OTCB Podcast

This week on the OTCB Podcast we chat with Brett Frood, the Commissioner of the NLL, as the league announce that both the Ottawa Black Bears and Philadelphia Wings will cease operations.

It's not the news anyone wants to hear, and for Frood it's another off-season of franchise instability. Over the past few months, Frood has spent every minute doing all he could to keep the Black Bears and Wings in their respective markets. They tried new ownership ideas and even relocation but at the end of the day, there was no viable solution.

So, now we'll have one giant dispersal draft on September 15 and that will lead us into the entry draft. Despite the unfortunate news, there's still plenty to be excited for in the coming months leading to opening weekend.

A new league website and new NLL app are on the horizon, and a league broadcast deal that should be announced in the near future.

All that and more in our exclusive 1 on 1 with the Commissioner this week on OTCB.

This week on the Off the CrosseBar Podcast we welcome one of the game's most brilliants minds and once of the people tasked with leading Canada Lacrosse back to the Olympics; Eddie Comeau.

Currently embattled with his Georgia Swarm, Comeau has a lot on his plate. First up, he's hope his charges can snag two games from Halifax on the road and advance to the NLL Finals. A task easier said than done.

But over the next 24 months, he will need to have some very difficult conversations trying to decide on who the best of the best are, and the ones that will wear the Red and White across the Olympic stage for the first time in over a centurty.

We catch up on some of the MailBag questions we've missed over the last few weeks and get you set up for what should be a wild end to the semifinals. Oh and of course, we check in with the Polar Bears.

All that and more, this week on OTCB.

This week on the Off the CrosseBar Podcast we get set for the final weekend of action in the 2025-2026 season, and there's still so much to play for.

Six teams have already booked their tickets to the big dance but the final two spots will be decided by a win-or-go-home game between the Black Bears and Thunderbirds, while Vegas and San Diego will play a pivotal home-and-home series that will decide the final spot.

Colorado, Vancouver and miraculously, the big bad Buffalo Bandits are battling it out for the #1 seed, with Colorado having the easiest path to home-floor. Speaking of home-floor, Toronto, Georgia and Saskatchewan are trying to ensure they host a Quarter-Final game on their home turf.

We take a deep dive into the MailBag to answer all your questions and check in with the Polar Bears one last time during the regular season.

All that and more on this week's OTCB.

This week on the Off the CrosseBar Podcast we chat with the captain of the Buffalo Bandits, who went full Thanos against Vancouver, Steve Priolo.

In year 16, Priolo is still trying to better himself to keep up with the young kids these days. So he's found himself 23 acres of land in Ontario to live the wilderness life to the fullest. He may not be as nimble as he once was but he's still a dominant force for the Bandits.

Buffalo has won 6 straight and are 6-2 vs the other five teams that have clinched a play-off spot. The Bandits are playing their best lacrosse right now and Priolo has been a huge part of that as they go for the unprecedented 4-peat.

Week 19 didn't have too many surprises but with now just two weeks left in the regular season, every game has something to play for. Week 20 will see all 14 teams in action as we wind down the March to May in the NLL.

We discuss some interesting tweaks to the rules and schedule in the mailbag and check in with the Polar Bears.

All that and more, this week on OTCB.

This week on the OTCB Podcast we welcome back friend of the program, and new owner of the Skopje Herd , Cody Janzen.

That's not an April Fools joke! Janzen, the voice of the Saskatchewan Rush, is a former hockey player and after selling his player agency- is now the owner of a sem-pro hockey team in North Macedonia. But, we have to talk about the Rush and their recent slide in the past five weeks and if they can turn things around in the March to May.

We wrap up week 18 and answer your questions as there are just three weeks left in the regular season. Week 19 isn't as busy but there are some very important games on the schedule, with many eyes locked on the Rochester vs Halifax game.

We'll check in with the Polar Bears and give you our big take aways. All that and more on this week's OTCB.

This week on the Off the CrosseBar Podcast- we pul a late night shift after the Halifax vs Philadelphia game to kick off week 18 in the NLL.

The March to May is in full swing and after the Thunderbirds pulled off a win on the road, they kept their playoff hopes alive. So, we chatted with Birds sideline reporter and Queen of all things NLL Broadcasts- Maki Jenner.

There were still plenty of games to set up for the weekend with some key matchups in the play-off hunt. Who stays alive, who falls behind?

We answered some of your questions and checked in with the Polar Bears on another edition of OTCB After Dark.

This week on the Off the CrosseBar Podcast we chat with newly named Interim Head Coach of the Rochester Knighthawks, Randy Mearns.

After a fairly busy, but too shocking, NLL Trade Deadline everyone thought the new cycle was done for the day. That was until the Rochester GM Dan Carey caught everyone off guard, announcing that Mike Hasen and Pat O'Toole were relieved of their duties.

Tuesday, Randy Mearns was named Interim bench boss and got work right away. Mearns spent the majority of his career with the original Knighthawks and will now be looked to help get this team into the play-offs.

(there's a few choppy audio moments at the beginning of the interview- we apologize.)

We'll break down the deadline moves, recap a wild week 15 and answer your questions from this week mail bag. The March to May is in full swing and week 16 will continue shape the post-season run.

And of course, we'll check in with the Polar Bears for an edition of Box Bets. All that and more, this week on OTCB.

This week on the Off the CrosseBar Podcast we're joined by San Diego's own, the Pride of Poway- Marquez White.

Sunday was a memorable day for the San Diego Seals rookie who made his pro debut in front of family and friends. What made it more memorable was the fact White scored his first NLL goal in his first game, on his first shot against one of the game's best goalies.

He talks about his first lacrosse experiences as a kid, growing up in Poway and the Seals arrival is Southern California changed his life.

Week 14 was the busiest in years and it didn't lack storylines. The March to May ain't for the faint of heart and to make things even more hectic- the Buffalo Bandits might be back!

We'll set you up for a quiet week 15, answer your Trade Deadline questions and check in with the Polars. All that and more, on this week's OTCB.

This week on the Off the CrosseBar Podcast we welcome back a future NLL analyst and broadcaster- but he's still got a lot gas left in the tank, Jonathan Donville of the Desert Dogs.

Donny stepped away from the media game last summer in order to focus on his #1 career, and it's looking like the move is paying off. The 4th year pro has helped put Vegas into Play-off spot and is producing at very high rate with all the offensive additions to the roster. But it hasn't been without it's struggles as the injury bug has run rampant through the Dog's Den.

We talk about his decision to see a sports psychologist to strengthen his mind, and is learning to play a lot more freely. While he's still lacrosse junkie, he admits to not watching lacrosse as he used to. Unless of course it's Maryland/Cornell.

Week 14 has 10 games, including six teams playing two games over the weekend. It's gonna be a busy one. So settle in, as we breakdown week 13, answer your questions in the mailbag and check in with the Polar Bears.

All that and more on this week's OTCB.

This week on the Off the CrosseBar Podcast we welcome back the brightest rising star in sports broadcasting, the history maker herself, Maki Jenner.

For the second straight year, Jenner has toppled another milestone-first. Saturday night she became the first female to do play-by-play for an NLL on TSN. With nerves of steel, poise of a ten year veteran, and the passion of a life long lacrosse fan- she didn't miss a beat and absolute crushed it.

She talks about her influences and welcome to the NLL moments. We talk about her mid-season surprises and who needs to step up for the Halifax Thunderbirds.

It was a wild week 12 so we recap all the action, answer your questions and start to pen some teams into the post-season. Plus we'll get your set for a three-day weekend of NLL action and check in with the Polar Bears.

All that and more on this week's OTCB.