Warriors Push NLL's Best to the Brink, Adam Charalambides Nets Hat Trick in OT Heartbreaker
NLL Vancouver Warriors

Warriors Push NLL's Best to the Brink, Adam Charalambides Nets Hat Trick in OT Heartbreaker

Published on February 15, 2026 under National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Vancouver Warriors News Release


The Vancouver Warriors became the first team this season to push the Saskatchewan Rush to overtime, but fell 9-8 in a back-and-forth battle.

This game was a measuring stick against the NLL's top team, which was decided by inches.

The Warriors generated offence from outside, down the middle, through the crease and in transition. The Rush have the most prolific scoring offence in the NLL, averaging 12.67 goals per game, but Vancouver's defence kept the Rush to nine goals and the Warriors' penalty kill was a perfect three for three on the night.

Both teams finished with 40 shots on goal, and for the first time this season Vancouver did not receive a power play.

Warriors' Head Coach and GM Curt Malawsky tipped his hat to the Rush as an upper echelon team that scored the winning goal first and said his team will learn a lot from this game.

"It's never a lack of heart, compete, effort, or caring for the guy next to him. That's a very good lacrosse team and it's in my experience you've got to deal with a little bit of pain before you can get the joy. I think for us, that's a good learning lesson," Malawsky said.

The Rush had one final possession with 21.4 seconds on the clock at the end of the fourth quarter, with the defence pressuring the Rush offence, Christian Del Bianco made a save as time was running out, sending the game into overtime. Del Bianco finished with 31 saves.

"Delbs played really, really well tonight, and the defence did a good job. That's a high-scoring offensive team, they've got a lot of tough checks. They've got guys that could break your ankles, guys that could hit the shot from the outside, so a super dynamic offence. Our guys holding them to nine [goals] I thought it was really good," Malawsky said.

"On the other end, we had some chances, it's not easy they're a very athletic defence, and they're opening early and they're getting in our lanes before we get the ball in our stick. So, you know, kudos to them. I thought Frank [Scigliano] played really well too."

Adam Charalambides recorded a hat trick and three assists and felt their group competed hard the whole way.

"I liked the way that we were swinging the ball, and I liked the way that all five guys were moving the ball and moving our feet," Charalambides said. "Would love like to get a few more shots on that, looking at the stat totals, but thought we had a pretty good night for a close, low-scoring game."

Despite the result, the performance shoed the Warriors can go toe-to-toe with the league's best. They're going to regroup and look forward to playing hard in front of the fans next Friday.

"[We're going to] reload, and use it as fuel and prepare for next week," Bides said.

The Warriors are back at Rogers Arena to take on the Buffalo Bandits next Friday, February 20th at 7:00pm PT for Rock & Roll Night.

For season tickets, group tickets, premium options, and all ticketing options, please go to tickets.vancouverwarriors.com.

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National Lacrosse League Stories from February 15, 2026


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