Keegan Bal is set to lead the Vancouver Warriors into the National Lacrosse League playoffs on Friday at Rogers Arena, with a unique commute from his day job that may involve just an elevator ride and a short walk.
The Halifax Thunderbirds (8-10) will face the Warriors (13-5) in a single-game elimination quarterfinal. Vancouver claimed the regular-season crown in the 14-team league, and Bal, 34, secured the scoring title with 124 points, including 45 goals.
NLL players often maintain traditional 9-to-5 jobs, with league veterans earning around $50,000. On weekdays, Bal works as a financial analyst for Aquilini Development, operating from an office in the tower adjacent to Rogers Arena. The Aquilini family, owners of the Vancouver Canucks, purchased the NLL's Vancouver Stealth in 2018, relocating them from Langley Events Centre to downtown and rebranding them as the Warriors.
Bal, a right-handed forward, debuted with the Stealth in 2016 and has been with Aquilini's real estate division since 2022. "I would say I have a lot of familiarity with a lot of the staff here," Bal said. "I talk to many people here, and a decent amount know I do both. There's a really good group in finance that follows the Warriors and my career. My direct boss has been amazing, giving me flexibility."
From Field Lacrosse to Finance
Originally from Coquitlam, Bal played field lacrosse at Lake Erie College in Painesville, Ohio, after high school. He discovered a passion for finance, building on his father's background in real estate. Bal completed a finance degree and a master's in business management with a finance focus from Durham University in England. Before his current role, he worked for various companies.
"We help paint a picture of how a project will look," Bal explained. "All our work is forward-looking, providing tools and analysis for strategic decision-makers."
Bal's calm demeanor extends to his lacrosse journey. Initially struggling to secure a full-time NLL spot, he was cut multiple times. Warriors general manager and coach Curt Malawsky, formerly with the Calgary Roughnecks, recalled offering Bal a tryout as a defender, which Bal politely declined.
Bal posted 32 goals and 74 points for the Warriors in 2019. He has surpassed 100 points in each of the last three seasons, with 112 points last year being his previous career best. At 6-foot-2 and 180 pounds, Bal defies the typical decline for players in their 30s.
"I don't think I've peaked," Bal said. "There are always little things to improve. It took me a while in this league. I was cut multiple times and questioned whether to continue, but I love the game so much. That kept me going."
Playoff Opportunity and Team Chemistry
With the Canucks' season concluded, the Warriors have a chance to build their brand through a playoff run. Nine of the top ten teams saw standings changes on the final regular-season weekend, highlighting league parity. Key for Vancouver is unselfish ball movement and involving everyone.
"We're such an unselfish unit. We truly want what's best for the team and celebrate each other," Bal said. "Everyone is willing to do the little things to make us great."
