The Buffalo Bandits today announced the team has signed defenseman Paul Dawson to a one-year contract and defenseman Raymond Cortes to a three-year contract. Both contracts are pending league approval.

Dawson (6’5”, 237 lbs., 9/16/1985) will return for his third season with the Bandits and 20th season in the NLL. He tallied two points (0+2), 59 loose balls and 39 blocked shots in 18 games in 2025-26 to lead the Bandits in blocked shots this season for the second season in a row.

He has tallied 102 points (29+73) and 1,048 loose balls in 302 career NLL games. Dawson leads all NLL players in career blocked shots (144) and is tied for fourth in games played in NLL history. The Oakville, Ontario native has posted 10 points (3+7), 100 loose balls and 29 blocked shots in 36 career playoff games. He is a four-time NLL Champion, having won two championships with Buffalo (2023-24 and 2024-25) and two with the Rochester Knighthawks (2012-13 and 2013-14).

Cortes (6’3”, 235 lbs., 12/20/05) was selected by the Bandits in the fourth round (48th overall) of the 2026 NLL Entry Draft. The Irving, New York native spent the last two seasons playing in the OJLL for the Six Nations Arrows, where he scored two goals and added four assists in 16 games last season.