Albany FireWolves set to join National Lacrosse League

The Albany FireWolves will take part in the National Lacrosse League season in 2021, as one of two new teams in the highest level of box lacrosse, a form of indoor lacrosse that is more similar to hockey or basketball played on carpet than the outdoor field version, which is more like soccer or football.

As here at Dog O’Day we’re fans of sports in general and canines in general, this is good news, as more canine representation is always welcome.

The National Lacrosse League currently has 14 teams spread across three divisions throughout the United States and Canada, and currently consists of the Buffalo Bandits, Calgary Roughnecks, Colorado Mammoth, Georgia Swarm, Halifax (Nova Scotia) Thunderbirds, New York Riptide, Philadelphia Wings, Rochester Knighthawks, San Diego Seals, Saskatchewan Rush, Toronto Rock, and Vancouver Warriors, with the expansion Fort Worth Panthers also joining this year.

Many NLL teams share arenas with NHL or WNBA teams, or did with arena football teams. And given that many hockey dogs also enjoy playing fetch, they might want to look into the sport.. (Also, lacrosse balls are good chew toys.)

The Albany FireWolves name pays tribute to the team’s former identity as the New England Black Wolves, who played in Uncasville, Connecticut, from 2015-2020, as they were a reincarnated franchise of the original Philadelphia Wings, one of the founding NLL teams dating from 1987 and winning six championships.

It also pays tribute to the Albany Firebirds, one of the most successful Arena Football League franchises from 1990-2000, who were named after the legendary Pontiac Firebird car. The highlight of the Firebirds’ existence was winning the 1999 ArenaBowl by a 59-48 score over the defending champion Orlando Predators.  The af2, the Arena Football League’s minor league, also had a team in Albany that used the Firebirds nickname during the 2009 season.

Finally, the name also ties into Native American/First Nations mythology, which is fitting, as the game of lacrosse formally evolved in the late nineteenth century from a game played by tribes in New York, Ontario and Quebec.

It was the judged the winner of the three fan-submitted finalists, the others being Attack and Black Arrows. Over two thousand names were submitted, and more than 4,000 fans voted in the poll.

Due to the pandemic, the 2021-22 NLL season is tentatively scheduled to begin in December 2021; New England led the East Division with an 8-3 record when the 2020-21 season was halted. During the 2019 season, the Black Wolves were 9-9.

The Albany FireWolves will join the rest of the National Lacrosse League pack during the 2021-22 season.

The team announced the new moniker on April 15 via a hype video posted on the team’s social accounts.

“The Albany FireWolves is a unique name that represents what we are going to be on and off the field,” George Manias, team president, said in a press release.  “On the field, we will be fierce, like a wolf and intimidate foes who come into our den.  A planned fire, like a fireplace or fire pit, always encourages a gathering.  Our games will be a gathering place for our fans to rally and support our team onto victory.  We will be one with our community, like a pack and become the alpha in the Capital Region as we will offer our fans the live sporting event and entertainment value they have grown accustomed to.”

Local radio station The Team 104.5 FM, an ESPN affiliate, will broadcast all home and away games, in addition to pregame and postgame shows and a weekly coach’s show.

The team colors will be red, maroon and purple, with gray used as an accent color. A mascot, the name of the dance team, official uniforms and other elements will be announced in the future.

The Albany FireWolves are not the only canine team to take part in professional lacrosse, however – the Charlotte Hounds played in Major League Lacrosse from 2012-2018, and the traveling, cityless Premier Lacrosse League features the Waterdogs, who joined last season. Both of those teams played the field lacrosse variety.

For more on the Albany FireWolves, see the team website, or follow them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at the handle @AlbFireWolves. We wish them the best of luck in their inaugural season!