OSHAWA, ON – From his rookie days with the New England Black Wolves, to three years in Albany, and now the heart of the Durham Region in Oshawa, Nick Chaykowsky has savored every minute of his eight-season tenure with the FireWolves franchise.
“It’s been a journey through three different cities, and it’s been great to experience different fanbases and areas of box lacrosse,” Chaykowsky said of his career. “I’ve seen three different sets of loyal fans and how engaged they are during games, which has been cool for me to witness.”
The demands of the professional level are relentless: constant travel, physical wear and tear, hours of film study, and team meetings. To maintain his edge, Chaykowsky has found a vital physical and mental outlet: running.
“I have tried lifting and other strength training, but I think running—especially on pavement—has been the most beneficial for me,” the Bradford, Ontario native explained. “In the offseason, I’ll beef up and focus on strength, but as the season progresses, I get leaner, faster, and improve my conditioning.”
Chaykowsky’s introduction to the sport came early through his father, who played growing up. Once a stick was placed in Nick’s hands, he never looked back. After developing his game with Newmarket Minor Lacrosse, he moved on to Trent University in Peterborough, where he starred as a midfielder in the Canadian University Field Lacrosse Association (CUFLA).
When the organization announced its relocation from Albany to Oshawa, it marked a significant personal shift for Chaykowsky. The move eliminated the long treks to New York and allowed friends and family to attend games more frequently.
That proximity proved serendipitous when Chaykowsky’s inner circle witnessed a historic franchise moment: the defender scoring the first goal in Oshawa FireWolves history.
“I didn’t even think about it being the first goal ever. It took me a couple of seconds to process it,” Chaykowsky recalled. “I think I got to the bench and someone said something. I was like, ‘Oh yeah, I guess that is the first goal.’ That’s pretty cool. It wasn’t even a thought in my mind before the game—as a D-guy, you might only get one or two shots every few games.”
Along with making history for his team, he is also on the verge of having a career best season in caused turnovers and loose balls. Chaykowsky currently has 25 caused turnovers which puts him at 5th in the NLL and is his career high in a season with his previous best being 17 in 2023. He has also collected 106 loose balls this season and with three games to go he is within reach of beating his career high of 127 in 2024.
As the season winds down, Chaykowsky remains focused on finishing strong and helping the FireWolves secure wins. The 6’3” defender is constantly looking for ways to elevate his play, which includes a bit of ‘selfish’ maneuvering regarding the team’s travel arrangements. He requested to be paired with veteran legend Kyle Rubisch on road trips.
“I told the team manager to room me with Rubisch,” Chaykowsky chuckled. “Number one, I wanted to welcome him to the team and make sure he felt comfortable. But number two, I wanted to see how he operates and what I can learn from him through the course of a day. Whether it’s his words of wisdom during film or his energy on the bench, it’s great to watch him and have that dialogue. It’s definitely good to have him on the squad.”
Chaykowsky and the FireWolves will fly to Calgary for their final road game of the season when they face the Roughnecks on Saturday, April 4, at 9:00 PM from the Scotiabank Saddledome on TSN+, ESPN+, and NLL+.
The FireWolves will see the Roughnecks a week later, back at the Tribute Communities Centre for Wrestling Night on Saturday, April 11 at 7 pm. Get your tickets now here.
About Oshawa FireWolves
The Oshawa FireWolves are Durham Region’s professional box lacrosse team, competing in the National Lacrosse League (NLL) out of the Tribute Communities Centre in downtown Oshawa, ON. For more information, visit OshawaFireWolves.com. Follow the team on Facebook at facebook.com/FireWolvesNLL, Twitter @FireWolvesNLL, and Instagram @FireWolvesNLL.
About National Lacrosse League
The National Lacrosse League (NLL) is North America’s largest professional lacrosse league and welcomed more than 1 million fans for the third consecutive year during the 2024-25 season. Founded in 1986, the NLL is comprised of 14 franchises across Canada and the United States, and recently unveiled its largest brand campaign ever, “Welcome to The Next Major League™” and introduced its comprehensive grassroots initiative, NLL UnBOXed™, that will expand the League’s footprint to 60 communities across North America by 2028. For the latest scores and developments in the National Lacrosse League, please visit: NLL.com and find the NLL on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube and TikTok. Games are available live and streaming on TSN, TSN+, the ESPN family of networks, ESPN+, and NLL+.
About Tribute Communities Centre
The Tribute Communities Centre is Durham Region’s premier sports and live entertainment facility and is managed by Oak View Group. The Tribute Communities Centre is home to the Oshawa FireWolves of the National Lacrosse League, Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League, and hosts a myriad of events including concerts, circuses, ice skating and family shows. Visit TributeCommunitiesCentre.com, and follow on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
About Oak View Group
Oak View Group (OVG) is the global leader in live experience venue development, management, premium hospitality services, and 360-degree solutions for a collection of world-class owned venues and a client roster of arenas, convention centers, music festivals, performing arts centers, and cultural institutions. Founded by Tim Leiweke and Irving Azoff in 2015, OVG is the leading developer of major new venues either open or under development across four continents. Visit OakViewGroup.com, and follow OVG on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.
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