LAS VEGAS (Oct. 20, 2026) - The Las Vegas Desert Dogs, in partnership with the St. Catharines Junior Athletics, will face the Buffalo Bandits in a preseason exhibition game at Meridian Centre in St. Catharines, Ontario, on Saturday, Nov. 14, at 7 p.m. Eastern (4 p.m. Pacific).
The exhibition will give the Desert Dogs an opportunity to evaluate their roster against NLL competition in front of a live crowd as they prepare for their fifth season.
The game will also serve as a homecoming for players with local ties, including Tyson Bell, Nick Damude, Ryan Wagner, Sam LeClair and Mitch Armstrong. Jackson Webster, who played Junior A lacrosse in St. Catharines, also has a connection to the community. The event will showcase the passion for lacrosse throughout St. Catharines and the Niagara region while bringing fans together to support meaningful causes.
Proceeds will benefit Community Care of St. Catharines/Thorold, the Tucker Williams Braver Than Brave Memorial Fund supporting SickKids, and the nonprofit St. Catharines Junior Athletics organization, which operates the St. Catharines Athletics Junior A and Junior B lacrosse clubs.
The Tucker Williams Braver Than Brave Memorial Fund is a cause close to the Desert Dogs and the Bandits, supporting pediatric lymphoma research at SickKids in Toronto. Named in honor of Tucker, the son of Desert Dogs Head Coach and former Buffalo Bandit Shawn Williams, the fund brings the lacrosse community together to honor his life and raise awareness for lymphoma research.
Community Care provides food, clothing, and other essential support to individuals and families in St. Catharines and Thorold. The event will help support those services heading into the winter and holiday season.
Tickets to the pre-season bout in St. Catharines, Ontario available through Ticketmaster: HERE!
Fans unable to attend can still contribute directly through the links below:
Support Community Care of St. Catharines/Thorold
Support the Tucker Williams Braver Than Brave Memorial Fund
