Back in the Box: Reflections on the NLL Season

With the NLL season heading into its final stretch, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on an incredible ride and share a few thoughts, as well as my uneducated prediction for the championship.

1. Back Where We Belong

Being back in the NLL as an official equipment supplier has been an absolute blast. It’s been years since we were involved—and back then, we were just supplying mesh. Fast-forward to this season, and watching elite players compete with our heads and shafts has been amazing. It’s a proud moment for our team.

2. So Many Preferences

It was wild to see the wide variety of stick preferences. We had players using Rebels, DNA2.0s, Deltas, Mirage 2.0s, Ions, and even special trials of widened Mirage 2.0s and DNA 2.0s in a more standard nylon plastic. Having the opportunity to test prototype heads at this level provides unbelievable feedback.

3. Wide Heads

I’ll admit—at first, I hated the idea of widening a perfectly narrow offensive head, but after talking with players and watching closely, it really does make sense in the context of box. The game demands that you be able to catch everything, even in the tightest spaces and the wider face shape gives you that little something extra to be able to handle everything.

4. The Box Game Is Electric

There’s nothing like NLL action. The pace, the physicality, the creativity—plus the energy in the arena—it’s next level. If you haven’t caught a game live, do yourself a favor and fix that next season.

5. Regrets of a Field-Only Player

Watching these games has me wishing I grew up playing box. The skill set these players develop—especially their ability to catch everything in tight spaces and manipulate goalies with subtle movements would have served me well as a field player.

Championship Prediction Time

Buffalo is locked in, waiting to see who they’ll face. The Rush currently lead the Thunderbirds 1–0 in the semis and could clinch their spot in the final this Saturday, May 10.

My (totally uneducated) prediction? The Thunderbirds come storming back to win the series… but fall to the Bandits in the final.

Players we’ve got our eyes on heading into the championship: Josh Byrne, Randy Staats, and Ryan Terefenko.

What’s Next

We’ll be back in the NLL next season, and this offseason we’re diving into some exciting R&D projects. The goal? Deliver an even more dialed-in lineup of products for next season. Stay tuned—we’ll be sharing updates along the way.