In every facet, the Buffalo Bandits are the standard of the NLL. Two consecutive championships and four straight NLL Finals appearances are set amongst a rabid fanbase of western New Yorkers who love nothing more than Banditland.
“It’s amazing! Coming into this league as a 19-year-old kid, I didn’t really understand too much about Buffalo,” explained two-time NLL MVP Dhane Smith. “I knew they loved their sports. But I didn’t know their commitment to this organization. I’ve never seen a lacrosse arena this packed. And you know what? We get treated as well as the Sabres and Bills. They’ve supported us over the past few years selling out regular and postseason games, which is amazing to see. Obviously, I wouldn’t want to play for any other organization, and that’s why I signed a long-term deal here.”
“It’s a great organization, but the fans are what makes it special to play and coach in Banditland,” praised head coach/former Bandits player John Tavares. “I’m very fortunate to [have been] with the team since 1992 and I love it. I still get excited for every season and every game I’m coaching in. I don’t think, ‘oh, we won the championship last year.’ I’m in the moment today, right now, and these people pay a lot of money to watch us play. All we can do is give 100 per cent every day.”
Buffalo returns its long-standing foundation of veteran talent that includes Smith, reigning MVP Josh Byrne, along with stalwarts Kyle Buchanan, Tehoka Nanticoke, Chase Fraser, Ian MacKay, Chris Cloutier and Steve Priolo, to name a few.
Entering his 19th NLL season, Matt Vinc will once again serve as Buffalo’s last line of defense in goal. For those wondering if the 42-year-old netminder might finally be slowing down, Vinc’s coach will not even entertain such blasphemy.
“Do you know Matt Vinc? Matt’s very competitive,” smiled Tavares. “Matt wants to play as much as possible. Trust me, if there’s an opportunity to give him a rest or a break during a game, you know that will happen. But he’s our number one goalie without a question. Steve Orleman is a great backup, but we like to keep Matt happy back there, and he’s a big part of our team. He’s a goaltender, but he’s a huge leader on and off the floor for us. He’s one of the best because he’s a competitor and he wants to play all the time.”
From the front office to the coaching staff and players, the Bandits’ organization is the very definition of stability, a fact that does not go unnoticed by those who adorn the famous black and orange uniform.
“Kudos to Steve Dietrich (general manager/assistant head coach) for starting from the bottom,” opined Smith. “We drafted so many of these players, from day one drafting the right pieces, getting the right chemistry, and then building off that. We obviously got a huge piece a couple years ago in Matt Vinc, and he’s changed our team from being a good team to a great team and being a contender every year.”
The future hall of famer later surmised, “Scott Loffler (senior director of lacrosse operations) has done a great job as well with moving a bunch of us down here. Now, there’s probably six to eight of us that live full-time in Buffalo, and we’re always in the gym together. We’re always doing things together, and that pays off on the floor.”
Not resting on one’s laurels and leaving the success of the last two seasons in the rearview has been a prominent point of emphasis for Coach Tavares throughout training camp. The living legend is well aware of the challenges that lie ahead, amid all the comes with being the defending champs.
“It’s definitely easy to get a mindset where you think things are going to be easy, but you know, we do have a veteran team in Buffalo, and guys understand that you can’t take anything for granted,” preached Tavares. “Winning the championship for the last couple years, all that means is teams are going to come at us harder than any other team and try to knock us off from the top. So, we definitely tell the guys, nothing comes easy. You [have] to work for anything you get. And you just go one game at a time, and we just try to be in the best shape and be as well prepared as possible.”
From a strategic standpoint, the iconic player-turned-coach is adamant this season that his current stars excel on both ends of the field, a challenge that guys like Dhane Smith are very quick to embrace.
THE GREAT DHANE.
Smith scores his SECOND of the night to give the Bandits an 11-7 lead over the FireWolves. pic.twitter.com/5BJxisAcMM
“I love it. I pride myself on being one of those players. There are not many guys in this league that are capable of doing so, and I know from day one, when I first played junior, my coaches kind of prepped me for that moment. I pride myself in being able to play on the defensive end and the offensive end, doing whatever the coach needs,” boasted Smith, who primarily played defense this summer during the regular season with the Six Nations Chiefs.
The Bandits enter the 2024-2025 campaign possessing the ability to establish a pair of historic NLL milestones. Raising the cup in 2025 would serve as the league’s first three-peat since the former Rochester Knighthawks (now Halifax Thunderbirds) achieved the feat in 2012-2014, with Vinc in goal. A ’25 crown would also give the Bandits their seventh all-time title, placing the franchise at the very top of that category.
While the history books may be beckoning, both Tavares and Smith insist that’s the furthest thing from their minds.
“There’s no way I’m going to put that pressure on my team to do that. All I can ask my team [to do] is to give me 100 per cent every game. And you know, sometimes you’re fortunate to win, unfortunately, not all the time though,” said Tavares.
“As far as the historic numbers, we don’t really focus on that. I don’t really know too much about it. I do know last time it happened was Rochester. But luckily enough, now we have Matt Vinc on our side, so hopefully we can make it two times for that guy,” expressed Smith.
The Bandits title defense begins December 7 at Blue Cross Arena versus the Knighthawks. Their home opener and banner raising is set for December 28 at Keybank Center.
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