The Buffalo Bandits are highlighting youth lacrosse initiatives over the course of the 2022-23 regular season. High school teams and other youth lacrosse programs will be recognized during select home games this year.
On Friday, December 30, members of the 2022 Jr. Bandits tournament teams who competed at the Jr. NLL Tournament in Oakville, Ontario this summer will be honored on the floor prior to the team’s home game against the Halifax Thunderbirds.
The Akron lacrosse team will be recognized on Saturday, January 14 during Buffalo’s match against Georgia for their run to the New York State semifinals last season. To get to that point, they won the Section VI championship and the Far West regionals. Coach Gary Sundown was named the 2022 U.S. Lacrosse Co-Coach of the Year and Travis Fry, who is now a freshman at Siena College, was named a U.S. Lacrosse All-American.
Representatives from the championship teams of the North American Minor Lacrosse Association, the premier minor box lacrosse league in Western New York, will be on hand during the Bandits’ game against Rochester on Saturday, February 4.
The Bandits will show their appreciation for youth teams in the area before their game on Saturday, February 18 when the players will wear the jerseys of local high school lacrosse teams during their pregame shootaround.
During halftime of the Bandits game on Friday March 10, the team will honor championship lacrosse teams from the past year. The spotlight will be on last season’s Section VI boys and girls championship teams, and Monsignor Martin Athletic Association boys and girls lacrosse champion teams.
The John Faller Memorial Award will be awarded on Saturday, March 18 to the coach or administrator whose contributions to amateur lacrosse in Western New York positively impact all those who play for them. That night, the Bandits will host Colorado in a rematch of last year’s NLL Finals.
The Bandits will select a High School Team of the Week to recognize during the high school lacrosse season. Each High School Team of the Week will have a Bandits player join them that of their team practices, give helpful tips and run drills as the player shares valuable lessons about his journey to becoming a professional lacrosse player.
The Bandits will also be holding several clinics over the next few months:
Winter Recess Clinics
Winter Recess Clinics will be held on Friday, December 30 for lacrosse players ages 5 and up. They’ll learn from current Bandits players. Registration starts at $30 and includes an hour of on floor instruction and a ticket to any 2022-23 regular-season Bandits home game. Limited spots remain. Click here for information on each age group.
Sharpshooter 3v3 Tournament
Teams in the U13, U15 and High School divisions may be interested in participating in this year’s Sharpshooter 3v3 tournament, which will be held on February 4 at KeyBank Center. Teams will play in a guaranteed three games plus potential playoff matchups. The cost of the tournament is $195 per team. Each player will receive a tournament T-shirt and a ticket for any 2022-23 regular-season Bandits home game. Click here to register.
Girls Lacrosse Clinic
Girls interested in learning a new set of skills in box lacrosse can sign up for a two-night introduction to box lacrosse on February 6 and 13. They are 90-minute sessions. Sessions The pair of 90-minute sessions will take place at Epic Center for $50 and includes a ticket to a regular-season Bandits home game. More information will become available in the coming weeks.
Try Lacrosse Night
The Bandits will also run a Try Lacrosse Night on February 13 at Epic Center for kids 5-10 who have never played the game before and would like an introduction to the sport. Sticks will be provided by the Bandits, but players are welcome to bring their own. Registration information will be available at a later date.
Accuracy Shooting Clinic
Also on February 13, an Accuracy Shooting Clinic for high school lacrosse players will take place from 8-9:30 p.m. at Epic Center. This clinic will be designed specifically for shooting mechanics and frameworks to help players improve their goal-scoring prowess. Stay tuned for more information and a registration link.
Upstate Collegiate Box Lacrosse League
For high-level lacrosse players ages 17-24 who would like to develop their skills and be noticed by NLL scouts and general managers, the UCBLL college lacrosse program is returning for a third season. The UCBLL has already seen six players drafted by NLL teams. The UCBLL season runs from May to August. Register today through this link.
Spring Lacrosse Clinics
Spring Lacrosse clinics are right around the corner as well. They’ll be held on April 15 and 22 for boys and girls ages 5 and up. Youth lacrosse players will have the opportunity to learn lacrosse skills from current Bandits players. Each participant receives one hour of on floor instruction and a ticket good for any remaining 2022-23 regular-season Bandits home game. The clinics cost $34 for one session or $60 for both sessions. Stay tuned for more information.
Max Adler Faceoff Clinic
Learn the art of taking faceoffs from one of the best in the sport. The Bandits transition player will run participants through drills to help take their faceoffs to the next level. More information, including dates and location, will be available soon.
Jr. Bandettes Dance Clinics
The Bandettes are also hosting two Jr. Bandettes Dance Clinics this season. Both sessions are currently sold out but look for performances from this year’s Jr. Bandettes during Buffalo’s home games on January 14 and March 18.