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BUF at SD - Sat. 10pm ET on ESPNews Schedule

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WK
1
Fri, Dec 2
FINAL
Philadelphia
8
Halifax
18
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
Vancouver
8
Toronto
19
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
San Diego
15
New York
14
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
Albany
11
Buffalo
10
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
Rochester
16
Georgia
11
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
Colorado
6
Saskatchewan
18
WK
2
Fri, Dec 9
FINAL
Las Vegas
11
Panther City
13
Fri, Dec 9
FINAL/OT
Saskatchewan
12
San Diego
13
Sat, Dec 10
FINAL
Toronto
7
Rochester
11
Sat, Dec 10
FINAL
Vancouver
9
Calgary
11
WK
3
Fri, Dec 16
FINAL
Calgary
14
Vancouver
5
Fri, Dec 16
FINAL
Panther City
9
Las Vegas
3
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Buffalo
11
Toronto
8
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Rochester
14
Albany
13
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Philadelphia
13
Georgia
12
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Halifax
20
New York
11
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Colorado
12
Panther City
9
WK
5
Fri, Dec 30
FINAL
Halifax
13
Buffalo
18
Fri, Dec 30
FINAL
San Diego
17
Calgary
14
Sat, Dec 31
FINAL
Panther City
9
Saskatchewan
11
WK
6
Fri, Jan 6
FINAL
Philadelphia
14
Las Vegas
9
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Panther City
9
Rochester
17
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Halifax
14
Albany
11
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Buffalo
18
Georgia
9
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Toronto
15
New York
7
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Calgary
8
Colorado
9
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Vancouver
11
San Diego
16
WK
7
Fri, Jan 13
FINAL/OT
Albany
11
Halifax
10
Fri, Jan 13
FINAL/OT
Saskatchewan
10
Colorado
11
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
Halifax
8
Toronto
17
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
Panther City
12
Philadelphia
10
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
Georgia
9
Buffalo
11
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
San Diego
10
Calgary
14
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
Las Vegas
16
Vancouver
19
Sun, Jan 15
FINAL
Rochester
11
New York
8
WK
8
Fri, Jan 20
FINAL
Buffalo
12
Rochester
15
Fri, Jan 20
FINAL
Vancouver
14
Las Vegas
15
Sat, Jan 21
FINAL
Toronto
14
Philadelphia
5
Sat, Jan 21
FINAL
New York
16
Albany
10
WK
9
Fri, Jan 27
FINAL
Rochester
7
Halifax
17
Fri, Jan 27
FINAL
Buffalo
13
Philadelphia
9
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL
Buffalo
16
New York
10
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL
Las Vegas
10
Saskatchewan
15
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL/OT
Toronto
11
Calgary
10
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL
San Diego
13
Colorado
9
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL
Panther City
20
Vancouver
7
WK
10
Fri, Feb 3
FINAL
Georgia
10
Colorado
13
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL/OT
Calgary
12
Halifax
11
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
New York
14
Toronto
22
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Albany
5
Philadelphia
13
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Rochester
10
Buffalo
13
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Panther City
10
San Diego
12
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Saskatchewan
14
Vancouver
8
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Colorado
8
Las Vegas
13
WK
11
Fri, Feb 10
FINAL
Toronto
11
Georgia
10
Fri, Feb 10
FINAL
Saskatchewan
6
Calgary
13
Sat, Feb 11
FINAL
Halifax
14
Rochester
16
Sat, Feb 11
FINAL
Albany
12
New York
14
Sat, Feb 11
FINAL
Vancouver
13
Panther City
14
Sat, Feb 11
FINAL
Colorado
9
Calgary
13
WK
12
Fri, Feb 17
FINAL
Calgary
14
Vancouver
9
Fri, Feb 17
FINAL
Saskatchewan
16
San Diego
11
Sat, Feb 18
FINAL
Georgia
7
Toronto
16
Sat, Feb 18
FINAL
Las Vegas
12
Albany
10
Sat, Feb 18
FINAL/OT
Philadelphia
12
Buffalo
13
Sat, Feb 18
FINAL
Colorado
7
Panther City
13
Sun, Feb 19
FINAL
New York
12
Halifax
13
WK
13
Fri, Feb 24
FINAL
Panther City
12
Colorado
14
Fri, Feb 24
FINAL
Calgary
9
Las Vegas
11
Sat, Feb 25
FINAL/OT
New York
10
Rochester
11
Sat, Feb 25
FINAL
Albany
4
Georgia
20
Sat, Feb 25
FINAL
Vancouver
16
Saskatchewan
12
WK
14
Fri, Mar 3
FINAL
Buffalo
10
Halifax
9
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL
New York
12
Philadelphia
19
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL
Las Vegas
12
San Diego
15
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL
Rochester
8
Toronto
9
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL/OT
Georgia
9
Albany
8
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL
Saskatchewan
10
Panther City
16
Mon, Mar 6
FINAL
Toronto
10
Philadelphia
11
WK
15
Fri, Mar 10
FINAL/OT
Halifax
9
Buffalo
10
Fri, Mar 10
FINAL
Calgary
16
Colorado
10
Sat, Mar 11
FINAL
Albany
6
Toronto
12
Sat, Mar 11
FINAL
Philadelphia
10
New York
13
Sat, Mar 11
FINAL
San Diego
12
Saskatchewan
11
Sat, Mar 11
FINAL
Vancouver
14
Las Vegas
5
Sun, Mar 12
FINAL
Rochester
19
Georgia
18
WK
16
Fri, Mar 17
FINAL
Saskatchewan
6
Calgary
11
Fri, Mar 17
FINAL
San Diego
16
Vancouver
9
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Georgia
13
Philadelphia
12
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Toronto
12
Halifax
14
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Albany
10
New York
13
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Colorado
13
Buffalo
8
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Las Vegas
8
Panther City
11
Sun, Mar 19
FINAL/OT
Philadelphia
9
Rochester
8
WK
17
Fri, Mar 24
20:30:00
San Diego
Panther City
Sat, Mar 25
19:00:00
Toronto
Albany
Sat, Mar 25
19:00:00
Halifax
Philadelphia
Sat, Mar 25
19:30:00
Georgia
New York
Sat, Mar 25
21:30:00
Calgary
Saskatchewan
Sat, Mar 25
22:00:00
Buffalo
San Diego
Sat, Mar 25
22:00:00
Colorado
Vancouver
Sat, Mar 25
22:30:00
Rochester
Las Vegas
WK
18
Fri, Mar 31
19:00:00
New York
Georgia
Fri, Mar 31
21:00:00
Las Vegas
Colorado
Fri, Mar 31
22:00:00
Calgary
San Diego
Sat, Apr 1
19:00:00
Buffalo
Toronto
Sat, Apr 1
20:00:00
Albany
Panther City
Sat, Apr 1
21:30:00
Vancouver
Saskatchewan
Sun, Apr 2
13:00:00
Georgia
Halifax
Sun, Apr 2
18:00:00
Rochester
Philadelphia
WK
19
Sat, Apr 8
19:00:00
Albany
Rochester
Sat, Apr 8
19:00:00
Saskatchewan
Georgia
Sat, Apr 8
21:00:00
Panther City
Calgary
Sat, Apr 8
21:00:00
Vancouver
Colorado
Sat, Apr 8
22:30:00
San Diego
Las Vegas
WK
20
Fri, Apr 14
21:00:00
Las Vegas
Calgary
Fri, Apr 14
21:00:00
San Diego
Colorado
Sat, Apr 15
19:00:00
Philadelphia
Toronto
Sat, Apr 15
19:00:00
Georgia
Albany
Sat, Apr 15
19:30:00
New York
Buffalo
Sat, Apr 15
21:30:00
Halifax
Saskatchewan
Sat, Apr 15
22:00:00
Panther City
Vancouver
WK
21
Fri, Apr 21
20:30:00
Calgary
Panther City
Sat, Apr 22
18:00:00
New York
Halifax
Sat, Apr 22
19:00:00
Georgia
Rochester
Sat, Apr 22
20:00:00
Toronto
Buffalo
Sat, Apr 22
21:30:00
Colorado
Saskatchewan
Sat, Apr 22
22:00:00
Las Vegas
San Diego
Sun, Apr 23
15:00:00
Philadelphia
Albany
WK
22
Sat, Apr 29
19:00:00
Philadelphia
Rochester
Sat, Apr 29
19:00:00
Buffalo
Albany
Sat, Apr 29
19:00:00
Halifax
Georgia
Sat, Apr 29
22:00:00
Colorado
San Diego
Sat, Apr 29
22:00:00
New York
Vancouver
Sat, Apr 29
22:30:00
Saskatchewan
Las Vegas
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Banditland Is Now A Fields Of Dream In Buffalo

Growing up in the Buffalo suburb of East Amherst, Connor Fields was a huge fan of the Buffalo Bandits and went to many games with his family and with his friends and their families.  He played with his youth lacrosse teams at halftime of Bandits games, but his dream was to one day put on a Bandits jersey and play on that very same field for the team that he rooted for as a kid.

That dream became reality on Saturday night when the 26-year-old Fields scored four goals and earned “Heavyweight Player of the Game” honors in the Bandits’ 16-9 win over the Calgary Roughnecks at KeyBank Center.

“It was a really special moment,” said Fields.  “It’s always been a dream of mine to one day have that logo on my chest and play in that arena.  It was awesome getting a win and it was awesome to see Banditland show up like they did.”

It was quite a journey for Fields to go from being a part of Banditland as a fan to hearing the cheers from Banditland as a player.

Fields, a 6-1, 180 pound forward with a left-handed shot, began his high school lacrosse career at Williamsville North High School.  When his family moved to South Buffalo during his sophomore season, Fields transferred to Bishop Timon-St. Jude High School where he graduated before moving on to a brilliant collegiate career at the University of Albany.  In 69 career games for the Great Danes, Fields racked up 199 goals (5th all-time in DI history) and 165 assists for 364 points (4th all-time in DI) in 69 games. He would lead DI in goals scored in two different seasons. To put his college career into perspective, he scored 25 more career goals than fellow Great Dane and NLL MVP, Lyle Thompson.

In 2018, Fields turned pro as he was taken third overall by the Charlotte Hounds in the Major League Lacrosse Draft and the San Diego Seals made him the 10th overall selection in the National Lacrosse League Entry Draft.  Because of knee surgery, Fields did not make his NLL debut until week 17 of the 2018-19 campaign.  He had two goals and three assists for five points in two games and then added a goal in the lone playoff game that he participated in.

The following season, Fields led all NLL rookies with 18 goals and 44 points in 12 games before the 2019-20 season was cut short because of the COVID-19 pandemic that also wiped out the entire 2020-21 season.  On the night of the 2021 NLL Entry Draft, Fields was traded to the Bandits for a 2021 first round pick and a 2022 second round pick.

His dream came true.

He was a Buffalo Bandit.

“I loved San Diego and the staff and the owners out there and the players so it was bittersweet,” said Fields.  “I grew up idolizing the Bandits and always wanted to be a Bandit but at the same I loved being in San Diego.  I can’t say enough how excited I am to be playing in Buffalo.  It’s really been a dream of mine and a dream come true now.”

When Fields was in the stands as a fan, he paid close attention to star player John Tavares who is now the Bandits’ Head Coach.  Tavares is the NLL’s all-time leader in games played (308), goals (815), assists (934) and points (1,749).  The three-time NLL Most Valuable Player spent his entire career with the Bandits and joined the coaching staff as an assistant in 2016 and is now in his second season as Head Coach.

For Fields, playing for Tavares is about as surreal as it gets.

“He was my favorite player growing up,” said Fields.  “I haven’t told him that but I grew up watching him play and his style. I tried to mix it in with how I play and try to learn from watching him play.  He was a special player and it was really cool to be able to go see him play night in and night out.  Every time you would go to a game he would put on a show.”

Fields may not have told Tavares that he was his favorite player, but NLL.com was able to get him that memo.

“It’s an honor that I was Connor‘s favorite lacrosse player growing up,” said Tavares.  “I’m thrilled that Connor is now wearing the orange and black in his hometown of Buffalo playing in front of family and friends.  Connor is a very athletic lefty who can score from the outside or inside and he has the ability to create his own shot.  If Connor continues to score four goals a game, as he did in his first game as a Bandit, he will quickly become a fan favorite.”

The Bandits are feeling good about themselves heading into Saturday’s road game against the Rochester Knighthawks.  There was a lot of excitement around the team during training camp and they certainly began the season on the right foot with their win over the Roughnekcs.  But the Bandits aren’t about to rest on their laurels after just one strong contest.

“It was a really good game for us but it was just one game,” said Fields.  “We don’t want to get too high emotionally off just that one game.”

Connor Fields is certainly living a dream right now.

As a child, he played lacrosse and fell in love with the sport while also falling in love with the Buffalo Bandits.  He cheered the team on from the stands and he hoped that one day he would hear the cheers from Banditland in the event that he was able to not only play in the NLL but to suit up for his hometown team.

Watching John Tavares and his other heroes back in the day pushed him hard to make sure that his dream would come true.

“It was really exciting but also motivating to watch the Bandits play because you want to be on that field someday,” said Fields.  “It’s really cool to go to the games but it’s even cooler to be playing in those games.”

And for Fields, things are really cool for that kid who once had a dream and is now inspiration for the next generation of youth lacrosse players in the Buffalo area.

NLL