The roar inside the Tribute Communities Centre rises with every possession, echoing across the floor as the Oshawa FireWolves pulse the pace. For a team in a new city, that noise has quickly become more than background – it’s fuel.
In their first season after relocating from Albany, N.Y., the FireWolves are adjusting to more than a new home arena. They are building a relationship with a fan base that is just as invested in them as they are in the game.
That connection is already shaping how the team plays and how it defines success, according to players and coaches.
“The crowd’s been fantastic,” said captain Colton Watkinson. “Since we stepped foot in Oshawa at that first press conference, there’s been nothing but support from the community.”
The move has brought changes off the floor as well.
For many players, including Watkinson, relocating closer to the Greater Toronto Area has made balancing work, life and lacrosse more manageable. Long drives to Albany have been replaced with shorter commutes and a stronger sense of routine.
But the biggest difference has been the presence of a local, engaged crowd.
“There’s been a ton more interactions,” Watkinson said. “There’s tons of kids at the games. Being able to interact with them, kind of how I saw professional players when I was growing up, that’s special every time.”
For forward Dyson Williams, that connection carries even more meaning. Having grown up playing lacrosse in Durham Region, he now finds himself competing in front of the same community that shaped his career.
“I see myself in those kids,” Williams said. “If I rewind 15 years, I would have loved to have a professional team right in Oshawa.”
That full circle moment has helped turn each game into more than just competition. With multiple sold out crowds this season, with over 5,000 people attending each game and over 1,000 of them being season ticket holders, according the FireWolves.
The energy inside the arena has created what players describe as a true home floor advantage.
“There’s a true buzz,” Williams said. “As an offensive player, I like feeding off that energy. When it’s loud and you get fired up, you hope to take that momentum and keep going and fire up the crowd.”
That exchange of energy between players and fans is something that has been central to the team’s identity in Oshawa, according to head coach Glenn Clark.
“There’s a responsibility,” Clark said. “Players want to perform for the people that are coming to see them. They want to give that energy back and give them something to cheer about.”
Clark described the atmosphere at home games as “passionate, exciting and energized,” pointing to Oshawa’s deep roots in lacrosse and strong community engagement.
“It’s a great lacrosse community,” he said. “It’s got a vibe, it’s got an excitement to it. It’s a cool atmosphere to be in.”
That connection extends beyond game nights. Through school visits, youth clinics and community outreach, the FireWolves have made a visible effort to embed themselves in the region.
“We’ve done a lot of outreach with schools and youth programming,” Clark said. “You want to embrace new fans and create more of a passion. It’s a vital component of what we do as an organization.”
Players say that presence is already being felt.
“You go to the grocery store and people are saying hi,” Williams said. “There’s a real buzz with the FireWolves. It’s special.”
Oshawa’s lacrosse history has helped strengthen that bond. With a legacy tied to teams like the junior “A” box lacrosse Green Gaels that won seven straight Minto Cups from 1963-69, the city has long supported the sport.
For the FireWolves, success in their inaugural season goes beyond the scoreboard.
“Success for us is laying down a foundation for future years,” Watkinson said. “Engaging with fans, having them become lifelong supporters that’s what really matters.”