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Buffalo Bandits Wiki Information
The Buffalo Bandits
are a team in the National Lacrosse League (NLL). They play at the HSBC Arena in Buffalo, New York. The Bandits played in the Major Indoor Lacrosse League from 1992 to 1997, until the MILL turned into the NLL in 1998.
The Bandits are owned by Hockey Western New York LLC, the consortium led by Tom Golisano, Daniel DiPofi and Larry Quinn that also owns the Buffalo Sabres.
The Bandits became the first franchise in MILL/NLL history [1] [2] to win a championship in its first season. The Bandits repeated as champions in their second season, lost the Championship game their third season and captured their third Championship in 1996, their fifth season. It was not until 1999, their eighth season, that the Bandits did not make the playoffs.
Since their 1996 Championship-winning season, the Bandits returned to the NLL Championship game on three separate occasions (1997, 2004, 2006) only to lose each time (including twice at home). It wouldn't be until 2008 that the Bandits would win their elusive fourth Championship, a 14-13 triumph over Portland.
The Bandits' cheerleaders are known as the Buffalo Bandettes.
__TOC__
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BUFFALO BANDITS TICKETS
| EVENT | DATE | AVAILABILITY |
|---|
| Buffalo Bandits vs. Rochester Knighthawks Tickets 12/28 | Dec 28, 2024
Sat, 7:30 PM |  | | Buffalo Bandits vs. Toronto Rock Tickets 1/10 | Jan 10, 2025
Fri, 7:30 PM | | | Buffalo Bandits vs. Philadelphia Wings Tickets 1/18 | Jan 18, 2025
Sat, 7:30 PM | | | Buffalo Bandits vs. Albany FireWolves Tickets 2/1 | Feb 01, 2025
Sat, 7:30 PM | | | Toronto Rock vs. Buffalo Bandits Tickets 2/14 | Feb 14, 2025
Fri, 7:00 PM | |
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Awards & honors
| Year
| Player
| Award
|
| 1992
| Derek Keenan
| Rookie of the Year
|
| John Tavares
| Championship Game MVP
|
| 1993
| John Tavares
| Championship Game MVP
|
| 1994
| John Tavares
| NLL Most Valuable Player
|
| 1996
| Pat O'Toole
| Championship Game MVP
|
| 2000
| John Tavares
| NLL Most Valuable Player
|
| 2001
| John Tavares
| NLL Most Valuable Player
|
| 2003
| Darris Kilgour
| Les Bartley Award
|
| Steve Govett
| GM of the Year
|
| 2005
| Steve Dietrich
| Goaltender of the Year [3]
|
| 2006
| Steve Dietrich
| Goaltender of the Year [4]
|
| Steve Dietrich
| NLL Most Valuable Player [5]
|
| 2007
| Dave Zygaj
| Executive of the Year [6]
|
| 2008
| Mark Steenhuis
| Transition Player of the Year [7]
|
| Mark Steenhuis
| Champion's Cup MVP
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NLL Hall of Fame members
- Les Bartley (class of 2006)
- Darris Kilgour, Tom Borrelli (class of 2007)
- Johnny Mouradian (class of 2008)
- Jim Veltman (class of 2009)
NLL records
Single-game record holders
- Most assists in a single game - Mark Steenhuis (13 assists, February 14, 2009)
- Most points in a single game - Mark Steenhuis (17 points, February 14, 2009)
Season record holders
- Most points in a single season - John Tavares (115 points, 2001)
All-time record holders
- Most goals in a career - John Tavares (620 goals, 1991-present)
- Most assists in a career - John Tavares (706 assists, 1991-present)
- Most points in a career - John Tavares (1,326 points, 1991-present)
NLL All-Star Game
- 2005: Kyle Couling, Mark Steenhuis, John Tavares*, Dan Teat
- 2006: Steve Dietrich, Mark Steenhuis, John Tavares*
- 2007: Pat McCready, Mark Steenhuis, John Tavares*
- 2008: Mark Steenhuis*, John Tavares*, Chris White
- 2009: Ken Montour*, Mark Steenhuis*, John Tavares, Roger Vyse, Chris White*
* - voted as starter
Current roster
|
|
| Active (23-man) roster
| Inactive roster
| Coaches
|
22x20px
Defensemen
- 5 Clay Hill (lacrosse)
- 2 Ian Llord
- 18 Phil Sanderson
- 24 Kyle Schmelzle
- 3 Billy Dee Smith
- 14 Joe Smith
- 6 Chris White
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| Forwards
- 44 Mike Accursi
- 72 Cory Bomberry
- -- Brian Croswell
- 51 Kevin Dostie
- 19 Sean Greenhalgh
- 20 Rusty Kruger
- 99 Delby Powless
- 12 Brandon Swamp
- 11 John Tavares (lacrosse player)
- 81 Roger Vyse
Transition
- 16 Rich Kilgour (C)
- 9 Mark Steenhuis
|
| Practice Squad
Injured Reserve
Unable to play
- -- Tory Gardner
- -- Eryn Jones
Restricted list
|
| Head Coach
Assistant Coaches
----
;Legend:
- *
Suspended list
- (C)
Captain
- (A)
Alternate captain
- †
Franchised player
- ‡
Unrestricted free agent
----
updated 2008-12-10
|
All time record
| League Champions
| Division Champions
| League Leader
|
| Season
| Division
| W-L
| Finish
| Home
| Road
| GF
| GA
| Coach
| Playoffs
|
| 1992
| National
| 5-3
| 2nd
| 2-2
| 3-1
| 161
| 125
| Bob "Buff" McCready [8]
Les Bartley
| Won Championship
|
| 1993
| National
| 8-0
| 1st
| 4-0
| 4-0
| 143
| 108
| Les Bartley
| Won Championship
|
| 1994
| National
| 6-2
| 1st
| 3-1
| 3-1
| 121
| 99
| Les Bartley
| Lost Championship
|
| 1995
|
| 3-5
| 4th
| 2-2
| 1-3
| 109
| 108
| Les Bartley
| Lost in semifinals
|
| 1996
|
| 8-2
| T-1st
| 3-2
| 5-0
| 172
| 127
| Les Bartley
| Won Championship
|
| 1997
|
| 6-4
| 3rd
| 3-2
| 3-2
| 158
| 153
| Les Bartley
| Lost Championship
|
| 1998
|
| 6-6
| 4th
| 4-2
| 2-4
| 166
| 171
| Les Wakeling
| Lost in semifinals
|
| 1999
|
| 4-8
| 6th
| 1-5
| 3-3
| 158
| 177
| Les Wakeling
| Did not qualify
|
| 2000
|
| 8-4
| 2nd
| 5-1
| 3-3
| 202
| 194
| Ted Sawicki
| Lost in semifinals
|
| 2001
|
| 8-6
| 5th
| 4-3
| 4-3
| 248
| 218
| Ted Sawicki
| Did not qualify
|
| 2002
| Central
| 8-8
| 4th
| 4-4
| 4-4
| 210
| 215
| Ted Sawicki
Frank Neilson
| Did not qualify
|
| 2003
| Central
| 12-4
| T-1st
| 8-0
| 4-4
| 231
| 188
| Darris Kilgour
| Lost in semifinals
|
| 2004
| Eastern
| 8-8
| 3rd
| 4-4
| 4-4
| 205
| 198
| Darris Kilgour
| Lost Championship
|
| 2005
| Eastern
| 11-5
| 2nd
| 5-3
| 6-2
| 217
| 183
| Darris Kilgour
| Lost in division semifinals
|
| 2006
| Eastern
| 11-5
| 1st
| 6-2
| 5-3
| 193
| 167
| Darris Kilgour
| Lost Championship
|
| 2007
| Eastern
| 10-6
| 2nd
| 6-2
| 4-4
| 249
| 194
| Darris Kilgour
| Lost in division finals
|
| 2008
| Eastern
| 10-6
| T-1st
| 7-2
| 3-4
| 203
| 174
| Darris Kilgour
| Won Championship
|
| 2009
| Eastern
| 10-6
| T-1st
| 5-3
| 5-3
| 223
| 170
| Darris Kilgour
| Lost in division finals
|
| Total
| 18 seasons
| 142-88
|
| 76-40
| 66-48
| 3,369
| 2,969
|
|
|
| Playoff Totals
|
| 19-11
|
| 13-6
| 6-5
| 422
| 383
|
| 4 Championships Won
|
All-time Team-by-team Records
(active NLL franchises only)
|
|
| Home
|
| Road
|
| Overall
|
| Team
| GP
| W
| L
| PCT
| GP
| W
| L
| PCT
| GP
| W
| L
| PCT
|
| Arizona Sting
| 2
| 2
| 0
| 1.000
| 1
| 1
| 0
| 1.000
| 3
| 3
| 0
| 1.000
|
| as Columbus Landsharks
| 3
| 3
| 0
| 1.000
| 3
| 3
| 0
| 1.000
| 6
| 6
| 0
| 1.000
|
| Calgary Roughnecks
| 1
| 1
| 0
| 1.000
| 4
| 3
| 1
| .750
| 5
| 4
| 1
| .800
|
| Chicago Shamrox
| 2
| 2
| 0
| 1.000
| 2
| 2
| 0
| 1.000
| 4
| 4
| 0
| 1.000
|
| Colorado Mammoth
| 3
| 3
| 0
| 1.000
| 2
| 0
| 2
| .000
| 5
| 3
| 2
| .600
|
| as Washington Power
| 2
| 1
| 1
| .500
| 2
| 2
| 0
| 1.000
| 4
| 3
| 1
| .750
|
| as Pittsburgh CrosseFire
| 0
| 0
| 0
| —
| 1
| 0
| 1
| .000
| 1
| 0
| 1
| .000
|
| as Baltimore Thunder
| 8
| 6
| 2
| .750
| 5
| 4
| 1
| .800
| 13
| 10
| 3
| .769
|
| Edmonton Rush
| 0
| 0
| 0
| —
| 0
| 0
| 0
| —
| 0
| 0
| 0
| —
|
| Minnesota Swarm
| 6
| 5
| 1
| .833
| 4
| 4
| 0
| 1.000
| 10
| 9
| 1
| .900
|
| New York Titans
| 2
| 2
| 0
| 1.000
| 2
| 1
| 1
| .500
| 4
| 3
| 1
| .750
|
| Philadelphia Wings
| 20
| 12
| 8
| .600
| 17
| 7
| 10
| .412
| 37
| 19
| 18
| .514
|
| Portland Lumberjax
| 2
| 2
| 0
| 1.000
| 1
| 0
| 1
| .000
| 3
| 2
| 1
| .667
|
| Rochester Knighthawks
| 15
| 7
| 8
| .467
| 18
| 5
| 13
| .278
| 33
| 12
| 21
| .364
|
| San Jose Stealth
| 1
| 1
| 0
| 1.000
| 1
| 1
| 0
| 1.000
| 2
| 2
| 0
| 1.000
|
| as Albany Attack
| 4
| 3
| 1
| .750
| 4
| 3
| 1
| .750
| 8
| 6
| 2
| .750
|
| Toronto Rock
| 13
| 2
| 11
| .154
| 9
| 4
| 5
| .444
| 22
| 6
| 16
| .273
|
| as Ontario Raiders
| 1
| 1
| 0
| 1.000
| 1
| 0
| 1
| .000
| 2
| 1
| 1
| .500
|
| Total (active franchises)
| 85
| 53
| 32
| .624
| 77
| 40
| 34
| .519
| 162
| 93
| 69
| .574
|
| Total (defunct franchises)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 52
| 39
| 13
| .750
|
Playoff Results
| Season
| Game
| Visiting
| Home
|
| 1992
| Division Semifinal
| Boston Blazers 16
| Buffalo Bandits 22
|
| Division Final
| Buffalo Bandits 19
| Detroit Turbos 16
|
| Championship
| Buffalo Bandits 11
| Philadelphia Wings 10 (OT)
|
| 1993
| Division Final
| Boston Blazers 10
| Buffalo Bandits 12
|
| Championship
| Philadelphia Wings 12
| Buffalo Bandits 13
|
| 1994
| Division Final
| Detroit Turbos 10
| Buffalo Bandits 16
|
| Championship
| Philadelphia Wings 26
| Buffalo Bandits 15
|
| 1995
| Semifinals
| Philadelphia Wings 19
| Buffalo Bandits 16
|
| 1996
| Semifinals
| Rochester Knighthawks 10
| Buffalo Bandits 18
|
| Championship
| Philadelphia Wings 10
| Buffalo Bandits 15
|
| 1997
| Semifinals
| New York Saints 10
| Buffalo Bandits 19
|
| Championship
| Rochester Knighthawks 15
| Buffalo Bandits 12
|
| 1998
| Semifinals
| Buffalo Bandits 12
| Philadelphia Wings 17
|
| 2000
| Semifinals
| Rochester Knighthawks 15
| Buffalo Bandits 11
|
| 2003
| Quarterfinals
| Calgary Roughnecks 9
| Buffalo Bandits 16
|
| Semifinals
| Buffalo Bandits 13
| Rochester Knighthawks 16
|
| 2004
| Division Semifinal
| Buffalo Bandits 13
| Rochester Knighthawks 9
|
| Division Final
| Buffalo Bandits 19
| Toronto Rock 10
|
| Championship
| Buffalo Bandits 11
| Calgary Roughnecks 14
|
| 2005
| Division Semifinal
| Rochester Knighthawks 17
| Buffalo Bandits 16
|
| 2006
| Division Semifinal
| Buffalo Bandits 11
| Minnesota Swarm 10
|
| Division Final
| Buffalo Bandits 15
| Rochester Knighthawks 10
|
| Championship
| Colorado Mammoth 16
| Buffalo Bandits 9
|
| 2007
| Division Semifinal
| Minnesota Swarm 8
| Buffalo Bandits 14
|
| Division Final
| Buffalo Bandits 13
| Rochester Knighthawks 14
(OT)
|
| 2008
| Division Semifinal
| Philadelphia Wings 12
| Buffalo Bandits 14
|
| Division Final
| New York Titans 12
| Buffalo Bandits 19
|
| Championship
| Portland Lumberjax 13
| Buffalo Bandits 14
|
| 2009
| Division Semifinal
| Boston Blazers 8
| Buffalo Bandits 11
|
| Division Final
| Buffalo Bandits 3
| New York Titans 9
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All-time Team-by-team Playoff Records
defunct franchises in italics
|
|
| Home
|
| Road
|
| Overall
|
| Team
| GP
| W
| L
| PCT
| GP
| W
| L
| PCT
| GP
| W
| L
| PCT
|
| Boston Blazers
| 2
| 2
| 0
| 1.000
| 0
| 0
| 0
| —
| 2
| 2
| 0
| 1.000
|
| Calgary Roughnecks
| 1
| 1
| 0
| 1.000
| 1
| 0
| 1
| .000
| 2
| 1
| 1
| .500
|
| Colorado Mammoth
| 1
| 0
| 1
| .000
| 0
| 0
| 0
| —
| 1
| 0
| 1
| .000
|
| Detroit Turbos
| 1
| 1
| 0
| 1.000
| 1
| 1
| 0
| 1.000
| 2
| 2
| 0
| 1.000
|
| Minnesota Swarm
| 2
| 2
| 0
| 1.000
| 0
| 0
| 0
| —
| 2
| 2
| 0
| 1.000
|
| New York Saints
| 1
| 1
| 0
| 1.000
| 0
| 0
| 0
| —
| 1
| 1
| 0
| 1.000
|
| New York Titans
| 1
| 1
| 0
| 1.000
| 0
| 0
| 0
| —
| 1
| 1
| 0
| 1.000
|
| Philadelphia Wings
| 5
| 3
| 2
| .600
| 2
| 1
| 1
| .500
| 7
| 4
| 3
| .571
|
| Portland Lumberjax
| 1
| 1
| 0
| 1.000
| 0
| 0
| 0
| —
| 1
| 1
| 0
| 1.000
|
| Rochester Knighthawks
| 5
| 2
| 3
| .400
| 3
| 1
| 2
| .333
| 8
| 3
| 5
| .375
|
| Toronto Rock
| 0
| 0
| 0
| —
| 1
| 1
| 0
| 1.000
| 1
| 1
| 0
| 1.000
|
| Total
| 20
| 14
| 6
| .700
| 8
| 4
| 4
| .500
| 28
| 18
| 10
| .643
|
Head Coaching History
| #
| Name
| Term
| Regular Season
| Playoffs
|
| GC
| W
| L
| W%
| GC
| W
| L
| W%
|
| 1
| Buff McCready
| 1992
| 3
| 0
| 3
| .000
| —
| —
| —
| —
|
| 2
| Les Bartley
| 1992—1997
| 49
| 36
| 13
| .735
| 12
| 9
| 3
| .750
|
| 3
| Les Wakeling
| 1998—1999
| 24
| 10
| 14
| .417
| 1
| 0
| 1
| .000
|
| 4
| Ted Sawicki
| 2000—2002
| 35
| 21
| 14
| .600
| 1
| 0
| 1
| .000
|
| 5
| Frank Neilson
| 2002
| 7
| 3
| 4
| .429
| —
| —
| —
| —
|
| 6
| Darris Kilgour
| 2003—present
| 96
| 62
| 34
| .646
| 14
| 9
| 5
| .643
|
Draft History
NLL Entry Draft
First Round Selections
- 1991: Darris Kilgour (1st overall)
- 1992: Tom Marechek (6th overall)
- 1993: Gil Nieuwendyk (6th overall)
- 1994: Rodd Squire (5th overall)
- 1995: Jason Luke (3rd overall)
- 1996: Mike Murray (6th overall)
- 1997: Casey Zaph (7th overall) & Marty O'Brien (8th overall)
- 1998: Matt Disher (7th overall)
- 1999: None
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- 2000: Ryan Powell (2nd overall)
- 2001: None
- 2002: Billy Dee Smith (3rd overall)
- 2003: A.J. Shannon (6th overall)
- 2004: Delby Powless (1st overall)
- 2005: Jeff Shattler (10th overall)
- 2006: Brett Bucktooth (3rd overall)
- 2007: None
- 2008: None
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NLL Dispersal Draft
- 2002 from Montreal Express: Aime Caines (6th overall); Kelly Sullivan (18th overall)
- 2003 from Ottawa Rebel: Jason Clark (9th overall); Marc Landriault (20th overall); Mike Hamilton (31st overall)
- 2004 from Vancouver Ravens: Curt Malawsky (9th overall); Declined to pick
(18th overall)
- 2005 from Anaheim Storm: Traded to Arizona
(9th overall)
- 2007 from Arizona Sting & Boston Blazers: Craig Conn, Arizona (10th overall); Brian Croswell, Boston (15th overall); Joe Smith, Arizona (34th overall)
- 2008 from Arizona Sting: Greg Hinman (13th overall)
- 2008 from Chicago Shamrox: Cody Jacobs (12th overall); Cory Stringer (21st overall)
NLL Expansion Draft
- 1999 to Albany Attack: Troy Cordingley (3rd overall)
- 2001 to Calgary Roughnecks, New Jersey Storm, Vancouver Ravens & Columbus Landsharks [9]: Rich Catton, Vancouver (3rd overall); Phil Wetherup, Columbus (4th overall); Andy Duden, Columbus (10th overall); Peter Talmo, New Jersey (21st overall)
- 2004 to Minnesota Swarm: Jason Clark (N/A overall)
- 2005 to Portland Lumberjax & Edmonton Rush: Mike Hominuck, Portland (1st overall); Thomas Montour, Portland (13th overall)
- 2006 to Chicago Shamrox & New York Titans: Bryan Kazarian, Chicago (13th overall); Jon Harasym, Portland (15th overall)
- 2007 to Boston Blazers: Brendan Thenhaus (7th overall)
- 2008 to Boston Blazers: Kyle Laverty (4th overall)
Retired Numbers
The Bandits have two retired numbers, one of which is represented at the Arena on the turf. [10]
34
Thomas Gardner, western New York youth lacrosse organizer, number retired March 20, 1999
43
Darris Kilgour, F, 1992-1999, number retired March 25, 2001
Game Broadcasts
Buffalo Bandits games can be heard on WWKB-AM 1520 out of Buffalo. John Gurtler, former play-by-play man for the Buffalo Sabres, handles announcing duties. Home games are streamed live on with Brendan McDaniels on the play-by-play. Verizon FiOS customers can watch them on TV on tape delay. NLL.com also streams all Bandits away games live featuring the home teams' commentators.
Third jersey
On February 13, 2009, the Bandits unveiled their first-ever third (alternate) jersey at the Buffalo Sabres/ San Jose Sharks game at HSBC Arena. While wearing the new jerseys, several players threw t-shirts to Sabres fans.
The next day, the Bandits wore their third jerseys for the first time when they took on the Toronto Rock. [11]
The jersey is mostly orange with an enlarged version of the head of the character in the team's logo which covers the entire front. The only difference is the gray bandanna is orange instead. The bandanna extends to the back of the jersey where the player's name and number are displayed in a white font, different from the font of the current home and away jerseys. On the players' right arm is a generic styling of the team's nickname, while the word "BUFFALO" appears on the left. Orange numbers are placed on the shoulders in front of an orange background. A larger-than-normal number is placed on the lower right front of the jersey.
Footnotes and references
- The Baltimore Thunder won the Eagle Pro Box Lacrosse League championship in the first year of their existence as well (1987), but that was the first year the league existed.
- The Toronto Rock won a championship in its first season in Toronto (1999), but the franchise had already played one year in Hamilton as the Ontario Raiders.
- Dietrich Named Aquis Goaltender of the Year
- Steve Dietrich Named RBK Goaltender of the Year
- Dietrich Wins 2006 Jet Blue MVP Award
- Dave Zygaj Named NLL Executive of the Year
- Steenhuis Named Top Transition Player
- Buff McCready only coached the Bandits for the first three games.
- Acquired the first overall pick and selected Chris Langdale from Toronto
- http://www.lacrosse-network.com/outsidersguide/news010322.htm
- Third jersey to go on sale Saturday
See also
- Buffalo Bandits seasons
- Buffalo Bandits all-time roster
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