Ian MacKay is having an incredible postseason for the Buffalo Bandits, who are set to defend their League title in the NLL Finals beginning this Friday, May 16 against the Saskatchewan Rush. It’s the Bandits’ fifth consecutive championship appearance, and should they win, it would be their third in a row. They would join the Rochester Knighthawks (2012-2014) as the only NLL teams to ever achieve an NLL three-peat.
MacKay currently leads the team with 12 (9G, 3A) points in three playoff games – yes, ahead of both Josh Byrne and Dhane Smith, who each have 11 points, which gives him an average of four points per game. He’s tied for second overall with Thomas Hoggarth, each having scored nine goals. Austin Shanks leads with 10 after picking up eight in the Rush’s Semifinal series
9️⃣ goals and 3️⃣ assists through three playoff games, @IanMacKay_94 is on fire! #LetsGoBandits | https://t.co/dw38lXbx8D pic.twitter.com/JuBNLldPne
— Buffalo Bandits (@NLLBandits) May 14, 2025
Traditionally known as a defensive/transition player, MacKay spent the 2024-25 season playing out the front door for John Tavares’ squad, and he’s done so well that you could wonder why the transition took so long. In 18 regular-season games, he recorded 37 goals (12th in the League) and 17 assists for 54 points. That bested his previous career high in points by 16 and his previous career high in goals by 18 (both set in 2023).
“Mickey’s been outstanding in his offensive role this season, scoring key goals when we’ve needed them most, including a hat trick in Game 2 vs Vancouver,” praised Tavares. He had four goals and 10 shots on goal in Game 1 of that series.
Buffalo Bandits’ Ian MacKay on May 2, 2025 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY. Vancouver Warriors @ Buffalo Bandits. (Caroline Sherman/NLL)
MacKay was in the conversation for Transition Player of the Year early on until it became clear he was staying on offense. He credited Tavares for championing his natural lacrosse instincts no matter what position he plays on the floor.
“I was definitely quieter early on, but he’s asking me ‘what do you see and what are you saying,’ like that kind of thing, in game and after games. It’s pretty cool to have that communication with him and just have that trust with him,” MacKay said on Episode 23 of NLL Box Out with Maki and Coop. “He’s on the bench so he wants to know what’s going on out there – he can obviously only do so much from the bench but we’re in there battling and doing it ourselves so if something’s not working, he’s not afraid to be like ‘alright well let’s switch it up, what do you guys think is going to work?’”
Likewise, Tavares praised MacKay’s lacrosse IQ.
“No matter what we ask of him, he never complains – he just performs, leads and brings one of the highest lacrosse IQs in the game. Ian MacKay is a great lacrosse player, I’m glad he plays for the Bandits.”
Though the Bandits’ defensive corps is arguably one of the toughest in the league, goaltender Matt Vinc admitted that he does miss having MacKay play in front of him, but knows that MacKay is the type of player that can’t be contained.
“Ian’s always been able to do a bunch of different things, and you know, we definitely miss his presence back there on transition,” Vinc said. “He did come back and play defence on a regular basis, through the course of the year, we got to use him quite a bit on man down, which just speaks volumes to the type of player he is. He wears a bunch of different hats, and I think that’s why he’s kind of known as a Swiss army knife.”
“NO HE DIDN’T! CHASE FRASER YOU’RE A SICKO!” – @TeddyJenner
One handed.
Through the legs.
Double pipes.#SCtop10 get a load of Fraser!!! 😱😱😱 pic.twitter.com/8uy0bmflM1— NLL (@NLL) May 5, 2025
MacKay took some advice from Josh Byrne and Dhane Smith about how to still be an effective transition player despite playing offense.
“There’s the reverse transition of it as well. Our team prides itself on taking away transition from other teams. Josh and Dhane do a really good job of that… I can still be a transition player; it’s just kind of a different role or understanding of it. Like what Zach Currier has done a lot of this year, trying to cause chaos and create turnovers. If I get stuck on defense, there’s the trust in me to be able to go back and play.”
MacKay is a high-energy player, someone who thrives off the action, so Vinc kind of laughed when asked how he thought MacKay would spend his bye week before the Finals. Time off? No way.
“I think he was probably focused on recovery, getting better, getting shots, doing all the things that he needs to do to make sure that he’s ready to go come Friday night. He’s a true professional, he takes care of himself, whether it’s being mentally prepared or physically ready.”
In the Quarterfinals versus San Diego, MacKay opened the scoring at 5:24 of the first period, coming up with a loose ball off the boards in the Seals’ end, and running pell-mell towards the net. He scored again in the second quarter; aside from Vinc, MacKay was the most effective player in the Bandits’ 6-5 win.
In Game 1 of the Semifinals, MacKay scored four times – more goals than the entire Vancouver Warriors’ team managed in a 9-3 Bandits’ win. His last was the game’s highlight – as Dhane Smith absorbed a hit, Josh Byrne picked up the bouncing loosie and fired a diagonal one-handed pass over to MacKay, who put it in the yawning cage.
In Game 2’s 11-9 win, he collected two goals on outside shots before taking advantage of another wide-open cage on Kyle Buchanan’s rebound grab. He also picked up his first three assist of the playoffs in Game 2.
“Mickey is someone you can always count on. Whatever the team needs in the game he can deliver. He sacrifices individual accolades for the betterment of the Buffalo Bandits and for that I will be forever grateful.” – Steve Priolo, Bandits captain
The question now is whether MacKay can sustain the momentum he gathered in the first two rounds. Having home floor advantage in the best-of-three series will help. MacKay’s love for the fans in Banditland is evident.
“I remember coming into the league and Dhane telling me ‘wait till you see this place packed, it’s wild.’ What it’s been this year is just unbelievable and every time the national anthem ends and they start the ‘let’s go Bandits’ chant, I get goosebumps every single time, it’s just unreal.”
The fan enthusiasm is partly what helps get MacKay and his teammates so fired up for home games. The energy from the stands filters right into the dressing room and helps create the strong bond the team has, which will make them play harder for each other.
“Guys come and go and you’re never going to be the same team year in and year out,” MacKay acknowledged, “but I find a sense of composure and quiet confidence, I guess, with this team… The overall team atmosphere and the camaraderie we have is just Bandits’ culture that we’ve built.”
MacKay has great relationships with his teammates, according to Vinc.
“He actually calls me Dad; it’s one of those unique relationships,” Vinc laughed. “We came to Buffalo at the same time, and he’s one of those guys that, even though I’m a lot older than him, I just had that great connection with him because he’s so easy to get along with. He’s such a great teammate on and off the floor. I think he has those types of bonds with so many other guys on our team. That’s why he’s able to fit into so many different situations (on the floor), because he’s so easy to get along with.”
