Zach Higgins Bio
Zachary “Zach” Higgins (born December 30, 1990) is a Canadian professional box lacrosse goaltender. He plays for the Ottawa Black Bears of the National Lacrosse League (NLL) and the Brooklin Redmen of Major Series Lacrosse (MSL). Known by the nickname “The Tendy Bear,” Higgins has built a reputation as one of the top goaltenders in the league after more than a decade in professional lacrosse.
Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing around 225 pounds, Higgins uses his size and positioning to control the crease. Entering the 2023 NLL season, Inside Lacrosse ranked him the number four goalie in the league, a reflection of his consistency and big-game performances across multiple organizations.
Early Life and Background
Zachary Higgins was born on December 30, 1990, in Courtice, Ontario, Canada. He grew up in a region with a deep lacrosse tradition, and the sport quickly became a central part of his youth. Courtice, located within the Greater Toronto Area, has produced several notable Canadian lacrosse players, and Higgins was able to develop in a competitive local environment from a young age.
He attended Courtice Secondary School, where he balanced his education with a growing commitment to competitive lacrosse. The junior lacrosse system in Ontario provided a structured path for young players, and Higgins moved through the ranks while completing high school. His early years in the crease laid the foundation for a career that would eventually take him to the professional level on both sides of the border.
Path to Lacrosse
Higgins began his Canadian amateur career with the Junior B Clarington Green Gaels, where he quickly established himself as one of the top young goaltenders in the province. He won his league’s Goaltender of the Year Award in both 2007 and 2008, an early signal of the consistency and focus that would define his career. The Green Gaels gave him a platform to face high-level competition and refine his technique.
He moved up to the Junior A Whitby Warriors, the next step in the Ontario junior lacrosse ladder. With the Warriors, Higgins served as the team’s starting goaltender and won the Minto Cup in 2011, the national championship of Canadian junior lacrosse. He also attended Davenport University, where he played collegiate lacrosse and was a two-time first team All-CCLA award winner, further building his resume before turning professional.
Zach Higgins Career
Early Career (2012-2013)
Although Higgins was undrafted in the NLL, the Minnesota Swarm signed him in 2012, recognizing his potential after his Minto Cup season. He was added to the Swarm’s active roster on March 12, 2012, but did not see any playing time that year. The organization instead loaned him to the Durham TurfDogs, where he spent most of the 2013 season continuing to develop while remaining on Minnesota’s practice squad.
After the 2013 season, the Swarm signed Higgins to a three-year contract extension, showing clear faith in his long-term potential. The agreement gave him the security he needed to focus on earning a starting role. It also reflected the progress he had made during his time in the developmental ranks of both junior and senior lacrosse.
Minnesota Swarm and NLL Debut (2014)
Higgins made his long-awaited NLL debut with the Minnesota Swarm in January 2014. His first appearance came against the Philadelphia Wings on January 18, 2014, marking the official start of his professional indoor career. Less than two weeks later, on February 1, 2014, he made his first NLL start against the Colorado Mammoth, stepping into a more prominent role between the pipes.
Those early appearances allowed Higgins to adjust to the speed and physicality of the NLL game. He used the remainder of the 2014 season and subsequent campaigns to grow into a reliable starter, building the body of work that would later take him to several other NLL franchises.
Career With the Georgia Swarm and Beyond
Following his time in Minnesota, Higgins continued his NLL journey with the Georgia Swarm, another organization that benefited from his steady presence in goal. His performances helped solidify his standing as a dependable starting goaltender in the league, and he became a player teams could rely on for full-game consistency.
He later suited up for the Calgary Roughnecks, the Buffalo Bandits, and the Philadelphia Wings, gaining experience in different locker rooms and competing in a variety of arena environments. Each stop added to his understanding of opposing offenses and helped him refine the preparation habits that have marked his career.
Ottawa Black Bears Era (Years-Present)
Higgins is currently with the Ottawa Black Bears, where he serves as a key part of the team’s goaltending tandem. The Black Bears era has represented a new chapter in his career, and his veteran presence has provided stability in the crease. His pairing with the team’s defensive structure has helped Ottawa compete in a competitive NLL landscape.
Throughout his time in Ottawa, Higgins has continued to deliver the kind of performances that have defined his career. His track record of consistency, combined with the experience gained from years of professional play, has made him a central figure in the Black Bears’ plans going forward.
Brooklin Redmen (Major Series Lacrosse)
In addition to his NLL commitments, Higgins has played for the Brooklin Redmen of Major Series Lacrosse. He made his MSL debut with the Redmen in 2012, the same year he signed with Minnesota, and has remained a fixture in the summer lacrosse scene in Ontario. The MSL is one of the most competitive senior lacrosse leagues in Canada, and his continued participation reflects his commitment to year-round play.
Driving Style and Strengths
Higgins is recognized for his calm demeanor in the crease and his ability to track the ball through heavy traffic. His size allows him to cover large portions of the net, and his left-handed catching style gives him a familiar look to shooters throughout the NLL. He is also known for his preparation and study of opposing offenses, which has helped him remain a top-tier goaltender over a long professional career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Higgins’s most notable milestones are back-to-back Junior B Goaltender of the Year Awards in 2007 and 2008, a Minto Cup championship with the Whitby Warriors in 2011, and his NLL debut with the Minnesota Swarm in January 2014. His recognition as the number four goalie in the NLL by Inside Lacrosse ahead of the 2023 season further cemented his place among the league’s elite.
Zach Higgins Career Wins
Zachary Higgins has accumulated a range of accomplishments across junior, collegiate, and professional lacrosse. His trophy case includes league goaltending awards, a national junior championship, and collegiate all-conference recognition, along with years of professional service across multiple NLL organizations.
League and Championship Highlights
Higgins won his Junior B league’s Goaltender of the Year Award in 2007 and 2008 with the Clarington Green Gaels. He then won the Minto Cup, Canada’s national junior lacrosse championship, with the Whitby Warriors in 2011 as the team’s starting goaltender. At the collegiate level, he was a two-time first team All-CCLA selection while at Davenport University.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond his headline achievements, Higgins has posted consistently strong performances across the NLL with the Minnesota Swarm, Georgia Swarm, Calgary Roughnecks, Buffalo Bandits, Philadelphia Wings, and Ottawa Black Bears. His ongoing play with the Brooklin Redmen in Major Series Lacrosse has also kept him sharp during the summer months.
Zach Higgins Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Zach Higgins’s family background is limited, and detailed details about his parents and immediate relatives are not widely available. What is clear is that he grew up in Courtice, Ontario, a community that has produced several notable Canadian lacrosse players.
Personal Life
Higgins has kept much of his personal life private, and verified public information about a spouse, children, or marital status has not been published. He is widely recognized for his “Tendy Bear” nickname, which has followed him through junior, collegiate, and professional lacrosse. His professional base has been tied primarily to the cities and organizations that have employed him across the NLL and MSL.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 NLL season, Zach Higgins remains with the Ottawa Black Bears, where he is expected to play a significant role in the team’s goaltending plans. His veteran experience across multiple franchises gives him a strong understanding of opposing offenses, and his continued ranking among the league’s top goalies points to a season of high expectations in Ottawa.
On the summer side, Higgins is also expected to continue with the Brooklin Redmen in Major Series Lacrosse, keeping his game sharp through the warm months. The combination of NLL and MSL play has long been part of his routine, and 2025 looks to follow the same pattern. His preparation, size, and crease discipline position him well for another productive year between the pipes.
For Ottawa, the outlook for 2025 centers on Higgins anchoring the defense and providing the kind of reliable performances that have marked his career. With his track record and continued health, he is positioned to remain a key contributor for the Black Bears as the season unfolds.