2025 Buffalo Bandits season

Last updated
2025 Buffalo Bandits
NLL Champions
League NLL
2025 record13–5
Home record6–3
Road record7–2
Goals for242
Goals against195
General Manager Steve Dietrich
Coach John Tavares
Captain Steve Priolo
Alternate captains Dhane Smith, Nick Weiss
Arena KeyBank Center
Average attendance18,471
Team leaders
Goals Josh Byrne (44)
Assists Dhane Smith (103)
PointsDhane Smith (135)
Penalties in minutesZack Belter (49)
Loose BallsNick Weiss (138)
Wins Matt Vinc (13)
Goals against average Steven Orleman (9.74)
2026 season →

The Buffalo Bandits are a lacrosse team based in Buffalo, New York playing in the National Lacrosse League (NLL). The 2025 season was their 33rd season in the NLL. The Bandits entered the season as the defending champions for the second straight year.

Contents

In the regular season, Buffalo finished the regular season with a 13–5 record, allowing them to secure the number 1 seed in the playoffs. [a] In the Quarterfinal, the Bandits survived a close contest against the San Diego Seals, winning 5–4, in the lowest scoring playoff game in league history. In the Semifinals, Buffalo swept the Vancouver Warriors in 2 games to advance to their 5th straight NLL Finals appearance, where they would face the Saskatchewan Rush.

In the Finals, Buffalo would take Game 1 over Saskatchewan, but would lose Game 2 to the Rush, forcing a deciding Game 3. In Game 3, the Bandits went on to win, 15–6, and became the first team since the original Rochester Knighthawks from 2012 to 2014 to win 3 straight NLL championships. They also became the first NLL franchise to win seven championships. [1] [2]

Bandits game at KeyBank Center against the Toronto Rock on January 10, 2025 KeyBank Center Bandits vs Rock 2025.jpg
Bandits game at KeyBank Center against the Toronto Rock on January 10, 2025

Regular season

NLL Standings Reference: [3]

PTeamGPWLPCTGBHomeRoadGFGADiffGF/GPGA/GP

1 Buffalo Bandits –xz18135.7220.06–37–2242195+4713.4410.83
2 Saskatchewan Rush –x18135.7220.06–37–2213179+3411.839.94
3 Halifax Thunderbirds –x18117.6112.06–35–4239213+2613.2811.83
4 Vancouver Warriors –x18117.6112.07–24–5196172+2410.899.56
5 Rochester Knighthawks –x18108.5563.04–56–3228209+1912.6711.61
6 Calgary Roughnecks –x18108.5563.03–67–2219209+1012.1711.61
7 Georgia Swarm –x1899.5004.04–55–4214217−311.8912.06
8 San Diego Seals –x1899.5004.06–33–6215209+611.9411.61
9 Ottawa Black Bears 18810.4445.04–54–5183202−1910.1711.22
10 Colorado Mammoth 18810.4445.04–54–5195212−1710.8311.78
11 Albany FireWolves 18711.3896.05–42–7192209−1710.6711.61
12 Philadelphia Wings 18711.3896.04–53–6207231−2411.5012.83
13 Toronto Rock 18612.3337.02–74–5189208−1910.5011.56
14 Las Vegas Desert Dogs 18414.2229.02–72–7189256−6710.5014.22

Game log

The Bandits' schedule was released on September 17, 2024.

GameDateOpponentLocationScoreOTAttendanceRecord
1December 7, 2024@ Rochester Knighthawks Blue Cross Arena W 15–76,4541–0
2December 13, 2024@ Ottawa Black Bears Canadian Tire Centre W 18–75,2722–0
3December 28, 2024 Rochester Knighthawks KeyBank Center W 13–619,0703–0
4January 10, 2025 Toronto Rock KeyBank Center W 15–1317,2404–0
5January 18, 2025 Philadelphia Wings KeyBank Center W 19–1417,5615–0
6February 1, 2025 Albany FireWolves KeyBank Center W 16–1018,4596–0
7February 14, 2025@ Toronto Rock Paramount Fine Foods Centre W 13–125,1677–0
8February 15, 2025 San Diego Seals KeyBank Center L 13–14OT18,2247–1
9February 22, 2025@ San Diego Seals Pechanga Arena W 13–126,2808–1
10March 1, 2025@ Saskatchewan Rush SaskTel Centre W 9–77,0299–1
11March 8, 2025 Calgary Roughnecks KeyBank Center L 11–1719,0709–2
12March 15, 2025@ Calgary Roughnecks Scotiabank Saddledome W 11–616,44310–2
13March 21, 2025 Las Vegas Desert Dogs KeyBank Center W 13–1018,47411–2
14March 22, 2025@ Albany FireWolves MVP Arena L 10–11OT6,72411–3
15March 29, 2025 Vancouver Warriors KeyBank Center L 12–1319,07011–4
16April 5, 2025@ Colorado Mammoth Ball Arena W 15–1010,78812–4
17April 12, 2025 Halifax Thunderbirds KeyBank Center W 15–1219,07013–4
18April 19, 2025@ Georgia Swarm Gas South Arena L 11–145,38113–5

Playoffs

GameDateOpponentLocationScoreOTAttendanceRecord
NLL QuarterfinalsApril 25, 2025 San Diego Seals KeyBank Center W 5–417,7031–0
NLL Semifinals
(Game 1)		May 2, 2025 Vancouver Warriors KeyBank Center W 9–314,4152–0
NLL Semifinals
(Game 2)		May 4, 2025@ Vancouver Warriors Rogers Arena W 11–99,1763–0
NLL Finals
(Game 1)		May 16, 2025 Saskatchewan Rush KeyBank Center W 12–1016,7614–0
NLL Finals
(Game 2)		May 18, 2025@ Saskatchewan Rush SaskTel Centre L 10–118,2164–1
NLL Finals
(Game 3)		May 24, 2025 Saskatchewan Rush KeyBank Center W 15–619,0705–1

Roster

Buffalo Bandits roster
Active (21-man) rosterInactive rosterCoaches
Goaltenders
Defensemen
Forwards
Transition
Practice Squad
Injured Reserve
Unable to play
Head Coach

John Tavares

Legend
  • * Suspended list
  • (C) Captain
  • (A) Alternate captain

Roster updated 2025-2-20
NLL Transactions

Dispersal Draft

On August 30, 2024, the NLL announced that the Panther City Lacrosse Club would cease operations. The league held a dispersal draft on September 2. [4] [5]

RoundOverallPlayer
114Traded to Philadelphia [A]

Notes

  1. ↑ The Bandits traded the 14th overall selection in the 2024 Dispersal Draft to the Philadelphia Wings in exchange for Philadelphia’s 2nd round selection in the 2025 Entry Draft.

Entry Draft

The 2024 NLL Entry Draft was held virtually on September 15. The Bandits' selections are listed below. [6]

RoundOverallPlayerCollege/ClubNotes
17Lukas Nielsen New Westminster Salmonbellies (WLA)from Ottawa
18Luca Antongiovanni University of North Carolina (ACC)from Rochester
115Taylor DooleyEnnismore James Gang (Ontario Series Lacrosse)
219Trent RobertsonBrampton Express (Arena Lacrosse League)from Vancouver
335Marquez White Princeton Tigers (Ivy League)from Ottawa via Colorado
457Angus McDonnell Mimico Mountaineers (OLA Junior A Lacrosse League)
565Bryce CordingleyMimico Mountaineers (OLA Junior A Lacrosse League)from Rochester
686Vance AdamsAkwesasne Thunder (OLA Junior B Lacrosse League)

Notes

  1. ↑ The Bandits and Rush finished the regular season with identical records of 13–5. Buffalo secured the number 1 seed based on the head-to-head tiebreaker with Saskatchewan, who they defeated in the regular season on March 1.

References

  1. ↑ LaBarber, Jordoun (May 24, 2025). "Bandits win 3rd straight NLL Cup with 15-6 win over Rush, MacKay named MVP". bandits.com. Buffalo Bandits. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
  2. ↑ Rapoport, Jon (May 24, 2025). "Bandits Clinch NLL Cup and 2nd Three-Peat in League History". NLL.com. National Lacrosse League. Retrieved May 25, 2025.
  3. ↑ "Standings". National Lacrosse League.
  4. ↑ "Panther City Lacrosse Club to Cease Operations Effective Immediately". National Lacrosse League. 2024-08-30. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
  5. ↑ "Panther City Lacrosse Club Dispersal Draft". swarmitup.com. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
  6. ↑ "2024 NLL Entry Draft Order". swarmitup.com. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
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