The Buffalo Bandits today announced the team has signed goaltender Zach Higgins to a two-year contract and forward Payton Cormier to a one-year contract. Both deals are pending league approval.

Higgins (6’1”, 225 lbs., 12/30/1990) spent the last two seasons with the Ottawa Black Bears before being selected by Buffalo in the 2026 NLL Dispersal Draft. He previously played for the Bandits from 2017-18 to 2018-19 and compiled a 13.25 goals-against average and a .762 save percentage in 34 games played.

A native of Courtice, Ontario, Higgins has played in 192 career NLL games for the Georgia Swarm, Calgary Roughnecks, Bandits, Philadelphia Wings and Ottawa Black Bears. He owns a career record of 58-77 with a goals-against average of 11.42 and a save percentage of .783.

Cormier (6’2”, 225 lbs., 3/1/2000) was selected by Vancouver with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 NLL Entry Draft and has totaled eight points (5+3) and 28 loose-ball recoveries in 18 career games for the Warriors. Before turning pro, Cormier played collegiately for the University of Virginia, where he scored 224 career goals to rank second on the NCAA’s all-time list for career goals.