Buffalo Bandits

NLL Team Infobox
team_name=Buffalo Bandits
bg_color=black
title_color=orange
division=Eastern
logo=BuffaloBandits.jpg
img size=150px
founded=1991
home_arena=HSBC Arena
hometown=Buffalo, New York
team_colors=Orange, Black, Purple
head_coach=Darris Kilgour
general_manager=Darris Kilgour
owner=Tom Golisano and Larry Quinn
plpa=flagicon|CAN John Tavares
media=WWKB, WGR
website= [http://www.bandits.com www.bandits.com]
champs=1992, 1993, 1996, 2008
division_champs=1992, 1993, 1994, 2004, 2006, 2008

The Buffalo Bandits are a team in the National Lacrosse League (NLL). They play at the HSBC Arena in Buffalo, New York. The Bandits played in the Major Indoor Lacrosse League from 1992 to 1997, until the turned into the NLL in 1998.

The Bandits are owned by Hockey Western New York LLC, the consortium led by Tom Golisano and Larry Quinn that also owns the Buffalo Sabres.

The Bandits became the first franchise in MILL/NLL history [The Baltimore Thunder won the Eagle Pro Box Lacrosse League championship in the first year of their existence as well (1987), but that was the first year the league existed.] [The Toronto Rock won a championship in its first season in Toronto (1999), but the franchise had already played one year in Hamilton as the Ontario Raiders.] to win a championship in its first season. The Bandits repeated as champions in their second season, lost the Championship game their third season and captured their third Championship in 1996, their fifth season. It was not until 1999, their eighth season, that the Bandits did not make the playoffs.

Since their 1996 Championship-winning season, the Bandits returned to the NLL Championship game on three separate occasions (1997, 2004, 2006) only to lose each time (including twice at home). It wouldn't be until 2008 that the Bandits would win their elusive fourth Championship, a 14-13 triumph over Portland.

The Bandits' cheerleaders are known as the Buffalo Bandettes.

__TOC__

Awards & honors

All-time Team-by-team Records

(active NLL franchises only)

Head Coaching History

Draft History

NLL Entry Draft

First Round Selections

* 1991: Darris Kilgour (1st overall)
* 1992: Tom Marechek (6th overall)
* 1993: Gil Nieuwendyk (6th overall)
* 1994: Rodd Squire (5th overall)
* 1995: Jason Luke (3rd overall)
* 1996: Mike Murray (6th overall)
* 1997: Casey Zaph (7th overall) & Marty O'Brien (8th overall)
* 1998: Matt Disher (7th overall)
* 1999: None
* 2000: Ryan Powell (2nd overall)
* 2001: None
* 2002: Billy Dee Smith (3rd overall)
* 2003: A.J. Shannon (6th overall)
* 2004: Delby Powless (1st overall)
* 2005: Jeff Shattler (10th overall)
* 2006: Brett Bucktooth (3rd overall)
* 2007: None
* 2008: None

NLL Dispersal Draft

*2002 from Montreal Express: Aime Caines (6th overall); Kelly Sullivan (18th overall)
*2003 from Ottawa Rebel: Jason Clark (9th overall); Marc Landriault (20th overall); Mike Hamilton (31st overall)
*2004 from Vancouver Ravens: Curt Malawsky (9th overall); "Declined to pick" (18th overall)
*2005 from Anaheim Storm: "Traded to Arizona" (9th overall)
*2007 from Arizona Sting & Boston Blazers: Craig Conn, Arizona (10th overall); Brian Croswell, Boston (15th overall); Joe Smith, Arizona (34th overall)
*2008 from Arizona Sting: Greg Hinman (13th overall)

NLL Expansion Draft

*1999 to Albany Attack: Troy Cordingley (3rd overall)
*2001 to Calgary Roughnecks, New Jersey Storm, Vancouver Ravens & Columbus Landsharks [Acquired the first overall pick and selected Chris Langdale from Toronto] : Rich Catton, Vancouver (3rd overall); Phil Wetherup, Columbus (4th overall); Andy Duden, Columbus (10th overall); Peter Talmo, New Jersey (21st overall)
*2004 to Minnesota Swarm: Jason Clark (N/A overall)
*2005 to Portland Lumberjax & Edmonton Rush: Mike Hominuck, Portland (1st overall); Thomas Montour, Portland (13th overall)
*2006 to Chicago Shamrox & New York Titans: Bryan Kazarian, Chicago (13th overall); Jon Harasym, Portland (15th overall)
*2007 to Boston Blazers: Brendan Thenhaus (7th overall)
*2008 to Boston Blazers: Kyle Laverty (4th overall)

Retired Numbers

The Bandits have two retired numbers, one of which is represented at the Arena on the turf. [cite web|url=http://www.lacrosse-network.com/outsidersguide/news010322.htm|title=http://www.lacrosse-network.com/outsidersguide/news010322.htm|work=Outsider's Guide|date=March 22, 2001|accessdate=2008-06-10]

34 Thomas Gardner, western New York youth lacrosse organizer, number retired March 20, 1999
43 Darris Kilgour, F, 1992-1999, number retired March 25, 2001

Footnotes and references

ee also

*
* Buffalo Bandits all-time roster