Caden Balint – Albany Correspondent, StreamPunk Sports / All Lacrosse All The Time
For the Ottawa Black Bears and their loyal fans, a tall order was put on them: hosting the San Diego Seals to open the 2025-26 National Lacrosse League (NLL) season. The result: a frantic, high–octane tilt at the Canadian Tire Centre on Saturday, Nov. 29, with San Diego ultimately prevailing 16–13.
The Seals struck early and often as they were able to quickly bolt out to a 3–0 lead in the first quarter, before piling on four more goals in the second to lead 7–3 at halftime. Ottawa attempted a rally after the break: the Black Bears scored two in the third quarter and kept pushing, but San Diego’s offensive depth and timely scoring proved too much.
Key Performers & Game-Defining Moments
- Tre Leclaire was the driving force behind the Seals’ offense — racking up 5 goals and 4 assists for 9 total points. That production anchored San Diego’s attack and gave them a consistent edge all night.
- Complementing Leclaire was Wesley Berg, who added 1 goal and 4 assists, boosting San Diego’s playmaking and ball movement in transition.
- For Ottawa, Rob Hellyer delivered a bright spot — finishing with 3 goals and 5 assists (8 points), keeping the Black Bears within striking distance deep into the game.
- While the Black Bears were able to dominate physically, statistically, San Diego dominated in all factors. Shots: 62 on goal to Ottawa’s 54, and they held a sizable advantage in loose balls 79 for the Seals while the Black Bears only picked up 57. (a big factor in possession and transition). Lastly it was San Diego who led with 28 of 33 faceoff victories.
A turning point came late in the second quarter: after trailing 6–0, Ottawa generated momentum as they were able to rattle off three quick goals (including one on the power play). Ottawa got as close as one goal late in the fourth quarter; however, San Diego always seemed to have an immediate counter, refusing to let the Black Bears tie the score for the remainder of the contest.
What This Means for the Black Bears — and the Seals
- For the Seals, the win is a strong statement to open the season: showing offensive firepower, the ability to control facets of the game (LB & FO) and the ability to respond under pressure. They’ll carry confidence into their upcoming games.
- For Ottawa, despite the loss, there are reasons for optimism. The Black Bears showed resilience and offensive spark, most notably from Rob Hellyer. Most importantly it showed their ability to rally in the second quarter which demonstrates hope and upside. But they’ll need to tighten up defensively, especially early on, and find ways to limit transitions and loose-ball losses.
- From a broader league-wide lens: with eight clubs opening their campaigns over the weekend, this game stands out as an early highlight — a 29-goal affair that sets a fast, aggressive tone for the 2025-26 season.
Looking Ahead & What to Watch
The Black Bears, playing their second season in Ottawa after relocating from New York, will want to learn from this early test: improving start-to-finish consistency, tightening defensive coverage from the opening whistle, and converting more transition opportunities.
For the Seals, maintaining the balance between individual firepower (like Leclaire, Berg) and team defense/possession (loose balls, transition control) will be key as other squads size them up.
For fans and analysts alike, this result injects energy into the season: a reminder that any team can score late, battle back and that every game will demand grit, depth, and execution.
