The Ottawa Black Bears () were a Canadian professional box lacrosse team based in Ottawa, Ontario, that competed in the National Lacrosse League (NLL). From 2024 to 2026, the team played its home games at Canadian Tire Centre, which is also the home arena of the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League. The Black Bears began play in the 2024–25 season and lasted only two seasons without a winning record. After terminating the ownership of the Black Bears by GF Lacrosse after the 2025-2026 season, the NLL announced the club would cease operations.
History On February 20, 2024, John Rodenburg of CFGO Radio reported that the New York Riptide would be relocating to Ottawa following the conclusion of the 2023–24 season and will play their home games at Canadian Tire Centre for the 2024–25 season. The team cited poor attendance and their eviction from Nassau Coliseum as factors in the move. The next day, NLL commissioner Brett Frood made the official announcement that the Riptide would be relocating to Ottawa and rebranding as the Ottawa Black Bears. This marks the first time professional box lacrosse has been played in Ottawa since 2003, when the Ottawa Rebel played their final season in Canada's capital before relocating to Edmonton and later to Saskatchewan, where they are now known as the Saskatchewan Rush.
In June 2026, ticket holders for the 2026–27 season were informed that the team would not play the upcoming season at the Canadian Tire Centre, and that tickets would be refunded. Later, on June 25, the NLL stated that it had terminated "GF Lacrosse LLC's ownership" of the team, but that it intended to keep the franchise in the Ottawa-Gatineau region. On September 10, the NLL announced that the Black Bears alongside the Philadelphia Wings would cease operations and a combined dispersal draft will occur after the league failed to find a new ownership group to keep the Ottawa based franchise afloat.
Roster
All-time record Season W–L Finish Home Road GF GA Coach Playoffs20258–109th4–54–5183202Dan LadouceurDid not qualify20268–1010th4–54–5185203Dan MacRaeDid not qualify Total 16–20 8–10 8–10 368 405
Head coaching history # Name Term Regular season Playoffs GC W L W% GC W L W%1 Dan Ladouceur 2025 18 8 10 .444 - - - -2 Dan MacRae 2026 18 8 10 .444 - - - -
Draft history
NLL Entry Draft First Round Selections
2024: None 2025: None
References
External links