LAS VEGAS (Dec. 8, 2025) - The Las Vegas Desert Dogs kick off their fourth year in the National Lacrosse League (NLL) as they open the 2025–26 season on the road vs. the Vancouver Warriors (0-1) at 7:00 p.m. PST on Saturday, Dec. 13 inside Rogers Arena.
This matchup marks the seventh all-time meeting between Las Vegas and Vancouver, with the Warriors leading the series after winning five of the first six contests. Last season’s meeting took place in Las Vegas on Valentine’s Day, where the Desert Dogs fell 12–8. The franchise’s lone victory in the series came nearly three years ago on Jan. 20, 2023, in a 15–14 thriller.
However, these aren’t the same old Dogs. They’ve learned a few new tricks, added serious offensive firepower during free agency and strengthened defensively through the 2025 NLL Entry Draft.
NEW DOGS, NEW BITE
The Dogs added two three-time NLL champions from Buffalo: Chase Fraser, a powerhouse scorer with 151 goals and 108 assists in six seasons, and Chris Cloutier, who contributed another 128 goals and 159 assists to the offense.
From Philadelphia, Las Vegas strengthened its transition game with veteran standout Tony Malcom, whose eight-year résumé includes 95 goals, 95 assists and 704 loose balls.
The Dogs also added proven scoring depth with Mitch Jones, a dynamic offensive talent entering his 12th NLL season. The Delta, British Columbia, native has totaled 241 goals and 382 assists since being drafted in 2012, making him one of the roster’s most productive veterans.
Rounding out the group is rookie goaltender Caleb Khan, drafted 17th overall and coming off a strong WLA season highlighted by a .810 save percentage. At just 18, his emergence adds valuable depth in the crease and points toward a bright future.
WHAT AWAITS IN VANCOUVER
The Warriors lost their first and only matchup of the season so far back in Week 1 against the Colorado Mammoth, falling 10–7. Vancouver excelled on the power play that night, scoring its first four goals with the man advantage and finishing with a 50 percent success rate on the turf.
Keegan Bal led the way for the Warriors with seven points (1G, 6A), followed closely by Jesse King with four points (1G, 3A). Last season, Bal led the way for Vancouver and was a major reason the team made, and won, a playoff game.
The Desert Dogs will need to stay disciplined because the Warriors are a team that, if you give an inch, they’ll take a yard. And with an elite goaltender in Christian Del Bianco, falling behind early can be difficult to recover from. He recorded a .783 save percentage in his last outing, stopping 36 of 46 shots. Last season, he posted an impressive .821 save percentage and earned six wins in the six games he played for the Warriors.
MILESTONES
Tony Malcom is five goals away from 100 NLL career goals.
Malcom also needs eight assists for 150 career assists.
LAST YEAR’S LVDD POINT LEADERS
Mitch Jones (with Philadelphia) – 111 points (31G, 80A)
Jonathan Donville – 84 points (36G, 46A)
Chase Fraser (with Buffalo) – 50 points (26G, 24A)
Adam Poitras – 47 points (23G, 24A)
Kyle Killen – 42 points (20G, 22A)
WHERE TO WATCH
Fox 5, ESPN+, NLL+, YouTubeTV, and Silver State Sports & Entertainment Network
ABOUT LAS VEGAS DESERT DOGS
The Las Vegas Desert Dogs are a professional box lacrosse team and a member of the National Lacrosse League (NLL). Known for their dedication to excellence and their passionate fanbase, the Desert Dogs have become a symbol of local pride for the city of Las Vegas and one of the most entertaining nights out. The Desert Dogs play 18 games in the regular season, 9 home games + 9 away games. All home games are played at Lee’s Family Forum located in Henderson, NV, minutes away from the Las Vegas Strip. Games can be viewed locally on FOX 5, SSSEN, YouTube TV, ESPN+ and select games on ESPN2 and ESPNU. To stay updated on all things Las Vegas Desert Dogs, visit our official website lasvegasdesertdogs.com and follow us on social media @VegasDesertDogs on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.
ABOUT NATIONAL LACROSSE LEAGUE
The National Lacrosse League (NLL) is North America’s largest professional lacrosse league and welcomed more than 1 million fans for the third consecutive year during the 2024-25 season. Founded in 1986, the NLL is comprised of 14 franchises across Canada and the United States, and recently unveiled its largest brand campaign ever, “Welcome to The Next Major League™” and introduced its comprehensive grassroots initiative, NLL UnBOXed™, that will expand the League’s footprint to 60 communities across North America by 2028. For the latest scores and developments in the National Lacrosse League, please visit: NLL.com and find the NLL on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube and TikTok. Games are available live and streaming on TSN, TSN+, ESPN, and NLL+.
For all media inquiries please contact, Dana Mariotti, Vice President of Marketing & Communications, [email protected].
To request media credentials to the Las Vegas Desert Dogs Home Opener on December 20, please click HERE.
