Logo Courtesy of: Buffalo Bandits
Chris Vale, Beat Writer Buffalo Bandits
Lacrosse is Awesome
Photo Credit #3: LaxAllStars
Buffalo Bandits came into last season as the favorites in the Eastern Conference and hoped to head to the NLL championship for the second year in a row. In 2017, things did not go the way the Bandits hoped and they were unable to make the playoffs finishing the season with a 6-13 record.
This off season the team made some big changes. They did not bring back long-time fan favorite Billy Dee Smith on defense; let Dave Brock go to New England as a free agent; and traded Ryan Benesch to Colorado. To make matters worse, just before training camp Anthony Cosmo retired, but has stayed on as the Bandits new goalie coach.
After a few trades, draft picks and the return of Dhane Smith, Buffalo has created a very promising offense this upcoming year. The return of their top two 2017 scorers in Dhane Smith 81 points; and Mitch Jones 69 points should both improve in 2018. Mitch had a great WLA summer in New Westminster helping lead New West to the Mann Cup finals coming up short against the Peterborough Lakers.
Another returning player is Pat Saunders. Di Miller founder of Lacrosse is Awesome was lucky enough to be able to interview Pat for the PLPA (Professional Lacrosse Payers Association) http://www.plpa.com/spotlight/buf_pat_saunders.html Pat scored 23 points in ten games after being acquired in a trade with New England. He looked very solid this summer playing with the Kahnawake Mohawks alongside teammate Callum Crawford .
Photo by Bill Wippert
The chemistry was evident in their second summer season so look for them to find each other with ease on the floor as Bandits teammates. Big righty Craig England will look to clear the way for his teammates but is also able to score notching 24 points. Crawford isn’t the only new offensive player acquired in the off-season. Jordan Durston who was picked up from the Stealth on draft night for; and Anthony Malcom looks to be a major threat on the left side. Rookie lefty forward Josh Byrne who was the number one pick out of Hofstra University looks to show fans why their team took him with the top spot. On the right-side Chase Fraser looks to help fill the roll of an Anthony Malcom and the Neumann University standout could have a break out first season.
In net with Cosmo now on the bench last years back up Dave DiRuscio has been battling Alex Buque who played in fifty-four games with Colorado the past three seasons. Both goalies started this past summer in the WLA, DiRuscio with the Langley Thunder and Buque helped lead New Westminster to the Mann Cup. Buffalo hasn’t named their starter for Saturday’s game, but you should see whichever goalie winning the battle having a solid 2018 season. In my opinion, Buque has more success in his early NLL career and has a better chance at starting between the pipes.
For the Bandits the biggest question mark will be the defense. Nick Wiess was the team’s top defender, but now he’s going up against other back door players in Kevin Brownwell and Mitch de Snoo who played well this summer with the Oakville Rock..
Mark Steenhuis who has moved into a transition role late in his career should lead this group. Ryan Wagner who also played for Oakville this past summer and spent his first two years with the Stealth should be a focal point of the defense.
The wild card will be Reid Acton who has only played a few senior games in his career and most in 2013. The Loyola grad had success in the three seasons playing in the MLL with the Hamilton Nationals and Florida Launch. Acton also played one season with the Georgia Swarm in 2017 seeing action in eight regular season and one playoff game.
The Bandits draw man Tim Edwards was released in 2017. The Bandits will need a powerful face-off man, and they need to come together on defense and draws. This 17/18 season has the Bandits going with the younger players and is ready to make a splash in the Champions Cup race that will begin Friday December 8, 2017 at 7:30 p.m. ET in the home opener with the Toronto Rock making the trip down to the Key Bank Center.
Chris Vale, Beat Writer Buffalo Bandits
Lacrosse is Awesome