New players help Las Vegas Desert Dogs to strong NLL start

Free agent signings have fueled the Desert Dogs' 3-3 record through their first six games.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 6:23pm

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The Las Vegas Desert Dogs are off to their best start in franchise history in the National Lacrosse League, thanks to several key free agent signings in the offseason. Forwards Mitch Jones, Chris Cloutier, and Chase Fraser, all new to the team, are among the Desert Dogs' leading scorers so far this season. The Desert Dogs are looking to make their first-ever playoff appearance after finishing with losing records in their first three seasons.

Why it matters

The Desert Dogs' strong start represents a significant turnaround for the young franchise, which has struggled to find success in its first few seasons. The additions of proven veteran players like Jones, Cloutier, and Fraser have injected new life into the team and raised expectations for what they can accomplish this year.

The details

The Desert Dogs' new free agent signings have made an immediate impact, with Jones, Cloutier, and Fraser ranking among the team's top scorers through the first six games. The trio previously played together and won three straight championships with the Buffalo Bandits, and they brought that winning pedigree and chemistry to the Desert Dogs. The team's 3-3 record so far is their best start in franchise history, a marked improvement from their losing records in each of the past three seasons.

  • The Desert Dogs are in their fourth season of existence in the National Lacrosse League.
  • The team finished 5-13 in both 2023 and 2024, and 4-14 last season.
  • The Desert Dogs host the Oshawa FireWolves on Saturday, January 30, 2026 at 7 p.m.

The players

Mitch Jones

A 13-year veteran in the NLL, Jones signed with the Desert Dogs in the offseason after previously playing for the Philadelphia Wings. He has 14 goals so far this season, leading the Desert Dogs' offense.

Chris Cloutier

Cloutier joined the Desert Dogs as a free agent after winning three straight NLL titles with the Buffalo Bandits from 2023-2025. He has 11 goals so far this season and has brought valuable championship experience to the team.

Chase Fraser

Fraser, who also signed with the Desert Dogs as a free agent after playing with Cloutier in Buffalo, has 10 goals so far this season. The two are close friends and decided to join the Desert Dogs together in the offseason.

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What they’re saying

“Everybody having the same mentality of coming in, working hard and doing what needs to be done to go into the season to change the narrative that has kind of been circled around the Desert Dogs the past couple years.”

— Chase Fraser (reviewjournal.com)

“When you get behind a common goal and everyone's kind of got the same personality and gets along, it's a beautiful thing.”

— Chris Cloutier (reviewjournal.com)

“It's awesome having your brother with me to go through this with and battle with and help build something great here.”

— Chase Fraser (reviewjournal.com)

What’s next

The Desert Dogs will look to continue their strong start when they host the Oshawa FireWolves on Saturday, January 30th.

The takeaway

The Desert Dogs' offseason acquisitions of proven veteran players have paid immediate dividends, fueling the team's best start in franchise history and raising hopes that they can finally break through and make their first-ever playoff appearance this season.