2026 Buffalo Bandits season

Last updated
2026 Buffalo Bandits
League NLL
2026 record3–3
Home record2–2
Road record1–1
Goals for69
Goals against62
General Manager Steve Dietrich
Coach John Tavares
Captain Steve Priolo
Alternate captains Dhane Smith, Nick Weiss
Arena KeyBank Center
2027 season →

The Buffalo Bandits are a lacrosse team based in Buffalo, New York playing in the National Lacrosse League (NLL). The 2026 season is their 34th season in the NLL.

Contents

The Bandits entered the season as the defending champions for the third straight year, and will attempt to become the first team in league history to win four straight NLL championships.

Regular season

NLL Standings Reference: [1]

PTeamGPWLPCTGBHomeRoadGFGADiffGF/GPGA/GP

1 Saskatchewan Rush 651.8330.03–02–17359+1412.179.83
2 Rochester Knighthawks 541.8000.52–02–17158+1314.2011.60
3 Vancouver Warriors 431.7501.01–12–04135+610.258.75
4 Colorado Mammoth 532.6001.51–12–14545−-09.009.00
5 Buffalo Bandits 532.6001.52–11–16052+812.0010.40
6 Halifax Thunderbirds 633.5002.02–11–25858−-09.679.67
7 Ottawa Black Bears 633.5002.02–21–17673+312.6712.17
8 Toronto Rock 422.5002.01–11–14142−110.2510.50
9 Las Vegas Desert Dogs 523.4002.51–11–26471−712.8014.20
10 Georgia Swarm 523.4002.51–11–24137+48.207.40
11 Oshawa FireWolves 624.3333.02–20–25160−98.5010.00
12 San Diego Seals 413.2503.00–31–04155−1410.2513.75
13 Philadelphia Wings 413.2503.01–10–24454−1011.0013.50
14 Calgary Roughnecks 514.2003.50–21–25562−711.0012.40

Game log

The Bandits' schedule was released on September 19, 2025. The team's home opener was announced by the league on September 12.

GameDateOpponentLocationScoreOTAttendanceRecord
1November 29, 2025 Georgia Swarm KeyBank Center W 15–1119,0701–0
2December 13, 2025 Halifax Thunderbirds KeyBank Center L 8–9OT17,1921–1
3December 28, 2025@ Calgary Roughnecks Scotiabank Saddledome W 13–711,7152–1
4January 3, 2026 Las Vegas Desert Dogs KeyBank Center W 15–1319,0703–1
5January 10, 2026@ Rochester Knighthawks Blue Cross Arena L 9–128,5463–2
6January 16, 2026 Ottawa Black Bears KeyBank Center L 9–1017,1903–3
7January 31, 2026@ Colorado Mammoth Ball Arena
8February 7, 2026 Philadelphia Wings KeyBank Center
9February 14, 2026@ Halifax Thunderbirds Scotiabank Centre
10February 20, 2026@ Vancouver Warriors Rogers Arena
11February 27, 2026 Saskatchewan Rush KeyBank Center
12February 28, 2026@ Toronto Rock TD Coliseum
13March 13, 2026 Colorado Mammoth KeyBank Center
14March 21, 2026@ San Diego Seals Pechanga Arena
15March 28, 2026@ Saskatchewan Rush SaskTel Centre
16April 4, 2026 Vancouver Warriors KeyBank Center
17April 11, 2026 Rochester Knighthawks KeyBank Center
18April 18, 2026@ Oshawa FireWolves Tribute Communities Centre

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 2026-1-17
NLL Transactions

Entry Draft

The 2025 NLL Entry Draft was held on September 6, 2025. The Bandits' selections are listed below. [2]

RoundOverallPlayerCollege/ClubNotes
114Waukiigan Shognosh Peterborough Lakers Jr. A (OLA Junior A Lacrosse)
221Coltrane Tyson UMass Minutemen (NCAA) / Brampton Excelsiors (MSL) from Philadelphia
232Jimmy Freehill Denver Pioneers (NCAA)
339Carter Coffey Orangeville Northmen Jr. A (OLA Junior A Lacrosse)from Ottawa
461Jaden Kennedy Onondaga Community College (NJCAA) / Seneca WarChiefs (First Nations Junior B Lacrosse League)
574David Burr Robert Morris Colonials (NCAA)from Saskatchewan
575Liam KeaneRobert Morris Colonials (NCAA)
689Traded to the Philadelphia Wings [A]

Notes

  1. ↑ The Bandits traded their sixth round selection to the Philadelphia Wings in exchange for a sixth round selection in the 2027 NLL Entry Draft.

References

  1. ↑ "Standings". National Lacrosse League.
  2. ↑ "2025 NLL Entry Draft Order" . Retrieved May 25, 2025.
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