New York Riptide Explained

New York Riptide
Founded:2018
Sport:Box lacrosse
Current:2023 New York Riptide season
League:National Lacrosse League
Arena:Nassau Coliseum
Owner:GF Sports
Coach Label:Head coach
Coach:Dan Ladouceur
Gm:Rich Lisk
Blank Label:PLPA representative
Blank Label1:Formerly
Blank Label2:Later
Colors:Navy, Teal, Orange
Location:Uniondale, New York
Disbanded:2024

The New York Riptide were a professional box lacrosse franchise based in Uniondale, New York. They were members of the Eastern Conference of the National Lacrosse League (NLL) and played home games at Nassau Coliseum and began their first season in 2019.

2024 was the team's final season in Uniondale as the Riptide moved to Ottawa, with the team rebranding as the Ottawa Black Bears beginning with the 2025 season.

History

On December 12, 2018, the NLL awarded an expansion franchise to Uniondale, New York and owner GF Sports. The team began play in December 2019 with its home arena being the Nassau Coliseum.[1] [2] The Riptide mark the return of the National Lacrosse League to the Long Island area after the departure of the New York Saints (19892003) and the New York Titans (20062009), both of whom also played at Nassau Coliseum.

The New York Riptide name and logo were announced on February 17, 2019, as chosen by fans.[3]

On January 18, 2020, the Riptide got their first win in franchise history when they beat the Georgia Swarm by a score of 13–12 in overtime at Nassau Coliseum.

On June 3, 2020, the entire coaching staff and lacrosse operations team, including head coach and general manager Regy Thorpe, were fired.[4]

On July 10, 2020, the Riptide announced the hiring of Jim Veltman as general manager and Dan Ladouceur as head coach.[5]

Veltman was relieved of his duties on January 9, 2023, and replaced by executive vice president Rich Lisk.[6]

Relocation to Ottawa

On February 20, 2024, John Rodenburg of sports radio station CFGO reported that the Riptide would be relocating to Ottawa for the 2024–25 season, citing poor attendance.[7] The next day, the NLL officially announced that the Riptide would relocate to Ottawa, and will be renamed the Ottawa Black Bears. The team will play its games at Canadian Tire Centre. It will mark the return of the NLL to Ottawa; the Ottawa Rebel (a relocation of the Syracuse Smash) relocated to Edmonton as the Edmonton Rush in 2003 (that team later moved to Saskatoon as the Saskatchewan Rush).[8]

All-time record

SeasonDivision/ConferenceW–LFinishHomeRoadGFGACoachPlayoffs
Eastern 1–12 4th 1–5 0–7 116 177 Regy Thorpe No Playoffs Held
2021EasternSeason cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2022Eastern6–127th3–63–6214226Dan LadouceurDid Not Qualify
2023Eastern5–137th3–62–7201243Dan LadouceurDid Not Qualify
2024Unified8–109th4–54–5206234Dan LadouceurDid Not Qualify
Total4 Seasons20–4711–229–257378800 Championships

Award winners

!Year!Player!Award
2020Tyson GibsonRookie of the Year
2022Jeff TeatRookie of the Year

Coaching history

NameTermRegular SeasonPlayoffs
GCWLW%GCWLW%
1 align=left Regy Thorpe 202013 1 12 .077%
2Dan Ladouceur2022–2024541935.312%

Draft history

NLL Entry Draft

First Round Selections

Notes and References

  1. News: National Lacrosse League Welcomes 13th Franchise . December 12, 2018 .
  2. News: NLL coming to Long Island with new indoor lacrosse team planned for 2019 . December 11, 2018.
  3. News: New York National Lacrosse League Franchise Announces its Brand Name and Logo . February 17, 2018 .
  4. Web site: RIPTIDE ANNOUNCE COACHING AND LACROSSE OPERATIONS STAFF WILL NOT RETURN New York Riptide. 2020-07-03. newyorkriptide.com. en-US.
  5. Web site: Riptide Announce Hiring of Veltman and Ladouceur New York Riptide. 2020-07-15. newyorkriptide.com. en-US.
  6. Web site: Geick . Tyson . 2023-01-09 . New York Riptide Relieve GM Jim Veltman of His Duties . 2023-01-11 . New York Riptide . en-US.
  7. Web site: DaSilva . Matt . 2024-02-20 . REPORT: NEW YORK RIPTIDE RELOCATING TO OTTAWA AFTER 2023-24 SEASON . 2024-02-20 . usalacrosse.com . en-US.
  8. News: February 21, 2024 . NLL's New York team to move to Ottawa and be renamed Black Bears starting next season . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240221184944/https://www.thestar.com/sports/lacrosse/nlls-new-york-team-to-move-to-ottawa-and-be-renamed-black-bears-starting-next/article_33c48d13-0c4f-51fe-87e1-69af0da1f48b.html . February 21, 2024 . February 21, 2024 . . The Canadian Press.