The Buffalo Bandits have signed Jay Thorimbert to a one-day contract for the purpose of retiring a Bandit. 

Thorimbert, an 18-year NLL veteran, spent seven seasons in Buffalo – including the 2007-08 NLL Cup-winning campaign – and was drafted by the organization in 2006.  

“I was drafted by Buffalo in 2006 and spent seven years with the organization, including being part of the 2008 championship team. The Bandits were one of the tightest-knit teams I’ve ever been a part of, and even after I moved on, I always felt connected to the organization and to the people who made Buffalo feel like home, the staff, the players and the fans,” Thorimbert said. 

“When I started thinking about how I wanted my career to end, I knew I wanted to come full circle. I wanted the last chapter of my career to take me back to the place where it all began, the place where my kids first watched me play. 

I’m incredibly grateful to Scott Loffler and Chugger for being open to the idea and giving me the opportunity to retire as a Bandit. It means a lot to me to be able to say that I’ll forever be a member of the Buffalo Bandits.” 

Thorimbert, the NLL’s all-time faceoff win leader (3,479; 1,305 as a Bandit) will retire as one of the best defensemen to grace the league. Thorimbert also ranks first in league and Bandits history in faceoff attempts (6,547 career; 2,204 as a Bandit) and owns Buffalo’s best career faceoff percentage in franchise history (59.2%). 

Thorimbert’s 254 games rank 21st in the NLL all-time, and his 2,027 loose balls (900 as a Bandit) place him fourth in league history. 

Thorimbert provided a letter to Bandits fans announcing his retirement and his one-day contract, which you can read below:

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“I’ve gone back and forth on writing this for a while, because honestly, I’m not sure there’s a right way to say goodbye to something that has been such a big part of my life. 

After 18 years of playing professionally, I’m officially retiring from the National Lacrosse League. 

I was drafted by Buffalo in 2006. At the time, I was just a kid who wanted a chance to play in the NLL. I never could have imagined where that opportunity would take me, the people I would meet, or the experiences I’d have along the way. 

2008 is obviously something I’ll always carry with me. There’s nothing quite like being in a locker room with a group of guys who have completely bought in and then seeing all that work come together. I’ve chased that feeling ever since. I never got to experience it again on the floor, but I’m incredibly grateful that I got to experience it at all. 

Lacrosse has been such a huge part of who I am, walking away from playing is harder than I expected. For so many years, there was always another season, another camp, another game to prepare for. Even now, it feels strange knowing I won’t be getting ready for November camp or figuring out how to get my body ready for another season. 

But I’m also excited for what comes next. 

Lacrosse has given me more than I could ever repay, and I’m hoping I can spend the next chapter giving some of that back. Coaching, helping young players, and passing along the things I’ve learned from all the incredible people I’ve been lucky enough to play with and learn from. 

Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey. Teammates, coaches, friends, family, fans and everyone who ever believed in me or gave me an opportunity. 

I also want to thank my wife, Jodi, and our kids, Owen and Nora. They’ve been there through all of it, the seasons, the early mornings, the training, the sacrifices, and all the times lacrosse meant I couldn’t be home. There’s no way I could have done this without their love, patience and support. They’ve made every part of this journey possible, and I’m incredibly grateful to have had them beside me through all of it. 

I’ve loved this game for as long as I can remember, and I’ve loved every minute I’ve been lucky enough to play. 

Best job I’ve ever had.” 

– 75