My true love gave to me…
It’s the time of the season when we reflect on the joyous occasion of winning another NLL Championship.
On the fourth day of Christmas, a home game is on tap in the comfy confines of Banditland and raising the 2023-24 NLL Championship banner to the rafters, joining the five others so proudly they hail.
Saturday, December 28, is just days away, so let’s get to it.
Be sure to arrive at KeyBank Center early and be in your seats by 6:10 pm to enjoy the banner-raising ceremony and relish your emotions, those around you, and the faces of the team, coaches, and personnel as they watch the championship cloth rise under music and cheer.
Earlier this fall, we had the pleasure of watching Dhane Smith, Chase Fraser, Cris Cloutier, Ian MacKay, and Josh Byrne speak so passionately about the team’s championship run on the season finale of the Dhane & Josh show.
They all poured their hearts out, remembering their remarkable playoff run. If you have not had a chance to watch it, look it up on YouTube.
As we approach Saturday night and the game against the pesky Rochester Knighthawks, more Bandit players and personnel reflect on the championship game and what they will feel as the Banner reaches the summit.
Kyle Buchanan writes about what he remembers most of that championship night.
“How loud it was in there throughout almost the whole game. And having my mom, dad, and brothers there was amazing.
“They are the reason I have been able to have these types of experiences in this game, so it was special to share that with them.”
Was anything out of the ordinary for game two with you, Kyle?
“When we walked out onto the floor for a shootaround on the morning of game two, seeing the orange towels on 19,000 seats was wild. Knowing those seats would be filled and the towels waving in the air got the juices going for the day.”
What will you think Saturday night as the Banner goes to the rafters?
“How good that feeling is, how hard it is to achieve what we have, and how excited I am to get that banner up and compete for that feeling again.”
Scott Loffler, Bandits Sr. Director of Lacrosse Operations, writes:
“When we won in ‘23, it was such a sense of relief because we finally got over that hump after falling short the past few times. We enjoyed the moment.
But last year, it was different. The feeling was, “Heck yeah!” And if you add how our season had started, it was just pure celebration and exhilaration.
Was there anything unusual for you before/during/after game two, Scott?
“I was excited, nervous, happy, anxious, scared, all of the above. Then you start thinking, what will I do when the horn blows? Who am I going to hug? What am I going to do when I get passed the cup? Am I going to run on the floor or walk? These are just a few million things running through your head.”
What will you think Saturday night as the Banner goes to the rafters?
“How proud I am of our team, players, and staff that we provided Buffalo and WNY with something positive after all the tragedy and heartbreak the region has endured over the past few years.
“And then I’ll try to measure in my head if we have enough room in the rafters for another one.”
Goaltender Matt Vinc writes what he remembers:
“I was looking to where my family sits when we went on a (scoring) run. I couldn’t wait to share it with them.”
Anything out of the ordinary for you before game two, Matt?
“I am a routine-oriented player. I usually have a pre-game nap, especially since I only slept for a few hours after game one. I laid down for a nap, and I didn’t even come close to falling asleep.”
What will you think Saturday night as the Banner goes to the rafters?
“I will first be proud of what our team accomplished. Then I will think how cool it will be to come to the Key Bank Center five, ten, or fifteen years later to watch Sabres or Bandits games and think about those teams.”
Bandits’ general manager and defensive coordinator Steve Dietrich remembers:
“Seeing the excitement in the players’ faces when the buzzer sounded and then sharing my excitement with my wife and daughter on the field after the game is a lasting memory I will cherish.
Anything out of the ordinary for you during game two, Steve?
“I remember being so entrenched in the game that you don’t even think about the outcome until you start to hear the crowd start counting down from 10, and then it hits you like a ton of bricks that this is happening, and we are Champions.”
What will you think Saturday night as the Banner goes to the rafters?
“My dad. He was at every Bandits home game when I was a player and as a GM, but I never had the pleasure of winning one with him. Much like at the last banner-raising ceremony, I just thought about him and wished so much that he could be here so I could share this with him.”
Connor Farrell writes:
“The final seconds counting down. I was so happy I couldn’t hold back tears. I felt the confidence in the locker room that we would win.”
What will you think Saturday night as the Banner goes to the rafters?
“Thinking about the tough road to recovery from my surgery, the time it took to get there, and visualizing wanting to raise another.”
Ryan Rajk, Bandits head athletic trainer writes:
“My favorite memory from the championship game was the hidden ball trick by Chase and Josh. It was at that point I knew we were going to win.”
Anything out of the ordinary, Ryan?
“Having back-to-back games and the bus ride back right after game one. Keeping the guys hydrated and rested on a 5-hour bus trip was challenging. We had not had back-to-back games all year,”
What will you be thinking as the Banner unfolds?
“That Banner bonds us as a team for life. Every time we go to the Key Bank Center, even if it is 20 years from now, I can always look up at that Banner and say, “I was part of that special championship team.”
Paul Dawson writes about remembering game two.
I’ll remember the fans, how loud the building was, and having my whole family there, especially my two kids, who were running around stealing guys’ helmets and just having a blast celebrating with me after the game!”
What will you think as the spotlight beads on the Banner, Paul?
“I’ll be thinking of my dad. He passed away before the 2021 season and has been at all the championships I’ve won. I’ll look up at the Banner, look beside it, and give him a little thanks because, without him, that wouldn’t have been possible.”
Ted Cordingley, Bandits head equipment manager, writes:
“It felt fantastic to win it back-to-back. It proved that we just didn’t win the 2023 Championship by fluke. We won because we were a great team and still are.”
Anything out of the ordinary for you during game two?
Yes, I had just had shoulder surgery two weeks before the championship game, and I had to rely on my assistant, Casey Deuser, for everything.
“I tried to watch the game from the press boxes, but I was too nervous, so I came down to the bench where I’m used to being. It’s great to see the players and coaches win it after they work, train, and practice so hard all season.”
“I’m fortunate to be a part of such a great organization and team. They’re a fantastic family to be around.”
Coordinator of Lacrosse Operations Dan Ristine writes:
I’ll remember how loud the crowd was as the game was coming to an end. It’s the loudest I’ve ever heard KeyBank Center.
“Knowing I played a small role in helping bring a championship to Buffalo and seeing the joy it brought the community is something special that we can all look back on.
“The guys knew they had an opportunity to win another championship on home turf in front of Banditland, who had supported them all season long.”
What will you think Saturday night as the Banner goes up, Dan?
“There are many hardworking people in this organization who do a lot of work behind the scenes, and I hope they feel the same sense of pride and joy when they see the 2024 NLL Championship Banner forever raised to the rafters.”
On the fifth day of Christmas??? Happy New Year, everybody.