What Is 2016 New England Black Wolves season

Overview

The 2016 season marked the second year of competition for the New England Black Wolves in the National Lacrosse League (NLL). Relocated from Philadelphia as the former Philadelphia Wings, the franchise continued building its identity in Connecticut under head coach Mike Hasen. Despite improvements in offensive output, the team struggled with consistency on defense and failed to secure a postseason berth.

Playing their home games at Mohegan Sun Arena, the Black Wolves aimed to grow their regional fanbase while competing in a tough East Division. The season featured a balanced schedule of 16 games, eight at home and eight on the road. Although they showed flashes of strong performance, particularly in second-half rallies, they ultimately finished fourth in the division with a losing record.

• Regular season record: The team finished with a 7–9 win-loss record, a slight improvement from their 4–12 debut season in 2015.
• Division standing: They placed fourth in the four-team East Division, behind the Toronto Rock, Rochester Knighthawks, and Georgia Swarm.
• Home venue: All home games were played at Mohegan Sun Arena, a 10,000-seat indoor arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.
• Head coach: Mike Hasen returned for his second season as head coach, overseeing both offensive and defensive strategies.
• Key players: Forward Kevin Buchanan led the team with 35 goals, while goaltender Nick Patterson played in 12 games with a 13.86 goals-against average.

Performance & Schedule

The 2016 campaign featured a mix of high-scoring games and defensive struggles, reflecting the team's developmental stage. The Black Wolves played a full 16-game schedule, facing each of the other NLL teams at least once, with a focus on improving transition play and faceoff efficiency.

• Opening game: On January 2, 2016, the Black Wolves lost 15–13 to the Toronto Rock in front of a home crowd at Mohegan Sun.
• Best stretch: They won three consecutive games in March, defeating Georgia, Buffalo, and Calgary to briefly boost playoff hopes.
• Worst loss: Suffered a 20–11 defeat to the Saskatchewan Rush on March 19, highlighting defensive vulnerabilities.
• Attendance: Averaged around 4,500 fans per home game, showing modest but steady local support.
• Final game: Concluded the season on April 30 with a 14–11 loss to the Rochester Knighthawks, eliminating them from playoff contention.

Comparison at a Glance

Here’s how the 2016 Black Wolves season compared to other NLL teams and their own 2015 performance:

The table shows that while the Black Wolves improved from 4–12 to 7–9, they still trailed division rivals in both wins and offensive production. Their 167 goals scored marked a significant increase, but a league-worst 208 goals allowed underscored defensive issues. Despite a competitive effort, they fell short of the postseason cutoff, which required a top-two finish in the East.

Why It Matters

The 2016 season was a transitional year that laid the groundwork for future development in the franchise’s short history. While playoff success remained elusive, the team demonstrated progress in scoring and fan engagement, signaling potential for growth in subsequent seasons.

• Development focus: The season allowed younger players like Zach Higgins and Tom Schreiber to gain valuable experience at the professional level.
• Fan engagement: Hosting games at Mohegan Sun helped establish a unique entertainment atmosphere, blending lacrosse with casino-adjacent events.
• League parity: The Black Wolves’ competitive games contributed to the NLL’s goal of balanced, high-scoring matchups across divisions.
• Rebuilding effort: After a poor 2015 debut, the 2016 season proved the team could be competitive, winning three more games than the previous year.
• Goaltending challenges: High goals-against averages highlighted the need for defensive restructuring and better transition play.
• Market testing: The Connecticut location served as a test for lacrosse’s viability in New England outside traditional hotbeds like Long Island or Maryland.

Ultimately, the 2016 season was a step forward for the franchise, even without postseason success. It provided critical data on roster strengths and weaknesses, informing future drafts and trades as the Black Wolves aimed to become a consistent NLL contender.