What Happened to New England Black Wolves?
The New England Black Wolves were a professional box lacrosse team based in Uncasville, Connecticut, that played in the National Lacrosse League (NLL) from 2015 to 2020. Originally the Philadelphia Wings, the franchise relocated to Connecticut and later moved to Albany, New York, in 2021, becoming the Albany FireWolves. As of August 2025, the franchise has again relocated to Oshawa, Ontario, and will compete as the Oshawa FireWolves starting with the 2025-26 NLL season.
Quick Answer
The New England Black Wolves, a professional box lacrosse team, ceased to exist under that name in February 2021 when the franchise was sold and relocated from Uncasville, Connecticut, to Albany, New York. They were rebranded as the Albany FireWolves. This Albany iteration of the franchise itself relocated again in August 2025 to Oshawa, Ontario, where it will play as the Oshawa FireWolves starting in the 2025-26 National Lacrosse League season.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline12 events
Franchise Founded as Philadelphia Wings
The franchise that would eventually become the New England Black Wolves began its history as the Philadelphia Wings, one of the original teams in the National Lacrosse League (NLL) and its predecessor, the Major Indoor Lacrosse League (MILL).
Relocation to Uncasville, Connecticut
The Philadelphia Wings announced their relocation to Uncasville, Connecticut, to play at the Mohegan Sun Arena.
Rebranded as New England Black Wolves
The team was officially introduced as the New England Black Wolves, with partial ownership by the Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut.
Inaugural Game in New England
The New England Black Wolves played their first home game, defeating the Buffalo Bandits 12-8 in front of nearly 6,000 fans.
First Playoff Appearance
After a 4-14 inaugural season, the Black Wolves improved significantly in 2016 with a 10-8 record and made their first playoff appearance, reaching the East Division final.
2020 NLL Season Suspended Due to COVID-19
With the Black Wolves holding a league-best 8-3 record and leading the East Division, the National Lacrosse League suspended its season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Remainder of 2020 NLL Season Canceled
The NLL announced the cancellation of the remaining games of the 2020 season, ending the Black Wolves' promising run prematurely.
Relocation to Albany, New York, and Rebranding
The National Lacrosse League announced the sale of the New England Black Wolves to a new ownership group, which relocated the team to Albany, New York, and rebranded it as the Albany FireWolves.
Albany FireWolves Name Officially Revealed
After an online naming contest, the team officially announced its new name, the Albany FireWolves, to play out of the MVP Arena.
Albany FireWolves Begin Play
The Albany FireWolves made their in-market debut with the start of the 2021-22 NLL season.
Albany FireWolves Relocate to Oshawa, Ontario
The National Lacrosse League officially announced that the Albany FireWolves franchise would relocate to Oshawa, Ontario, for the 2025-26 season, retaining the FireWolves name.
Oshawa FireWolves to Begin Inaugural Season
The franchise, now known as the Oshawa FireWolves, is scheduled to begin its first season in Oshawa, Ontario, playing at the Tribute Communities Centre.
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🔍Deep Dive Analysis
The New England Black Wolves were a professional box lacrosse team that called Uncasville, Connecticut, home from 2015 to 2020. The franchise had a storied history even before arriving in New England, having operated as the Philadelphia Wings from 1987 to 2014 and winning six championships in the National Lacrosse League (NLL) and its predecessor, the Major Indoor Lacrosse League (Source: Wikipedia, 2021; Fun While It Lasted, 2021). The team was partially owned by the Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut, who also operated the Mohegan Sun Arena where the Black Wolves played their home games.
After a challenging inaugural season in 2015 with a 4-14 record, the Black Wolves showed significant improvement, making four consecutive playoff appearances from 2016 to 2019. The 2020 season appeared to be their most promising, as they held a league-best 8-3 record and were in first place in the East Division when the NLL season was suspended and subsequently canceled in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This abrupt end to a successful season, coupled with reported struggles with attendance, marked a key turning point for the franchise in New England.
In February 2021, it was officially announced that the New England Black Wolves franchise had been sold to a new ownership group led by former NLL player Oliver Marti and would relocate to Albany, New York, for the 2021-2022 season. The team was rebranded as the Albany FireWolves and began playing at the MVP Arena (formerly Times Union Center). The move aimed to tap into the Capital Region's growing lacrosse community.
However, the Albany FireWolves' tenure was also relatively short-lived. On August 19, 2025, the NLL officially announced that the Albany FireWolves would relocate to Oshawa, Ontario, beginning with the 2025-26 season. The team will retain the 'FireWolves' name and play its home games at the Tribute Communities Centre. Reports indicated that factors contributing to this relocation included the proximity of many players to the Toronto area, high workers' compensation insurance fees, and poor attendance at home games in Albany.
CURRENT STATUS as of 2026-08-23: The franchise that began as the Philadelphia Wings, then became the New England Black Wolves, and subsequently the Albany FireWolves, is now the Oshawa FireWolves. They are preparing for their inaugural season in Oshawa, Ontario, which is scheduled to begin in November 2025 for the 2025-26 NLL season.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if New England Black Wolves made different choices?