Panther City Lacrosse Club
 | |
| Sport | Box lacrosse |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2020 |
| Folded | 2024 |
| League | National Lacrosse League |
| Conference | Western |
| Based in | Fort Worth, TX |
| Arena | Dickies Arena |
| Colors | Purple, Black, White, Red |
| Owner | Bill Cameron |
| Head coach | Tracey Kelusky |
| Playoff berths | 2 (2023, 2024) |
| Website | panthercitylax.com |
The Panther City Lacrosse Club were a professional box lacrosse team in the National Lacrosse League. They played at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas from their inaugural 2021–2022 season until ceasing operations in 2024.
History
[edit]On July 22, 2020, the NLL awarded an expansion franchise to the city of Fort Worth and owner Bill Cameron. It was announced that the team would begin play in the 2021–2022 season, with its home arena being Dickies Arena.[1][2]
At a press conference on November 17, 2020, the franchise officially became the Panther City Lacrosse Club. The team's unique name is in reference to Fort Worth's "Panther City" nickname, which stems from an 1875 article in the Dallas Herald that derisively characterized the city's economy as being so slow that a panther could sleep in the street by the courthouse. Although an intended insult, the name Panther City was enthusiastically embraced by locals after Fort Worth recovered economically.[3] The team is also the league's first member to use the "Lacrosse Club" moniker, similar to teams in the Premier Lacrosse League.[4]
On January 25, 2021, former Philadelphia Wings assistant Tracey Kelusky was named the team's first head coach.[5]
Inaugural season
[edit]Panther City debuted on December 4, 2021, against the Wings in Philadelphia. Travis Cornwall scored the first goal in franchise history as Panther City took a 1–0 lead. Despite leading 7–4 at halftime, the team could not start 1–0 as they fell to the Wings, 12–11 in overtime.[6] A week later on December 10, the franchise played its first ever home game at Dickies Arena, where they fell to the Vancouver Warriors, 14–8 in front of 7,309 fans.[7] After five games, Panther City got their first franchise win on January 15, 2022, on Long Island against the New York Riptide, 13–12 thanks to an overtime goal from rookie forward Patrick Dodds.[8] It took a month and a half and four more tries, but Panther City notched their second win and first ever home win on February 26, 11–10, in a rematch with the Warriors in front of 4,714 fans. Again it would be Patrick Dodds providing late-game heroics with a goal with 39 seconds remaining.[9] The next week, Panther City collected a consecutive win for the first time, and set a franchise record for goals scored with a 17–16 home overtime win over the Saskatchewan Rush.[10]
The streak would eventually climb to five games, catapulting the team back to the playoff race with a 6–8 record.[11] Panther City would hang in there until the penultimate week of the regular season when they lost to the Georgia Swarm. A home loss to Saskatchewan closed out the year, though Panther City still posted the best inaugural season record by an expansion team since the San Diego Seals in 2018–19.
Cessation of operations
[edit]On August 30, 2024, the NLL announced that Panther City would cease operations effective immediately.[12]
Season-by-season record
[edit]| Season | Conference | W | L | % | Finish | Home | Away | GF | GA | Coach | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Western | 7 | 11 | .389 | 5th | 3–6 | 4–5 | 190 | 223 | Tracey Kelusky | Did not qualify |
| 2023 | Western | 10 | 8 | .556 | 3rd | 6–3 | 4–5 | 204 | 193 | Tracey Kelusky | Lost Western Conference Semi-Final |
| 2024 | Unified | 9 | 9 | .500 | 7th | 5–4 | 4–5 | 205 | 202 | Tracey Kelusky | Lost Quarterfinals |
| Total | 3 Seasons | 26 | 28 | .481 | 14–13 | 12–15 | 599 | 618 | 1 Head Coach | 0 Championships | |
| Playoff Totals | 2 Appearances | 0 | 2 | .000 | 0-0 | 0-2 | 17 | 21 |
Playoff results
[edit]| Season | Game | Visiting | Home |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Western Conference Semi-Final | Panther City 9 | Calgary 12 |
| 2024 | Quarterfinals | Panther City 8 | San Diego 9 |
Awards and honors
[edit]| Year | Player | Award |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Tracey Kelusky | Les Bartley Award |
| Jeremy Thompson | Teammate of the Year Award | |
| 2023 | Jonathan Donville | Rookie of the Year |
Draft history
[edit]NLL Entry Draft
[edit]First Round Selections
- 2021: Jonathan Donville (1st overall), Nathan Grenon (11th overall)
- 2022: Jason Knox (5th overall), Mathieu Gautier (9th overall), Colton Lidstone (21st overall)
- 2023: None
References
[edit]- ^ "Professional lacrosse is coming to Fort Worth, Dickies Arena". Retrieved July 22, 2020.
- ^ "NATIONAL LACROSSE LEAGUE ANNOUNCES FIRST-EVER EXPANSION INTO THE STATE OF TEXAS". Retrieved July 22, 2020.
- ^ "History of Panther Mascot". The Panther Foundation. May 2009. Archived from the original on August 26, 2009. Retrieved May 9, 2009.
- ^ Panther City Lacrosse Club
- ^ "Fort Worth's First National Lacrosse Team Names Head Coach". Fort Worth Business Press. 25 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
- ^ Panther City Lacrosse Club falls 12–11 to Wings in franchise opener
- ^ Panther City loses first home game
- ^ Panther City Lacrosse Club defeats New York Riptide, 13–12
- ^ Panther City hangs on for first home win
- ^ Malcom scores five times as Panther City edges Saskatchewan Rush, 17–16 in OT
- ^ Panther City slays Mammoth, 10–6
- ^ "Panther City Lacrosse Club to Cease Operations Effective Immediately". National Lacrosse League. 2024-08-30. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
