The Rebel was owned by the Brad Watters group which also brought lacrosse to Toronto and Montreal.

In their first season in Ottawa, the Rebel had one win and thirteen losses and finished last of nine teams.

Their second season was slightly better, with four wins and twelve losses, but due to tie breakers they finished fourth in the Northern Division and thirteenth overall behind the Calgary Roughnecks, who also finished with a 4–12 record.

In their third and final year in Ottawa they again had four wins and twelve losses, placing them fourth in the Northern Division again but tenth out of twelve in the overall league standings.

As the Syracuse Smash they were last overall all three years prompting the move to the Canadian capital.