Third Time’s A Charm
Well Banditland, the dust has finally settled from last season with a new season on the horizon. We all know how the season finished last year, there is no need to re-open what are still fresh wounds. However, the Bandits seemed to have learned from the mistakes they made in the finals with their offseason acquisitions. The biggest difference between this year’s team and last year’s is the physically big difference in the team’s size and toughness. With that, let us look at this year’s Buffalo Bandits roster.
The Core
Last year the Bandits had a team worthy of a championship. They made it past the tough Toronto Rock and fell just short against a very talented Colorado Mammoth. A lot of the core that led them that far is returning for another run. At the top of the offense, we have the reigning MVP Dhane Smith who recently inked his contract to return for at least one more year. Veteran spark plug Kyle Buchanan returns for another year along with the rest of the core Air Josh Byrne, Chris Cloutier and now sophomore Tehoka Nanticoke.
On defense, there is not as much change as there could have been given some of the offseason signings. The core remains mainly intact with Steve Priolo returning for his 13th season with the Bandits. The rest of the returning core includes Justin Martin, Marcus Minichiello, Ethan O’Connor, Matt Spanger and Bryce Sweeting.
In transition, Ian MacKay once again leads the way. Nick Weiss is also returning along with Dalton Sulver and Max Adler. This is the area that I thought the Bandits could have used a big offseason signing. Sticking with the same crew as last year is fine, I just hope they let players like MacKay and Weiss off the defensive leash a little bit. Max Adler will be playing in his first full season with the Bandits after he was an end of year addition last year. Despite the fact that I am beginning to learn that caused turnovers are more important than face-offs and loose balls, having a true face off specialist will benefit the team in those close matchups when the last face-off could decide the game.
That leaves us with arguably the most important position on the team and the last line of defense, the goalie. Matt Vinc, despite making us shake a little by signing a new deal later in the free agent season, is back once again in a Bandits uniform. The reigning goalie of the year is taking at least one more shot at a championship with this team. I am not sure where the Bandits would be without Vinc as the leader and backstop of this team. Devlin Shanahan will be the backup this year after posting a solid summer with the Nanaimo Timbermen in the Western Lacrosse Association. He finished the season going 5-1 with a .802 save percentage and did even better in playoffs with a .823 save percentage and a 5-3 record.
The New Faces
To me this is where the Bandits will make or break their season. Last year in the championship finals and even in the Eastern Conference finals, the Bandits showed their weakness. Colorado, despite missing their top two offensive players, were able to keep the Bandits offense in check. Dillon Ward absolutely had a big hand in that. However, it was the Bandits lack of ability to adapt to a physical defense and offense that seemed to cost them the series. That is where these new faces will come into play.
On offense, Brad McCulley (6’1, 200) and Brandon Robinson (6’3, 200) are the two big additions. I know, I know, McCulley was on the team last year and played in five games for the Bandits. However, I think he will be a much bigger part of the offense this year with the losses of Fields and Fraser (currently recovering from injury). McCulley and Robinson add an element to the Bandits offense that has been missing since players like Durston and Hoggarth departed. The offense was incredible last year scoring a league high 247 goals, 33 more than the next highest team. Where the Bandits came up short in the finals was going up against a defense that found a way to shut down the pretty goals and outside shots. The Bandits were missing the grit, toughness, and dirty goals around the crease. They were consistently pushed outside and could not find a way in. That is where McCulley and Robinson will come in and hopefully make the difference. The gorgeous goals we have become accustom to will still be there with plenty to spare, but when a defense seems to have the Bandits offense locked up, these two will have the key.
The same goes for the new faces on defense. The most recent addition to the team via trade, Kellen LeClair (6’3, 212) and the newly signed Carter McKenzie (6’4, 210) add extra size to a defense that was solid all the way through the season, until the championship series. The 6’2 235 pound Zed Williams pushed around whoever was charged with covering him that game and created an absolute nightmare for the Bandits. LeClair and McKenzie will be big additions to the back end and will make sure this defense is the one doing the pushing this year.
The Extras (But Still Important)
Every year each team is plagued with injuries and having a solid practice squad is a big part to every season. Familiar face Sam La Roue returns to the team starting this season on the practice squad. There are more new faces including this year’s first round draft pick Dylan Robinson, Thomas Vaesen (14th pick, 2021), and veteran Joel Matthews who round out the practice squad. I think Mathews adds solid veteran depth while sophomore La Rou and rookies Robinson and Vaesen are just waiting for their opportunity to show what they can do.
The Injured
Nathaniel Kozevnikov has been a long awaited player for the Bandits organization who is stuck waiting just a little bit longer while he continues to heal from injury. Justin Robinson, who was off to a great start with the Bandits before the nasty knee injury, is also still recovering. Both of these players are on injured reserve. Frank Brown is on the PUP (physically unable to perform) list to start the season. I was hoping we would get a healthy Brown to start the season so it’s a bit of a shame to see him start on the injured list as well.
The Others
Rounding out the roster, we have Chase Fraser and Justin Guterding (Aka Larry the Goldfish) on the Protected Player List. It is unclear when the Bandits will have Fraser back, but it seems as if he is expected back at some point this season. On the holdout list is a lot of defensive potential with Alec Tulett, Devyn Mayea, and Greg Harnett all currently on the list. I was optimistic of Harnett taking over the hole left by Kevin Brownell so hopefully he joins the team sooner than later. Doug Buchan finished off the roster also on the holdout list after winning the Johnny “Shooter” Davis Award as the Mann Cup playoff’s most valuable player this summer.
Wrap Up
The 2022 – 2023 Buffalo Bandits look like they are once again primed for a deep run in playoffs. The team did a good job in the offseason going after its weaknesses rather than doubling down on what is working. A team like this easily could have simply ran it back with the same roster and expected better results. However, they did a good job finding a way to get a tougher offense and defense. Other teams around the league may have made some splashier signings but the Bandits did not have many holes to fill on this roster to make it back to the championship. The season starts December 3, let us all hope it does not end until well into June. Can the Bandits make a third consecutive trip to the championship series and truly discover if the third time really is the charm.