the team arrived, how it played, how it ended and where lacrosse fans in Ottawa can go now.
Key Highlights
TL;DR: The Ottawa Black Bears played two NLL seasons (2024-25 and 2025-26) at Canadian Tire Centre in Kanata and did not make the playoffs in either one. The NLL announced on September 10, 2026 that the team and the Philadelphia Wings have discontinued operations, leaving the league with 12 clubs. There are no Black Bears tickets, games or season passes to buy.
| Quick Facts | Details |
|---|---|
| 📍 Home arena | Canadian Tire Centre, 1000 Palladium Drive, Kanata |
| 🏒 League | National Lacrosse League (NLL) |
| 📅 Years active | 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons |
| 🏆 Record | 16 wins and 20 losses over two seasons, no playoff berth |
| ⏰ Status | Discontinued, announced September 10, 2026 |
What Made Black Bears Games Special
Box lacrosse is the indoor version of the sport. It puts six players per side on a hockey-rink-sized floor, with a 30-second shot clock that keeps scoring chances coming at a relentless pace, and the Black Bears were Ottawa's way into it for two winters.
The team was the NLL's sixth Canadian franchise, alongside the Calgary Roughnecks, Halifax Thunderbirds, Saskatchewan Rush, Toronto Rock and Vancouver Warriors. Jeff Teat, whom the league billed as an NLL superstar before the first season, wore the captain's "C" on the final roster. Dan Ladouceur coached the first season, and Dan MacRae took over as head coach and general manager ahead of the second.
What players remembered most was the Ottawa crowd. After the home opener, forward Larson Sundown told the NLL that fans "understood what was coming next," which he put down to Ottawa's rich lacrosse culture. Goaltender Zach Higgins said every big play drew a lift from the stands.
The History Behind the Team
The Black Bears franchise began play in the 2024-25 NLL season. The NLL announced on February 21, 2024 that the New York Riptide would relocate to Ottawa and rebrand as the Black Bears. Poor attendance and the Riptide's eviction from Nassau Coliseum were cited as factors in the move. The club was a partnership between the league, owners GF Sports and Entertainment, and the Ottawa Senators.
The Black Bears were Ottawa's first professional box lacrosse team since 2003, when the Ottawa Rebel played their final season in the city. The Rebel joined the NLL in 2001 and played at the Corel Centre (now Canadian Tire Centre) before moving to the Ottawa Civic Centre (now TD Place Arena) for 2003. The NLL reported more than 12,000 fans at the Rebel's inaugural game.
The team's design carried Indigenous heritage. Forward Larson Sundown, a member of the Tonawanda Seneca Nation, helped shape the jerseys and recommended an Indigenous "People's Motif" representing peace, friendship and unison. That link to lacrosse's Indigenous roots gave the brand a cultural dimension beyond typical pro sports branding.
The home opener on Friday, November 29, 2024 was the high point. The Black Bears beat the Toronto Rock 11-5 in front of about 7,000 fans at Canadian Tire Centre.
The end came in stages. In June 2026, ticket holders for the 2026-27 season were told the team would not play at Canadian Tire Centre and that tickets would be refunded. On June 25, the NLL said it had ended GF Lacrosse LLC's ownership of the club but intended to keep the franchise in the Ottawa-Gatineau region. No new ownership group came forward, and on September 10, 2026 the league announced that the Black Bears and the Philadelphia Wings had discontinued operations and would not play in 2026-27. The league cited committed ownership, venue and lease conditions, local market infrastructure and operations among the areas it weighs, and said it would consider Ottawa again if the conditions and partners for a sustainable franchise are established.
Getting to Canadian Tire Centre
Every Black Bears home game was played at Canadian Tire Centre, 1000 Palladium Drive in Kanata. The NLL described it as about 27 kilometres west of the Parliament Buildings. The arena is also the home of the Ottawa Senators. After the first game, Sundown praised its training, workout and meeting rooms, and Higgins said the team could use some of the Senators' resources.
The building is still open for hockey and concerts. Parking, OC Transpo service and accessibility details can change from event to event, so check the Canadian Tire Centre website before you go. Our Canadian Tire Centre guide covers the arena itself.
Home Games and Results
The NLL regular season is 18 games, and the Black Bears played nine of them at Canadian Tire Centre each year. The results were identical both years, and neither one earned a playoff place.
| Season | Record | Finish | Head coach | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 8-10 | 9th | Dan Ladouceur | Did not qualify |
| 2025-26 | 8-10 | 10th | Dan MacRae | Did not qualify |
Both seasons also finished 4-5 at home and 4-5 on the road. The second year stayed in play until April. On April 18, 2026, the Black Bears travelled to Halifax with their first playoff berth on the line, lost to the Thunderbirds and missed the playoffs. The largest crowd of 2025-26 was 5,840 for the final home game in March, according to CTV News.
Tickets and Seating After the Folding
There are no Black Bears tickets to buy, and none will go on sale for 2026-27. Ticket holders for that season were told in June 2026 that the team would not play at Canadian Tire Centre and that their tickets would be refunded, according to CBC News.
If you held tickets or other purchases from the team and have questions, the team's website, ottawablackbears.com, is still online. For events that are still on at the arena, such as Senators games and concerts, use the Canadian Tire Centre website for tickets and seating maps.
Where to Find Lacrosse Now
Box lacrosse has not left the capital region, even though the pro team has. These are the options that are running as of October 2026.
Watch the NLL. The Toronto Rock are the reigning NLL champions and play their home games at TD Coliseum, 101 York Boulevard in Hamilton. Single-game tickets went on sale on October 1, 2026, and the home opener is on Saturday, November 28. The full league schedule is on NLL.com, and ticket details are on the Toronto Rock site. The Black Bears' players went into a combined dispersal draft with the Philadelphia Wings' players, so you may still see them in other clubs' colours.
Watch local summer lacrosse. The Nepean Knights Junior B team plays at Howard Darwin Centennial Arena, 1765 Merivale Road in Nepean. Its 2026 home schedule ran from May into June, with games on weekday evenings and weekends. Look for the next season's dates on the Nepean Knights Junior B site once they are posted.
Play it yourself. The Nepean Knights Lacrosse Association runs minor box lacrosse for youth in western Ottawa, with house league and competitive divisions from U7 up to U22, and its details are on knightslacrosse.ca. The Ottawa Capitals Lacrosse Club, a youth program co-founded by Callum Crawford, listed fall 2026 registration as open on its website.
The league has said it would look at Ottawa again if a sustainable ownership group and venue arrangement appeared, but nothing has been announced.
Nearby Attractions
Kanata is still worth a stop on its own, whether you are there for a Senators game, a concert or just the area. These spots are close to the arena:
- Tanger Outlets Ottawa: An outdoor outlet mall at 8555 Campeau Drive, with its own listing of current stores on the Tanger website.
- Kanata Centrum: A shopping centre with retail and restaurants, including Fratelli Kanata and Crazy Horse nearby.
- Walter Baker Park: A community park with playgrounds, sports fields, walking trails and a splash pad.
- South March Highlands Conservation Forest: Hiking and mountain-biking trails in north Kanata, popular with local riders for more than 25 years.
For a sit-down meal, The Keg Steakhouse + Bar has a Kanata and Stittsville location. For more Ottawa sports venues, check out our guides to Canadian Tire Centre and TD Place.
FAQ
Q: What happened to the Ottawa Black Bears?
The NLL announced on September 10, 2026 that the Black Bears and the Philadelphia Wings had discontinued operations and would not play in 2026-27. In June, the league had ended GF Lacrosse LLC's ownership of the club and said it wanted to keep the team in the Ottawa-Gatineau region, but no new ownership group was found.
Q: Will pro lacrosse come back to Ottawa?
Nothing has been announced. The NLL said Ottawa and Philadelphia remain important markets and that it will consider future opportunities in either community if the long-term conditions and partners for a sustainable franchise are established. For now, the league is playing with 12 clubs for its 2026-27 season.
Q: Where can I watch NLL lacrosse near Ottawa now?
The nearest Canadian club is the Toronto Rock, the reigning NLL champions, who play at TD Coliseum in Hamilton. Their home opener is on November 28, 2026, and single-game tickets are on sale through the Toronto Rock website. The full league schedule is posted on NLL.com.
Q: What happened to tickets for the 2026-27 season?
Ticket holders were told in June 2026 that the team would not play at Canadian Tire Centre and that their tickets would be refunded. The team's website, ottawablackbears.com, is still online if you have a question about a purchase.
Q: Where can I see or play box lacrosse in Ottawa?
The Nepean Knights Junior B team plays summer home games at Howard Darwin Centennial Arena on Merivale Road. The Nepean Knights Lacrosse Association and the Ottawa Capitals Lacrosse Club both run youth programs. Check each club's website for current dates and registration.
Q: When did Ottawa last have a pro lacrosse team before the Black Bears?
The Ottawa Rebel played in the NLL from 2001 to 2003. They started at the Corel Centre (now Canadian Tire Centre) and spent their last season at the Ottawa Civic Centre (now TD Place Arena). The Black Bears were the first pro box lacrosse team in the city since.
Q: How does box lacrosse compare to field lacrosse?
Box lacrosse is played indoors on a hockey-rink-sized floor with six players per side, versus 10 in field lacrosse. The enclosed space and 30-second shot clock create a faster, higher-scoring game with more physical contact. Many fans find it easier to follow for the same reason: the action rarely stops.
Final Thoughts
The Ottawa Black Bears brought professional box lacrosse back to the capital after more than two decades, then left after only two seasons. They went 16-20 without reaching the playoffs, drew about 7,000 fans to their first home game, and built a cultural link to lacrosse's Indigenous roots through their jerseys.
The sport itself is still alive here, from the Nepean Knights at Howard Darwin Centennial Arena to the youth programs that supplied Ottawa players to the NLL draft. If an ownership group and a venue arrangement ever come together, the league has said it will look at the capital again.
Sources: National Lacrosse League, CBC News, CTV News Ottawa.
