The Buffalo Bandits

By Ted Montour

While Buffalo had arguably the most productive offence in the NLL last season, they had less success keeping the opposition off the score-sheet.

    
The "blockbuster trade" with Rochester sent veteran Forwards Shawn Williams, Derek Malawsky and D'Arcy Sweet to the Knighthawks in exchange for Goaltender Steve Dietrich and Forwards Rusty Kruger, Pat McCready and former number-one draft pick Casey Powell. Before the expansion draft, the Bandits sent Derek Collins and Chris Prat to Calgary in exchange for the Roughnecks' number-one selection. They used that pick to take the multi-talented Chris Langdale from the Rock, but subsequently lost Rich Catton and Andy Duden, as well as 'tender Phil Wetherup. Defence was still something of a problem.


John Tavares

Buffalo used their 3rd-round selection (27th overall) in the entry draft, held in their own HSBC Arena, to select Bryan Sanchez from 2000 NCAA Division III champions Midllebury College (Vermont).


General Manager Kurt Silcott stockpiled "02 draft choices, getting Montreal's first two picks in exchange for Ted Dowling, and Philadelphia' first selection for the rights to Keith Cromwell. He also brought former Bandit 'keeper Chris Levis back from New York, and acquired Canisius College head lacrosse coach Randy Mearns from the Roughnecks (who had taken the long-time Knighthawks captain in the expansion draft).

To open the season, the Bandits will start "Chugger" Dietrich in goal with Levis as the back-up. The Defence will be anchored by veterans Rich Kilgour and Bob Henry, both from the neighbouring Tuscarora Nation, as well as Langdale and rookie Sanchez. The Buffalo roster only shows six defenders (including returnees Jamie Hackel and Kyle Couling), so these fellows will have to stay healthy.




Up front, the offence will once again be keyed by franchise player John Tavares. No. 11 shows no signs whatsoever of letting up, following his MVP, regular-season scoring record-breaking campaign last winter. He did, however, have a busy summer, leaving the Ontario Lacrosse Association Senior Major Akwesasne Thunder late in the season to go to the West Coast, seeking a Mann Cup with the WLA's Victoria Shamrocks. That plan fell through when the Coquitlam Adanacs (see Rock preview) eliminated the 'rocks and took the Canadian Senior championship themselves.


Ryan Powell  

Veterans Mike Accursi, Andy Ogilvie, Chris Driscoll, and the aforementioned Kruger, McCready and Mearns will be joined by youngsters Peter Tavares, former OLA Jr. A teammates Marc Landriault and Jamie Taylor, short-handed goal-scorer extraordinaire Pat Maddelena, and Ryan Powell.


This group is by no means a mere supporting cast for John Tavares, and they should give the Bandits scoring opportunities and diversity at least the equal of last season.

The announcement from Casey Powell that he would not be playing in the NLL this season was certainly a disappointment for Bandits fans, but expect the absence of the former Syracuse All-American to be balanced by a strong contribution from younger brother Ryan, whose play last year convinced many that he is the better box-lacrosse player in the family.




The first half of the Bandits' season includes five games in the HSBC Arena, as well as their only trip West, for a January 18 date with the Calgary Roughnecks at the Saddledome. Overall, Buffalo faces (fellow) contenders eight times, including two games apiece with Eastern Division powers Philadelphia and Washington and one game with New York. They also finish the season with four road games out their last five.

This is as tough a schedule as faced by any of the other "top six". With the new play-off format, beating the Knighthawks for the Central Division top-three seed is a tall order.


Buffalo's Ted Sawicki

Head Coach Ted Sawicki will have to hope that his goalies and defenders stay injury-free, and that his shooters have another run at leading the NLL in team scoring.


The Bandits' wealth of offensive talent could make for some interesting trade scenarios, should any injuries dictate a need, particularly for a play-off run. Should the Bandits falter, and other teams come looking to them for help, would anyone be untouchable?


Steve Dietrich

How much longer can John Tavares continue to produce at his prodigious rate, and would he himself consider leaving the Bandits for a shot at an NLL title? Bear in mind, he did not just leave the OLA for a chance at a Canadian championship. He cut short what might very well have been an OLA all-time scoring record-breaking season, as well.

Of course this is all idle speculation at best, but then again, what are season previews about if not speculation. Look for the Bandits' regular-season record to get them into the play-offs.

GAMES PLAYED:
Montreal 18, Buffalo 17 (ot)
Buffalo 15, Washington 15


The Unabridged Bandits Encyclopedia

12/4/00

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