Bandits’ Benesch Wins Air Canada Wingman For Week 14

The National Lacrosse League has announced Buffalo Bandits forward Ryan Benesch as the “Air Canada Wingman of the Week” award winner for Week 14 of the 2016 NLL season.

Benesch recorded a game-high nine points (3+6), including two goals and five assists in the fourth quarter, in Buffalo’s 18-14 road win over the Georgia Swarm last Saturday. The Bandits’ second-leading scorer is currently tied for 10th in the league in both goals (28) and points (66), and ranks tied for 11th in assists (38), in 12 games played this season. The 10-year NLL veteran has registered at least three points in every game in 2016 including eight games with five-plus points as Buffalo sits atop the East Division with a 9-4 record.

From Kitchener, Ont., Benesch was the first overall selection in the 2006 NLL Draft and won NLL Rookie of the Year in 2007. The two-time NLL All-Pro (2011 & 2015) led the league in goals last season (55) and finished third overall in points (113). The 31-year-old has posted 70 or more points in each of his last six full seasons.

Air Canada is the Official Airline Partner for the NLL. Each week, an NLL player will receive the “Air Canada Wingman of the Week” award based on their performance on the turf with respect to passing prowess and playmaking abilities. The weekly award winners will be entered into the pool of finalists for the “Air Canada Wingman of the Year” award at the end of the season.

Week 1) John Grant, Jr. – Colorado Mammoth
Week 2) Kiel Matisz – Georgia Swarm
Week 3) Callum Crawford – Colorado Mammoth
Week 4) Dhane Smith – Buffalo Bandits
Week 5) Lyle Thompson – Georgia Swarm
Week 6) Logan Schuss – Vancouver Stealth
Week 7) Dhane Smith – Buffalo Bandits
Week 8) Josh Sanderson – Toronto Rock
Week 9) Rob Hellyer – Toronto Rock
Week 10) Callum Crawford – Colorado Mammoth
Week 11) Joe Walters – Rochester Knighthawks
Week 12) Mark Matthews – Saskatchewan Rush
Week 13) Kevin Crowley – New England Black Wolves
Week 14) Ryan Benesch – Buffalo Bandits

About Air Canada
Air Canada is Canada’s largest full-service airline and the largest provider of scheduled passenger services in the Canadian market, the Canada-U.S. transborder market and in the international market to and from Canada. Together with its Air Canada Express regional partners and leisure carrier, Air Canada rouge, Air Canada serves over 38 million passengers annually and provides direct passenger service to more than 190 destinations on five continents. Air Canada is a founding member of Star Alliance™, the world’s most comprehensive air transportation network.