Buffalo Bandits facts for kids
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Sport | Box lacrosse |
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Founded | 1992 |
League | National Lacrosse League |
Location | Buffalo, New York |
Arena | KeyBank Center |
Colors | Orange, Purple, Black, White |
Owner | Terry Pegula |
Head coach | John Tavares |
General manager | Steve Dietrich |
League titles | 7 (1992, 1993, 1996, 2008, 2023, 2024, 2025) |
Conference titles | 2 (2022, 2023) |
Division titles | 8 (1993, 1994, 1996, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2016, 2019) |
Local media | WNLO, WWKB, WGR |
Retired numbers | 4 (11, 16, 34, 43) |
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The Buffalo Bandits are a professional box lacrosse team from Buffalo, New York. They play in the National Lacrosse League (NLL). Their home games are held at KeyBank Center.
The Bandits started playing in 1992 in a league called the Major Indoor Lacrosse League (MILL). In 1998, the league changed its name to the NLL. The Bandits are one of the oldest teams in the NLL. They are also the oldest team still playing in their original city. With 7 league titles, they hold the record for the most championships in the NLL.
The team is owned by Hockey Western New York LLC, led by Terry Pegula. He also owns other sports teams like the Rochester Americans, Buffalo Sabres, and the Buffalo Bills.
Contents
Team History
The Buffalo Bandits played their first season in 1992. They shared their home arena, Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, with the Buffalo Sabres until 1996.
The Bandits made history by winning a championship in their very first season. They won again in their second season, completing the league's only perfect season ever. After losing the championship game in their third season, they won their third title in 1996. It wasn't until 1999 that the Bandits missed the playoffs for the first time.
After their 1996 championship, the Bandits reached the NLL Championship game three more times (1997, 2004, 2006) but lost each time. In 2008, they finally won their fourth championship, beating Portland 14–13. The Bandits lost in the finals three more times before winning their fifth championship in 2023. They defeated the Colorado Mammoth 13–4 in the final game of the series.
The next year, in 2024, the Bandits won their sixth title by sweeping the Albany FireWolves. In 2025, they secured their third championship in a row, making it their seventh overall title. This "three-peat" is a rare achievement in professional sports.
As of 2025, the Buffalo Bandits have been in their home city for 33 continuous seasons. This makes them the longest-tenured team in the NLL. They also have the highest attendance in the league, with over 18,000 fans per game in 2025.
Awards and Honors
Many Bandits players and staff have received special awards. Here are some of them:
Year | Player | Award |
---|---|---|
1992 | Derek Keenan | Rookie of the Year |
John Tavares | Championship Game MVP | |
1993 | John Tavares | Championship Game MVP |
1994 | John Tavares | Most Valuable Player |
1996 | Pat O'Toole | Championship Game MVP |
2000 | John Tavares | Most Valuable Player |
2001 | John Tavares | Most Valuable Player |
2003 | Darris Kilgour | Coach of the Year |
Kurt Silcott | GM of the Year | |
2005 | Steve Dietrich | Goaltender of the Year |
2006 | Steve Dietrich | Goaltender of the Year |
Most Valuable Player | ||
2007 | Dave Zygaj | Executive of the Year |
2008 | Mark Steenhuis | Transition Player of the Year |
Champion's Cup MVP | ||
2009 | Billy Dee Smith | Defensive Player of the Year |
Ken Montour | Goaltender of the Year | |
2016 | Steve Dietrich | GM of the Year |
Dhane Smith | Most Valuable Player | |
2018 | Craig England | Teammate of the Year |
2019 | Matt Vinc | Goaltender of the Year |
John Tavares/Rich Kilgour | Coach of the Year | |
Steve Dietrich | GM of the Year | |
2022 | Matt Vinc | Goaltender of the Year |
Steve Dietrich | GM of the Year | |
Dhane Smith | Most Valuable Player | |
2023 | Dhane Smith | NLL Finals MVP |
2024 | Josh Byrne | Offensive Player of the Year |
Most Valuable Player | ||
NLL Finals MVP | ||
2025 | John Gurtler | Media Person of the Year |
Kyle Buchanan | Sportsmanship Award | |
Dhane Smith | Offensive Player of the Year | |
Ian MacKay | NLL Finals MVP |
NLL Hall of Fame Members
Several Bandits players and staff have been inducted into the NLL Hall of Fame:
- Les Bartley, Head Coach, 2006
- Darris Kilgour, Forward, 2007
- John Mouradian, General Manager, 2008
- Jim Veltman, Defense, 2009
- Rich Kilgour, Transition, 2010
- Steve Dietrich, Goaltender, 2012
- Pat O'Toole, Goaltender, 2013
- Tracey Kelusky, Forward, 2016
- John Tavares, Forward, 2016
- Pat McCready, Defense, 2021
- Shawn Williams, Forward, 2021
NLL Records Held by Bandits Players
Single-Game Records
- Most assists in one game – Mark Steenhuis (13 assists, February 14, 2009)
- Most points in one game – Mark Steenhuis (17 points, February 14, 2009)
Season Records
- Most points in one season – Dhane Smith (137 points, 2016)
- Most goals in one season – Dhane Smith (72 goals, 2016)
- Most assists in one season – Dhane Smith (103 assists, 2025)
All-Time Career Records
- Most goals in a career – John Tavares (724 goals, 1991–2015)
- Most assists in a career – John Tavares (823 assists, 1991–2015)
- Most points in a career – John Tavares (1,547 points, 1991–2015)
- Most saves in a career – Matt Vinc (8,299 saves 2005–Present)
- Most wins in a career – Matt Vinc (119 wins 2005–present)
- Most minutes played – Matt Vinc (12,627:54 2005–present)
NLL All-Star Game Appearances
Many Bandits players have been chosen to play in the NLL All-Star Game:
- 2005: Kyle Couling, Mark Steenhuis, John Tavares*, Dan Teat
- 2006: Steve Dietrich, Mark Steenhuis, John Tavares*
- 2007: Pat McCready, Mark Steenhuis, John Tavares*
- 2008: Mark Steenhuis*, John Tavares*, Chris White
- 2009: Ken Montour*, Mark Steenhuis*, John Tavares, Roger Vyse, Chris White*
- 2011: Chris White, Mark Steenhuis, John Tavares, Brett Bucktooth
- 2012: Billy Dee Smith, Scott Self, Chris White, John Tavares, Mike Thompson
* – voted as starter
Current Team Roster
Buffalo Bandits roster
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Active (21-man) roster | Inactive roster | Coaches | |||||||
5 |
1
3 |
17
7
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John Tavares
Roster updated 2025-3-23 |
Team Records and Playoff History
The Buffalo Bandits have a long history of games. Here's a summary of their regular season and playoff results.
Season | Division/Conference | Wins–Losses | Finish | Home Record | Road Record | Goals For | Goals Against | Coach | Playoff Results |
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1992 | National | 5–3 | 2nd | 2–2 | 3–1 | 161 | 125 | Bob McCready / Les Bartley | Champions |
1993 | National | 8–0 | 1st | 4–0 | 4–0 | 143 | 108 | Les Bartley | Champions |
1994 | National | 6–2 | 1st | 3–1 | 3–1 | 121 | 99 | Les Bartley | Lost final |
1995 | 3–5 | 4th | 2–2 | 1–3 | 109 | 108 | Les Bartley | Lost semi-final | |
1996 | 8–2 | 1st | 3–2 | 5–0 | 173 | 127 | Les Bartley | Champions | |
1997 | 6–4 | 3rd | 3–2 | 3–2 | 158 | 153 | Les Bartley | Lost final | |
1998 | 6–6 | 4th | 4–2 | 2–4 | 166 | 171 | Les Wakeling | Lost semi-final | |
1999 | 4–8 | 6th | 1–5 | 3–3 | 158 | 177 | Les Wakeling | Did not qualify | |
2000 | 8–4 | 2nd | 5–1 | 3–3 | 202 | 194 | Ted Sawicki | Lost semi-final | |
2001 | 8–6 | 5th | 4–3 | 4–3 | 248 | 218 | Ted Sawicki | Did not qualify | |
2002 | Central | 8–8 | 4th | 4–4 | 4–4 | 210 | 215 | Ted Sawicki / Frank Neilson | Did not qualify |
2003 | Central | 12–4 | 2nd | 8–0 | 4–4 | 231 | 188 | Darris Kilgour | Lost division final |
2004 | Eastern | 8–8 | 3rd | 4–4 | 4–4 | 205 | 198 | Darris Kilgour | Lost final |
2005 | Eastern | 11–5 | 2nd | 5–3 | 6–2 | 217 | 183 | Darris Kilgour | Lost division semi-final |
2006 | Eastern | 11–5 | 1st | 6–2 | 5–3 | 193 | 167 | Darris Kilgour | Lost final |
2007 | Eastern | 10–6 | 2nd | 6–2 | 4–4 | 207 | 188 | Darris Kilgour | Lost division final |
2008 | Eastern | 10–6 | 1st | 7–2 | 3–4 | 203 | 174 | Darris Kilgour | Champions |
2009 | Eastern | 10–6 | 2nd | 5–3 | 5–3 | 223 | 170 | Darris Kilgour | Lost division final |
2010 | Eastern | 8–8 | 3rd | 4–4 | 4–4 | 169 | 170 | Darris Kilgour | Lost division semi-final |
2011 | Eastern | 10–6 | 1st | 4–4 | 6–2 | 169 | 159 | Darris Kilgour | Lost division final |
2012 | Eastern | 7–9 | 4th | 4–4 | 3–5 | 198 | 204 | Darris Kilgour | Lost division semi-final |
2013 | Eastern | 6–10 | 4th | 2–6 | 4–4 | 171 | 211 | Darris Kilgour | Did not qualify |
2014 | Eastern | 8–10 | 3rd | 6–3 | 2–7 | 190 | 200 | Troy Cordingley | Lost division final |
2015 | Eastern | 11–7 | 3rd | 7–2 | 4–5 | 236 | 208 | Troy Cordingley | Lost division semi-final |
2016 | Eastern | 13–5 | 1st | 8–1 | 5–4 | 251 | 214 | Troy Cordingley | Lost Finals |
2017 | Eastern | 6–12 | 5th | 3–6 | 3–6 | 226 | 251 | Troy Cordingley | Did not qualify |
2018 | Eastern | 8–10 | 5th | 4–5 | 4–5 | 232 | 240 | Troy Cordingley | Did not qualify |
2019 | Eastern | 14–4 | 1st | 7–2 | 7–2 | 244 | 186 | John Tavares, Rich Kilgour | Lost Finals |
2020 | North | 7–4 | T-2nd | 4–2 | 3–2 | 130 | 118 | John Tavares | No playoffs held |
2021 | Eastern | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | |||||||
2022 | Eastern | 14–4 | 1st | 7–2 | 7–2 | 247 | 185 | John Tavares | Lost Finals |
2023 | Eastern | 14–4 | 1st | 7–2 | 7–2 | 215 | 191 | John Tavares | Champions |
2024 | Unified | 11–7 | 4th | 6–3 | 5–4 | 237 | 212 | John Tavares | Champions |
2025 | Unified | 13–5 | 1st | 6–3 | 7–2 | 242 | 195 | John Tavares | Champions |
Total | 33 seasons | 292–193 | 155–89 | 137–104 | 6,482 | 5,908 | |||
Playoff Totals | 26 Appearances | 45–25 | 34–10 | 11–15 | 882 | 766 | 7 Championships |
Playoff Game Results
The Bandits have played many exciting playoff games. Here are their results:
Season | Game | Visiting Team | Home Team |
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1992 | Division Semifinal | Boston Blazers 16 | Buffalo Bandits 22 |
Division Final | Buffalo Bandits 19 | Detroit Turbos 16 | |
Championship | Buffalo Bandits 11 | Philadelphia Wings 10 (OT) | |
1993 | Division Final | Boston Blazers 10 | Buffalo Bandits 12 |
Championship | Philadelphia Wings 12 | Buffalo Bandits 13 | |
1994 | Division Final | Detroit Turbos 10 | Buffalo Bandits 16 |
Championship | Philadelphia Wings 26 | Buffalo Bandits 15 | |
1995 | Semifinals | Philadelphia Wings 19 | Buffalo Bandits 16 |
1996 | Semifinals | Rochester Knighthawks 10 | Buffalo Bandits 18 |
Championship | Philadelphia Wings 10 | Buffalo Bandits 15 | |
1997 | Semifinals | New York Saints 10 | Buffalo Bandits 19 |
Championship | Rochester Knighthawks 15 | Buffalo Bandits 12 | |
1998 | Semifinals | Buffalo Bandits 12 | Philadelphia Wings 17 |
2000 | Semifinals | Rochester Knighthawks 15 | Buffalo Bandits 11 |
2003 | Quarterfinals | Calgary Roughnecks 9 | Buffalo Bandits 16 |
Semifinals | Buffalo Bandits 13 | Rochester Knighthawks 16 | |
2004 | Division Semifinal | Buffalo Bandits 13 | Rochester Knighthawks 9 |
Division Final | Buffalo Bandits 19 | Toronto Rock 10 | |
Championship | Buffalo Bandits 11 | Calgary Roughnecks 14 | |
2005 | Division Semifinal | Rochester Knighthawks 17 | Buffalo Bandits 16 |
2006 | Division Semifinal | Buffalo Bandits 11 | Minnesota Swarm 10 |
Division Final | Buffalo Bandits 15 | Rochester Knighthawks 10 | |
Championship | Colorado Mammoth 16 | Buffalo Bandits 9 | |
2007 | Division Semifinal | Minnesota Swarm 8 | Buffalo Bandits 14 |
Division Final | Buffalo Bandits 13 | Rochester Knighthawks 14 (OT) | |
2008 | Division Semifinal | Philadelphia Wings 12 | Buffalo Bandits 14 |
Division Final | New York Titans 12 | Buffalo Bandits 19 | |
Championship | Portland LumberJax 13 | Buffalo Bandits 14 | |
2009 | Division Semifinal | Boston Blazers 8 | Buffalo Bandits 11 |
Division Final | Buffalo Bandits 3 | New York Titans 9 | |
2010 | Division Semifinal | Buffalo Bandits 11 | Toronto Rock 13 |
2011 | Division Semifinal | Boston Blazers 10 | Buffalo Bandits 11 |
Division Final | Buffalo Bandits 11 | Toronto Rock 12 | |
2012 | Division Semifinal | Buffalo Bandits 6 | Toronto Rock 7 |
2014 | Division Semifinal | Buffalo Bandits 15 | Toronto Rock 13 |
Division Final 1 | Rochester Knighthawks 8 | Buffalo Bandits 12 | |
Division Final 2 | Buffalo Bandits 8 | Rochester Knighthawks 13 | |
Division Final 3 | Buffalo Bandits 1 | Rochester Knighthawks 2 | |
2015 | Division Semifinal | Buffalo Bandits 11 | Rochester Knighthawks 14 |
2016 | Division Final 1 | Buffalo Bandits 15 | New England Black Wolves 10 |
Division Final 2 | New England Black Wolves 15 | Buffalo Bandits 20 | |
Championship 1 | Saskatchewan Rush 11 | Buffalo Bandits 9 | |
Championship 2 | Buffalo Bandits 10 | Saskatchewan Rush 11 | |
2019 | Division Semifinal | New England Black Wolves 6 | Buffalo Bandits 13 |
Division Final | Toronto Rock 8 | Buffalo Bandits 12 | |
Championship 1 | Calgary Roughnecks 10 | Buffalo Bandits 7 | |
Championship 2 | Buffalo Bandits 13 | Calgary Roughnecks 14 (OT) | |
2022 | Conference Semifinal | Albany Firewolves 5 | Buffalo Bandits 10 |
Conference Final 1 | Toronto Rock 17 | Buffalo Bandits 18 | |
Conference Final 2 | Buffalo Bandits 10 | Toronto Rock 9 | |
Championship 1 | Colorado Mammoth 14 | Buffalo Bandits 15 | |
Championship 2 | Buffalo Bandits 8 | Colorado Mammoth 11 | |
Championship 3 | Colorado Mammoth 10 | Buffalo Bandits 8 | |
2023 | Conference Semifinal | Rochester Knighthawks 8 | Buffalo Bandits 20 |
Conference Final 1 | Toronto Rock 5 | Buffalo Bandits 14 | |
Conference Final 2 | Buffalo Bandits 17 | Toronto Rock 8 | |
Championship 1 | Colorado Mammoth 12 | Buffalo Bandits 13 | |
Championship 2 | Buffalo Bandits 10 | Colorado Mammoth 16 | |
Championship 3 | Colorado Mammoth 4 | Buffalo Bandits 13 | |
2024 | Quarterfinals | Georgia Swarm 9 | Buffalo Bandits 10 (OT) |
Semi Final 1 | Buffalo Bandits 12 | Toronto Rock 4 | |
Semi Final 2 | Toronto Rock 8 | Buffalo Bandits 12 | |
Championship 1 | Buffalo Bandits 12 | Albany FireWolves 8 | |
Championship 2 | Albany FireWolves 13 | Buffalo Bandits 15 | |
2025 | Quarterfinals | San Diego Seals 4 | Buffalo Bandits 5 |
Semi Final 1 | Vancouver Warriors 3 | Buffalo Bandits 9 | |
Semi Final 2 | Buffalo Bandits 11 | Vancouver Warriors 9 | |
Championship 1 | Saskatchewan Rush 10 | Buffalo Bandits 12 | |
Championship 2 | Buffalo Bandits 10 | Saskatchewan Rush 11 | |
Championship 3 | Saskatchewan Rush 6 | Buffalo Bandits 15 |
Head Coaching History

Here are the head coaches who have led the Buffalo Bandits:
# | Name | Term | Regular Season | Playoffs | ||||||
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Games Coached | Wins | Losses | Win % | Games Coached | Wins | Losses | Win % | |||
1 | Bob McCready | 1992 | 3 | 0 | 3 | .000 | — | — | — | — |
2 | Les Bartley | 1992–1997 | 49 | 36 | 13 | .735 | 12 | 9 | 3 | .750 |
3 | Les Wakeling | 1998–1999 | 24 | 10 | 14 | .417 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 |
4 | Ted Sawicki | 2000–2002 | 35 | 21 | 14 | .600 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 |
5 | Frank Neilson | 2002 | 7 | 3 | 4 | .429 | — | — | — | — |
6 | Darris Kilgour | 2003–2013 | 176 | 103 | 73 | .585 | 20 | 11 | 9 | .550 |
7 | Troy Cordingley | 2014–2018 | 90 | 46 | 44 | .511 | 9 | 4 | 5 | .444 |
8 | John Tavares, Rich Kilgour |
2019 | 18 | 14 | 4 | .778 | 3 | 2 | 1 | .666 |
9 | John Tavares | 2020– | 83 | 59 | 24 | .711 | 23 | 19 | 4 | .827 |
Retired Numbers
The Bandits have honored four players by retiring their jersey numbers. These numbers are displayed at the arena alongside the championship banners.
- 34 Thomas Gardner, honored March 20, 1999
- 43 Darris Kilgour, F, honored March 25, 2001
- 16 Rich Kilgour, D, honored April 16, 2011
- 11 John Tavares, F, honored March 11, 2016
Game Broadcasts
You can listen to Buffalo Bandits games on Buffalo's Audacy radio stations, either WGR 550 AM or WWKB 1520 AM. John Gurtler, who used to announce for the Buffalo Sabres, does the play-by-play. Former Bandit Randy Mearns provides color commentary.
All games are also available to watch on ESPN+. Some games are shown nationally on ESPN Linear Networks. Locally in Buffalo, you can watch select games on WNLO CW23. The Bandits games are very popular on WNLO, often getting higher ratings than other shows on that network.
See Also
- Buffalo Bandits seasons
- Buffalo Bandits all-time roster