Ready, Set…
Here we go, Bandits; here we go. Here we go Bandits; here we go… into a bye week.
Wait, what?
Yes, while the National Lacrosse League season opens this Friday night, amongst the celebration of “Opening Weekend,” the back-to-back NLL Champions will be idle.
Five games are on tap this weekend, and the Bandits remain in the wings until Saturday, December 7, when they travel to Rochester to take on the Knighthawks.
But this first of five bye weeks, yes five, will work in the Bandits favor as they have two weeks to practice with their dedicated roster.
The Bandits’ home opener is Saturday, December 28. Plan on arriving early for the banner-raising ceremony and the 6:30 p.m. faceoff.
The club finished the preseason 1-1 after a 13-12 loss to Georgia last Saturday night. The loaded roster cut down Sunday and had plenty of playtime.
2024 first-round draft pick Lucas Nielsen made the wave of roster cuts, as did former Knighthawk Thomas Whitty.
Nielsen, the MVP righty of the BC Junior A Lacrosse League with the New Westminster Salmonbellies, scored 50 goals in 18 games this past season.
“I was impressed by the play of some of our rookies, especially Lukas. I thought he did a great job connecting with Dhane in the second half and scored three goals,” said Bandits head coach John Tavares after the Georgia game.
Whitty, a gritty lefty, enters his fourth NLL campaign with 45 total games, 222 Loose balls, 31 blocked shots, and 25 caused turnovers.
“I’m confident in the roster we chose for this year’s team. However, some of the players we released made a good case for themselves,” said Tavares.
“I really believe that the players we let go could definitely play at this level, but unfortunately, we cannot keep everyone.
“I want to take this opportunity to thank all the players who tried out and wish them the best of luck.”
Check your social platforms and bandits.com for the complete roster.
Stick Around
The most prized possession of a lacrosse player is the stick. Always in the hands or at the player’s side (except for air travel), considerable time is spent preparing the instrument to one’s liking.
The NLL rule book states that a runner’s stick should be between 40 and 42 inches long. The head of hard plastic is woven with mesh between four and a half to seven inches at the widest point and ten inches long. The pocket depth can be no more than five inches.
Bandits head equipment manager Ted Cordingley has been a part of lacrosse for most of his life, including 18 seasons with the Bandits. He’s witnessed the evolution once crafted from wood by Native Americans.
“Shafts have come a long way. They are made of different materials, from carbon to titanium, and they are much stronger than they were in the past,” said Cordingley.
He notes that most offensive players will have a 40-inch stick, while defensive players usually use a maximum of 42 inches. Goalie sticks are different, period.
“We use fewer shafts than we did in the past. Defensive players tend to bend and break their shafts less nowadays. Offensive players who use lightweight shafts will break more shafts, setting picks or follow-through shots. We could go through 0-4 shafts per game.”
The shooting laces are a private design strung by the player, teammate, or associate, Joel Leveille, who Cordingley calls upon to repair or restring any player’s stick, including goalies.
The Need to Know
Going deeper without prying too much, I’ve found the Bandit players, from offense to defense, are very particular.
“I like the Signature Lacrosse shaft, rounded,” said Dhane Smith, the NLL’s two-time MVP and three-time regular season assist record holder. “They have changed in strength, weight, and shape; you also have some carbon and aluminum.”
Buffalo Bandits vs Albany Firewolves, May 18, 2024 at KeyBank Center.
Roll the Tape
“I tape a knob so my hand doesn’t slip off my stick and then up again so it prevents my hands from slipping. I typically have two or three sticks ready, mostly using two per season, but last year, I went through five or six.”
Tune the Strings
“I do not string my stick; I leave it up to Josh (Byrne). He really enjoys doing it, or Joel Leveille.
I usually keep my string job the same. I’ve had two different ones throughout my career, but I think I found the right one now,” Smith said.
Chase Fraser uses his design but keeps it straightforward.
“The shaft I use is the Fraser Pro S made by Loading Lacrosse Company, which I designed,” said the seventh-year forward, who has scored 158 total goals with the Bandits
“Yes, the technology and quality have improved over the years, but sticks are sticks, and if it feels good, it’s good with me.”
Fraser tapes a knob at the end of his stick and a smaller one about four inches up, just for his preference.
Ah, the Mesh
“I use mesh and Armor Mesh. Everyone’s stringing pattern is different. I spend a lot of time stringing my own stick, and if I can’t get it right, I will send it to someone to string it for me. Once you have your style of pocket, you usually stick to it.”
Like most Bandit forwards, Fraser keeps two to three sticks ready, most likely going through two, but he’s hoping to use the same one all season.
The Backside
It’s a different territory in the defensive zone where the stick is used for more than cradling.
“I use the Loading D S, shaft from Loading Lacrosse,” said Bandits captain Steve Priolo, where the company specifies the product is made for the box game and “those big, tough defenders that like to lay the body and play the physical game.”
“I used to use graphite, but they broke too much, and yes, sticks are changing. The Loading is Kevlar and carbon fiber.”
Priolo tapes a big knob for one-handed checks and tapes halfway up so he has a feel for passing and shooting. He has three sticks ready, one specifically for games, and two heads.
Second-year defender Cam Weyers prefers a heavier, durable defensive shaft.
“Producers are developing new ways for shafts to become lighter yet more durable for players so that they never have to worry about the chances of them breaking during essential plays,” said Wyers, who played all 23 games last season, causing 26 turnovers and soaking 25 shots.
“As a defender and someone who cross-checks more than shoots, it’s important that I can use a strong, durable stick that can deliver high-impact cross-checks and slashes.”
Wyers, too, goes with a large knob at the end of his stick and tapes the length for maximum grip. He prepares one stick, praying it holds for the season.
“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” noted Weyers, who has an MBA in Mechanical Engineering.
The Milkman
Faceoff specialist and transition player Connor Farrell has a different approach with shafts and sticks.
“I use the String King Metal 3 pro shaft and the String King Mark2F head with Armor Mesh in the head,” said Ferrell. “They are changing the faceoff sticks and heads, constantly trying to improve.”
Ferrell, a.k.a. The Milkman tapes his stick on the bottom and top to help with his grip throughout the tie-up on a faceoff.
“For each game, I usually have four sticks ready to go in a game. I’ll usually go through 10 to 12 heads throughout a season.”
What’s up Buttercup
The club will practice this week and next, waiting to don the orange and black for game one.
Here we go Bandits, here we go!