OT: Other Buffalo Sports (Bandits, Beauts, Bisons, NCAA Basketball and Football)

[Jim Bob]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1835434482599633027

 

[Jim Bob]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1835819779019481220

That did make me chuckle.

 

[Jim Bob]

https://www.nll.com/news/2024-nll-draft-presented-by-castore-recap/

THE RICH GET RICHER​

Buffalo Bandits​

The back-to-back defending champs had three picks in the first round and used them all, adding depth options for now and down the road. As GM Steve Dietrich said during the pre-draft broadcast, you can’t keep a championship lineup together forever, so the Bandits needed to be preparing a succession plan for all positions.

Buffalo opened their draft by grabbing righty forward Lukas Nielsen (#7), who still has a year of junior lacrosse to play. The 50-goal scorer with the New Westminster Salmonbellies will likely be groomed as an eventual replacement for one of the current veterans.

Last season, the Bandits became painfully familiar with the need for defensive depth. So in this draft, they went heavy on making sure they have defenders ready to roll out as necessary by following up the pick of Nielsen with seven straight defense/transition guys. The gem among them is Luca Antongiovanni, who didn’t officially enter the draft until a few days before but who had long been considered to be among the top tier of defenders expected to be available.

With their third first-rounder, Buffalo grabbed a dark horse in Taylor Dooley. He played primarily Sr. B with the Ennismore James Gang the last two seasons, but was a key member of the Toronto Beaches lineup that made it to the team’s first-ever Minto Cup back in 2022.

LOCAL TALENT​

Rochester Knighthawks​

The Knighthawks only had three picks after having dealt their others away. They used all three on defenders, all with ties to upstate New York.

Conner Fingar (#27) and Regan Endres (#51) are Albany grads who grew up near Rochester. Caleb Commandant is from Ontario, but the #80 pick went to the Rochester Institute of Technology.

 

[Jim Bob]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1836072883845542079

 

[Jim Bob]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1836075688937271688

Blaze has the name and the WNY roots for this.

 

[Tsujimoto]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1836072883845542079

Since when is Saskatchewan's logo a bison wearing BDSM gear?

 

[Jim Bob]

Since when is Saskatchewan's logo a bison wearing BDSM gear?

I think they did that rebrand a year ago.

 

[Jim Bob]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1836418387397726695

Woj Bomb!!!!

 

[sabresfan129103]

UB beats ranked Northern Illinois in OT 23-20. Shaun Dolac had 19 tackles and a late INT.

 

[Dingo44]

UB beats ranked Northern Illinois in OT 23-20. Shaun Dolac had 19 tackles and a late INT.

 

[Jim Bob]

 

[HOOats]

Hell yeah

The United States rallies past the Haudenosaunee 12-11 in an instant classic for historic semifinal triumph - World Lacrosse

Jump to:QuotesGallery The United States stunned the Haudenosaunee 12-11 in an instant classic to advance to the gold medal game for the first time ever in the men’s box championship. […]

worldlacrosse.sport

 

[Taro Tsujimoto]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1843321889152020789

 

[Jim Bob]

https://www.sticksinlacrosse.com/post/how-to-pick-an-nll-team-if-you-re-a-pll-fan

BUFFALO BANDITS​

2024 Result: 11-7, won NLL Championship

2023 Result: 14-4, won NLL Championship

Last Championship: 2024



PLL Players on Active and Inactive Roster:



Kyle Buchanan, former Carolina Chaos

Tehoka Nanticoke, former Carolina Chaos

Chris Cloutier, Carolina Chaos (PLL Holdout List)

Connor Farrell, former Denver Outlaw/Chrome

Ian Mackay, Carolina Chaos

Josh Byrne, Carolina Chaos

Dhane Smith, Carolina Chaos (PLL Holdout List)

Chase Fraser, Carolina Chaos (PLL Holdout List)

Cam Wyers, Utah Archers



The connection here remains obvious. Chaos fans, just start shopping for some orange. Even with the players that are currently on the holdout list in the PLL, it’s all about Carolina on this squad. The Bandits are also a great team to follow every week for the fan who doesn’t really want to pick a team, but wants to see the best of what the NLL has to offer. They are back to back champs, they have the league MVP in Josh Byrne. Matt Vinc is up there in years but is still a legendary goaltender. Dhane Smith is coming for all the assist records in the book. They play home games in front of 19,000 screaming Buffalo fans. The community and the Bandits have a great relationship. Bars and restaurants near the arena get packed with fans who watch the game on broadcast if they can’t get a ticket. The Bandits are the gold standard for what a pro lacrosse franchise should be.