It is the most wonderful time of the year.
Beautiful weather with soothing temperatures washing all those dark, snowy, windy days away, making way for what has become a tradition in May:
The Buffalo Bandits in the National Lacrosse League Championship Finals!
This year, the marquee reads Buffalo vs. Saskatchewan in the best-of-three series, which starts Friday at 7:30 pm inside KeyBank Center.
Watch and Listen
Game #2 is scheduled for Sunday in Saskatoon at 8 pm Eastern. Game #3, if necessary, will be back in Banditland on Saturday, May 24, at 4:30 pm
CW23, TSN, ESPN+, TSN+, and NLL+ will carry games on Friday and Sunday nights. If necessary, ESPN2, TSN, espn+, TSN +, and nll+ will carry Game #3.
Exclusive radio coverage of all games will be available on WGR Sports Radio 550 and audacy.com. The coverage will feature half-hour pregame shows before each faceoff. Halftime reports and postgame coverage will include interviews and live on-the-line guests.
Steve Bermel will join me in the radio booths, while Dave Buchanan will be on the turf level.
Teddy Jenner, Pat Gregoire, and Ashley Docking will be on the TV calls.
Recap
Both the Bandits and Rush, who finished 13-5 during the regular season, earned the right to the NLL Finals by sweeping their respective brackets. This included the Rush’s dramatic come-from-behind overtime victory against Halifax last Saturday night.
Two great cities, two remarkable teams, respective coaches from the original orange and black cloth lineage, and players—all masters at every position—compete for the coveted NLL Cup and the right to display a banner identifying themselves as Champions.
The Bandits and Rush have dominated the NLL Finals for the last 12 seasons. The two teams (including Edmonton) will have appeared in 12 championship finals (six each), with the Rush winning four and the Bandits two.
Overall, the Bandits have appeared in 13 finals in their 32 seasons and won six championships, including two consecutive.
Both coaches, John Tavares and Derek Keenan were original members of the Bandits in 1992.
Matt Vinc
“We have the opportunity to hopefully win another championship. That was our mindset at the beginning of the season,” said Bandits goaltender Matt Vinc, who enters the series with a .880 save percentage and a goals-against average of 5.33 in the three playoff games, and three assists!
“Our focus was to get here, and now we have to prepare and win that first game Friday night.”
The eight-time goaltender of the year, with five championship rings, is a man of routine. Even a week off doesn’t stop Vinc from strenuous workouts, taking shots, and preparing his mind for another two-game weekend.
“The routine is extensive. For my comfort level going into the game Friday, I try to do everything I’ve done all season to mentally prepare myself,” said Vinc, who unquestionably is playing the best of his career.
The Great Dhane
On the cusp of yet another NLL record, Two-time NLL MVP, and a finalist for this season and Offensive Player of the Year awards, Dhane Smith, will undoubtedly set a new NLL playoff scoring record in the championship series by eclipsing 200 points, currently held by his coach.
What a year it has been for Smith, including an NLL Championship, Mann Cup, a gold medal with Team Canada’s World Indoor title, a new NLL regular season assist record, and getting married.
“It’s been a crazy year, but it goes by so fast you forget the kind of year you had. Obviously, getting married is the biggest achievement. It’s been an amazing year, and I want to build on this success,” said Smith humbly as he stood on the practice turf Saturday.
When I asked him about another championship on the horizon, he quickly stepped forward and reminded me it would not be served up as if it were the center of the plate.
“You work so hard to play this game to win championships, and now we have another great opportunity, but it’s not going to be given to us.
“I tell all the younger kids not to take this for granted. I entered this league without reaching the finals for a long time and without winning a championship even longer. However, the past five years have been truly remarkable. Who knows what the future holds? We might not get this opportunity again, so you want to be ready.”
A View and true Words
From the look of the practice last Saturday, the guys are ready, even with a week off.
“Having the week off is good for healing the bumps and bruises, but we are working to make sure to keep rolling going into the weekend of games,” said second-year defenseman Cam Wyers, who is tied with Nick Weiss and Paul Dawson with seven blocked shots in the playoffs.
“I want to compete for a championship with the guys, and I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make sure we come out on top.”
Also, second-year defenseman Zack Belter feels the same.
“I feel good, and we’ve been getting better as the year has gone on, hitting our stride in the playoffs. The week off helped give the guys the rest that they needed.”
The Man
Watching over his herd on the turf on Saturday, the architect of this team — a three-time NLL General Manager of the Year award winner and defensive coordinator, Steve Dietrich- used his words cautiously when I asked him about the state of his club.
“We are ready, veteran group. I think the week off really helped, having gone 12 straight weeks, with 15 games played. With a veteran group, we will be able to rest some players, go through some drills in practice, and ramp up our intensity this week.
“We must excel in all facets: power play, penalty kill, offense, defense, and goaltending. If we can get all five things to come together and work, we will be a tough team to beat. When one or two of those things have an off night, it gives the other team a bit of life.”
Bucky
NLL Teammate of the Year winner Kyle Buchanan, a 34-goal scorer this season and one of the best set-up players in the game, took advantage of the week, preparing meticulously as he always does.
“Having the week off is a positive thing for our group, allowing us to get back to 100 percent and be ready to go. You don’t change a whole lot; maybe add some extra cardio, take care of your body, and use the ice bath and hot tub. Mentally, too, watching some film on Saskatchewan is another way we prepare.
“It’s a grind of a year with no breaks for the end of the season, so we’ll get our bodies right, work on a couple of things, stick together, and get excited about the two games this weekend,” Buchanan said.
Trainers Room
In terms of health, Ryan Rajk, the head athletic trainer for the Bandits players, relished the players’ time off but remained very observant to ensure all was well. He, too, ramps up for the Finals.
“There is a little extra preparation. We ensure that we have everything ready for them, including electrolytes, to make sure they are replenished throughout the week. The players must hydrate throughout the week. Extra communication is needed, making sure they are doing what they are supposed to do,” said Rajk.
Words from Josh Byrne
Last season’s MVP of the playoffs, Josh Byrne, remains focused on game-day prep, regardless of whether it’s the Finals or a game in January. It’s serious business.
“You gotta stay to your principles and stick to what works. You work hard at practice, watch the film, and talk to your teammates – everything that we’ve been doing all year. It’s been working so far, so it doesn’t change much,” said Byrne, matching Smith with 134 regular-season points.
And what about the constant group chat, minus any reporters who might have been given a number to join in?
“We’re talking about the game all the time, maybe throw up a couple of memes, tell a couple of jokes, guys asking for tickets, keep it light,” Byrne said. What, no offensive secrets?
Captain Steve Priolo
And the Bandits’ captain, Steve Priolo, was left off the NLL’s Defensive Player of the Year finalist list again. With the club since 2010, Priolo’s 35 playoff appearances are the fifth most in the NLL postseason. He remains truly dedicated to this game all year long.
“I think about lacrosse all day, every day, and it’s essential for me to stick to my routine to stay even-keeled.
“It’s important to stick with the things that have been working for you, and when we walk into KeyBank Center and see the fans, that’s when you really feel it in your soul, the Finals are here.”
Indeed, they are – the most wonderful time of the year.