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BANDITS RE-SIGN THREE TO CONTRACTS

Pat McCready, Kyle Couling & Jason Crosbie back with Buffalo

10/30/2006

Buffalo Bandits Director of Lacrosse Operations Dave Zygaj announced today the Bandits have re-signed defenseman Kyle Couling, transition player Pat McCready, and forward Jason Crosbie. All three were with the club last season, helping the Bandits to an 11-5 record and an NLL Championship Game appearance.

Couling, an assistant captain, will return for his seventh season with the Bandits. In 97 career games, the native of Port Moody, British Columbia has recorded 54 points (14 goals, 40 assists) and 438 loose balls, while also racking up 175 penalty minutes. He is also a two-time NLL All Star.

McCready will return for his fifth season in a Buffalo uniform. The 10-year NLL veteran led the Bandits with 154 loose balls last season, which ranked third in the league. He finished the season with 26 points (11 goals, 15 assists) and 36 penalty minutes in 15 games. His 688 loose balls as a Bandit is the second-highest total in team history. In 136 career games, McCready has 277 points (110 goals, 167 points) and 1,012 loose balls.

Crosbie is in his second stint with the Bandits. He appeared in 48 games with Buffalo from 2003-2005 before being traded to Arizona following the 2005 season. On March 14, 2006, he was re-acquired from Arizona in exchange for Buffalo's fourth round pick in the NLL Entry Draft and forward Lindsay Plunkett. In 16 total games last year, the Bowmanville, Ontario native recorded 20 goals and 37 assists. In 53 career games as a Bandit, he has 162 points (70 goals, 92 assists).

Pat McCready and Kyle Couling were signed to one-year contracts while Jason Crosbie inked a two-year deal.